What tax returns need to be filed after a spouse dies, especially if there was deferred compensation or retirement-related income? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, there are usually two separate income-tax “buckets” after a spouse dies: (1) the decedent’s final individual income tax returns (federal Form 1040 and North Carolina Form D-400),…
What happens if an estate has been open for a long time and the prior accountings were filed on the wrong form? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, using the “wrong” estate accounting form usually does not automatically invalidate the prior accountings if the filings still show the required information and the Clerk…
How do I know whether the extension request for the inventory deadline has been approved? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina probate, an inventory extension is approved only when the Clerk of Superior Court (estate division) enters it in the estate file—typically as a signed order or a docket entry showing the new…
How does filing an insolvency petition affect a pending or threatened foreclosure on estate property? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, filing an insolvency petition in an estate administration usually does not automatically stop a secured creditor from foreclosing on estate real property. A deed of trust lender generally keeps lien rights and…
What happens if the estate cannot pay a creditor right away because the personal representative is hard to reach? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a creditor generally cannot force immediate payment just because a personal representative is difficult to reach. The creditor’s main job is to file a proper written claim with…
How do I find out whether an IRA has a beneficiary listed, and what happens if it doesn’t? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the fastest way to confirm an IRA beneficiary is to contact the IRA custodian (the bank or brokerage holding the IRA) and request the account’s current beneficiary designation on…
What happens to the estate timeline if the tax clearance is delayed and we can’t pay claims yet? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a delayed tax clearance usually delays the end of the probate case, because the Clerk of Superior Court generally will not accept a final account and close the estate…
What do I do if the title company refuses to close because a minor heir needs additional court authorization to sign off on the sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a minor heir generally cannot “sign off” on an estate real estate sale the same way an adult can. When a title…
Should I keep paying the deceased person’s credit card bills, or should I wait until probate and the creditor process starts? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, credit card debt is usually paid from the estate (not by family members personally), and it is typically safest to wait until an executor is officially…
After the creditor notice period ends, when am I allowed to sell estate property like the house and the car without causing problems in probate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the end of the creditor notice period is an important milestone, but it is not the only timing rule that matters for…
