How does a personal representative handle creditor claims and transfer estate funds into a trust account in North Carolina probate?

Probate Q&A Series

How Does a Personal Representative Pay and Document Creditor Claims in a North Carolina Probate Estate? Under North Carolina law, a personal representative must identify, review and resolve all valid creditor claims before distributing assets. You start by gathering notices or statements—like the Waste Management invoice or a hospital bill from Cone Health—and confirming whether…

What documents and details should I provide during my initial call with a North Carolina probate attorney?

Probate Q&A Series

What information and documents should I provide during my initial call with a North Carolina probate attorney? When you first contact a North Carolina probate attorney, you set the stage for an efficient and accurate assessment of your loved one’s estate. Having key information ready helps your attorney identify next steps, estimate fees, and outline…

How can a surviving spouse retitle and sell a deceased spouse’s vehicles in Guilford County under the year’s allowance?

Probate Q&A Series

What is the petition for year’s allowance and how can a surviving spouse in Guilford County transfer a deceased spouse’s vehicles? In North Carolina you can avoid a full probate administration by filing a petition for the year’s allowance under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-19-3. This procedure lets a surviving spouse immediately take up to…

What proof of payment and documentation do co-heirs need to recover improvement costs in a North Carolina special proceeding?

Probate Q&A Series

FAQ 1: How Can Co-Heirs Document and Recover Reimbursement for Property Improvement Costs in a North Carolina Special Proceeding? When multiple heirs own real property together and one heir pays for improvements or repairs, North Carolina law allows a special proceeding in superior court to recover those costs. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-15-1, a…