What happens if I don’t return the estate documents or I delay sending them back? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, delaying or refusing to return estate administration documents can slow down the probate process, delay appointments and notices, and create avoidable disputes. If the documents include an original will or other items…
What documents do I need to prove I have a valid claim to the vehicle? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the documents needed to prove a valid claim to a deceased person’s vehicle depend on why the claimant says the vehicle belongs to them (estate transfer, joint ownership, purchase from the estate,…
What happens to a Medicare appeal if the date of death on file is wrong or not updated yet? – North Carolina Short Answer In practice, a Medicare appeal can stall if Medicare’s systems show the wrong date of death (or no date of death) because the contractor may not be able to confirm who…
What happens if the commission amount submitted to the clerk is incorrect or doesn’t match the court’s calculation? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina estate administration, the clerk of superior court—not the personal representative—sets and approves the commission amount. If the amount submitted is wrong or does not match the clerk’s calculation, the…
How do we verify whether the deceased had any remaining ownership interest or liens tied to the property after the sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the practical way to verify whether a deceased person kept any ownership interest or left liens tied to a property after a sale is to run…
Do we have to go through probate to change the deed after a family member dies? – North Carolina Short Answer Not always. In North Carolina, probate (or another clerk-of-court estate process) is often needed to create clear, recordable authority to transfer a deceased owner’s real estate—especially if the property was in the decedent’s sole…
What paperwork do I need to show the mortgage company that I inherited the house after my parent died? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, mortgage companies usually want (1) a certified death certificate and (2) proof of who has legal authority over the estate or who now owns the home. Most often,…
What kind of lawsuit can be filed if a family member used undue influence or elder abuse to take control of an account? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the right lawsuit depends on whether the account was supposed to pass through the estate (under the will) or pass outside probate (like a…
Can the estate or the other intended beneficiaries force the joint owner to account for or return the money? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes. In North Carolina, money in a properly created joint account with right of survivorship usually becomes the surviving joint owner’s property at death, and it does not pass under the…
What happens to cars and auto insurance when the vehicles are in the deceased person’s name but a relative is driving them, including a financed or leased car titled with someone else? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a car titled in the deceased person’s name is usually an estate asset, and the…
