Do I have to wait until the creditor notice period ends before filing the inventory or asking the court for authority to sell estate-related property? – North Carolina Short Answer No. In North Carolina, the creditor notice period does not require an administrator to wait before filing the estate inventory or before asking the Clerk…
What happens to medical bills and other debts after someone dies, and who is responsible for paying them? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a person’s medical bills and other debts generally do not become the child’s personal responsibility just because the person died. Instead, valid debts are paid from the decedent’s estate…
Can I sell or transfer my parent’s share of jointly owned property, and what if the other co-owners don’t agree? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a person generally cannot sell or transfer a deceased parent’s “share” of jointly owned real estate until it is clear who owns that share after death (which…
What happens to an estate case if the executor dies before everything is finished? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an estate case does not end just because the executor (personal representative) dies. The executor’s authority stops at death, and the Clerk of Superior Court will appoint a successor personal representative to finish…
How do I get a new executor or replacement personal representative appointed for the deceased parent’s estate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a replacement executor (also called a successor personal representative) is appointed by the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the deceased parent’s estate is open. If the current…
Can a co-executor or family member sell the deceased person’s house if the estate was never probated? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually not. In North Carolina, a person has no executor authority until the will is filed and the Clerk of Superior Court issues official authority to act for the estate, and an unprobated…
What is a satisfaction-of-claim letter in an estate case, and why is it needed? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina estate, a satisfaction-of-claim letter is a written statement from a creditor (or claimant) confirming that the estate’s debt or claim has been fully resolved—usually because it was paid, reduced and paid, or…
How do I find out what assets the deceased owned outside the primary probate jurisdiction? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina ancillary probate matter, the practical way to identify out-of-jurisdiction assets is to work from the decedent’s records (mail, tax returns, account statements, deeds, and business documents) and then confirm ownership through…
What documents should I keep to prove an estate claim was paid or otherwise resolved? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina estate administration, the safest proof that a creditor claim is resolved is a clear paper trail showing (1) what was claimed, (2) what the personal representative agreed to pay (if anything), and…
Do I need to open probate for my parent’s estate to clear title to the house, even if the earlier death was a long time ago? – North Carolina Short Answer Often, yes. In North Carolina, when a deceased owner’s name is still on the deed, some type of estate proceeding is commonly needed to…
