How do I get started with administering an estate when multiple siblings are involved? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, getting started usually means opening an estate with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the person lived, and having one person qualify to act as the personal representative (executor or…
When and how can heirs formally object to the personal representative’s actions during probate if we think the accounting is wrong? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, heirs can raise formal objections by filing an estate proceeding with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the estate is being administered, asking…
What documents are typically needed to show the court that the estate bond is current? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the Clerk of Superior Court usually treats the bond as “current” when the estate file shows an approved bond on record and there is no lapse or cancellation by the surety. The…
Do I need to go to court or file paperwork if I am an heir? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually, an heir does not have to go to court or file probate paperwork just to be an heir in North Carolina. Most of the required filings are handled by the personal representative (the executor…
Can the court undo asset changes made under a power of attorney after the person has passed away? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes—under North Carolina law, a court can sometimes unwind (or require repayment for) asset changes made by an agent acting under a power of attorney, even after the principal has died. The…
How can I get my personal belongings back from a deceased relative’s property when the executor is trying to auction everything off? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the executor generally has authority to take control of estate personal property and may be able to sell it, including by auction, to administer the…
What happens to a parent’s house and vehicles when they die without a will and there is a surviving spouse and one child? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, when a parent dies without a will and leaves a surviving spouse and one child, the spouse and child usually share the estate under…
If most of the estate has already been distributed, is there any way to reopen the distribution so minor children receive something? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes, but it depends on why the minor children did not receive a share and whether the estate has been closed by the Clerk of Superior Court. In…
If my grandparent passed away a while ago, can I still start an estate now to recover unclaimed funds? – North Carolina Short Answer Often, yes. In North Carolina, unclaimed funds tied to a deceased person are usually released only to the person legally authorized to act for the estate (a qualified personal representative) or,…
How do we find out whether homeowners insurance or auto insurance should pay for damage to an estate property caused by a vehicle? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, damage to an estate-owned house caused by a vehicle is usually pursued first under the at-fault driver’s auto liability coverage, because auto liability is…
