Can a financing company collect the full balance from a deceased person’s estate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a financing company can seek payment from a deceased person’s estate, but it generally can only collect what the estate can legally pay after proper claims procedures and higher-priority expenses are handled. If the…
What should I do if I get served with a notice saying I failed to file a final account for an estate I didn’t even know I was responsible for? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a notice about a “failed” final account usually means the Clerk of Superior Court believes a specific…
Can my minor child inherit directly, and how do I protect my child’s share of the estate if there are creditor claims? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a minor can be an heir or beneficiary, but a minor usually cannot receive and control inherited property in their own name. In most estates,…
What can I do if someone has my spouse’s vehicle but the estate has the title and I don’t know the payment agreement or whether they finished paying? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the personal representative (estate administrator) generally has the authority and responsibility to identify, protect, and collect estate property, including…
How do I document account ownership for older bank accounts when the bank says it no longer has the opening paperwork? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina probate, the cleanest way to document ownership and “who gets the account at death” is the bank’s account agreement or signature card. If the bank no…
How do I find out whether I’m named as a beneficiary in a deceased sibling’s will? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the most reliable way to find out whether a deceased sibling named someone as a beneficiary is to check whether the will has been filed or probated with the Clerk of…
If my spouse had medical debts, do those creditors have to be paid before any money can go to our children as heirs? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a deceased person’s valid debts (including medical bills) generally must be addressed in the estate before heirs receive what is left. However, North Carolina’s…
What can I do if the homeowners or renters insurance company says the policy was canceled and refuses to cover cleanup needed to access the home? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the first step is to get written proof of the alleged cancellation (the cancellation date, reason, and the notice the insurer…
How do I find out whether probate has been opened and who the executor is? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, probate (estate administration) is handled through the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the estate is opened. To find out whether an estate has been opened and who has authority…
What happens if a medical provider files a claim against the estate but insurance says it should be paid and nobody confirms it was actually paid? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a medical provider’s timely claim against an estate does not disappear just because insurance “should” pay it. Until the personal representative…
