What information and documents should I provide during my initial call with a North Carolina probate attorney? 1. Detailed Answer When you call a North Carolina probate attorney for the first time, gathering key information and documents helps us evaluate your case. Probate begins when someone dies. The court must confirm a will and appoint…
Handling SBA and Other Creditor Claims in North Carolina Probate Detailed Answer When you serve as a personal representative in a North Carolina estate, you carry a duty to protect estate assets, notify creditors of the probate, review claims, and pay valid debts. This process ensures fair treatment of the decedent’s creditors—whether private lenders, medical…
How long should I expect the lien verification process in a probate case to take, and what might cause delays? Detailed Answer When you serve as a personal representative in a North Carolina probate, you must identify and verify any liens on estate property before you distribute assets to beneficiaries. Common liens include mortgages, judgment…
Detailed Answer In North Carolina, heirs who own undivided interests in real estate sometimes file a partition action to divide or sell the property. A common question in these actions is whether one heir can force another to pay their attorney’s fees. The short answer is that no heir can unilaterally require another to pay…
What steps must a beneficiary follow to obtain sale proceeds held in trust during a North Carolina special proceeding? 1. Detailed Answer When a North Carolina clerk of superior court authorizes a special proceeding to sell estate assets, the sale proceeds often remain in a trust account or the court’s registry until the estate qualifies…
How to Serve and Include a Missing Heir or Spouse in a North Carolina Probate Case 1. Detailed Answer When a beneficiary or surviving spouse cannot be located, North Carolina law provides clear steps to bring that person into a probate proceeding. You must identify the missing party, appoint a guardian ad litem, give proper…
When does real property become part of a North Carolina probate estate for distribution or creditor claims? Detailed Answer In North Carolina, real property owned solely by a decedent generally enters the probate estate at the moment of death. From that instant, the decedent’s interest in the property passes under the will or by intestate…
How to Document and Recover Reimbursement for Carrying Costs on Co-Owned Inherited Property in North Carolina 1. Detailed Answer When you inherit property with one or more co-owners, you may shoulder ongoing expenses such as real estate taxes, insurance premiums, mortgage payments or utilities. North Carolina law lets you recover your fair share of these…
How Do I Get Reimbursed for Executor Expenses in a North Carolina Probate Estate? Detailed Answer When you serve as an executor (also called personal representative) in a North Carolina probate estate, you may pay certain costs out of your own pocket. North Carolina law recognizes your right to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses.…
Detailed Answer When someone dies owning real estate in North Carolina, heirs cannot manage or sell that property outright. State law requires the estate to enter probate—a court‐supervised process that appoints a personal representative to collect assets, pay debts, and distribute what remains to heirs. Below are the key legal steps heirs must follow to…
