What documents or legal actions are needed to compel a service provider to release a decedent’s digital content? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a personal representative usually starts by sending the service provider a written disclosure request with a certified death certificate and certified letters testamentary (or letters of administration). Under North…
How do we transfer the car titles at the DMV using a collection affidavit and proof of the gifting intent? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a local DMV license plate agency typically will not retitle a vehicle out of a deceased owner’s name based only on “proof the decedent meant to gift…
What steps do I need to take to contest a Medicaid recovery claim against my parent’s estate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a Medicaid estate recovery demand is treated like a creditor claim against the estate and is handled through the estate file at the Clerk of Superior Court. Contesting it usually…
What steps should I take to distribute funds from checking and savings accounts after someone’s death? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the first step is to identify how each account is titled: (1) solely in the decedent’s name (usually a probate asset), (2) joint with right of survivorship, or (3) payable-on-death (POD)…
What steps are involved in starting ancillary probate after opening a probate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an “ancillary” estate is a second estate file opened in the Clerk of Superior Court to deal with property located in North Carolina when the main (domiciliary) estate is opened somewhere else. Starting it usually…
What happens to my parent’s medical and utility bills when we sell the house? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a parent’s unpaid medical, utility, and credit card bills are generally paid (if at all) from the parent’s estate—not automatically from the sale of a house that passes directly to a surviving joint…
How do we legally transfer the house and car to our nephew with everyone’s agreement? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, family agreement alone does not transfer a deceased person’s house and car to a nephew. Title usually passes either (1) to the legal heirs under intestate succession and then the heirs sign…
Who is allowed to search a safedeposit box or personal files for the will, and what proof do I need? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a decedents safe-deposit box is typically sealed after death, and it generally can only be opened to look for (and inventory) contents if the Clerk of Superior…
What is the process to formally open and conclude probate for a family house in North Carolina? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, probate is opened by qualifying a personal representative (executor under a will, or administrator if there is no will) with the Clerk of Superior Court and obtaining “Letters” that give…
Why would a court order property appraisal and mediation before addressing abandonment claims? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina probate and related estate disputes, the clerk (and sometimes a judge) may order appraisals and mediation early to pin down property values and encourage settlement before holding a hearing on a claim like willful…
