How do I handle estate administration when a co-personal representative is residing overseas? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, co-personal representatives must act together unless they file a written, court-approved agreement that assigns certain tasks to one of them. The estate inventory is due within three months of qualification, but you may file…
What is the process for amending an estate inventory or accounting? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you amend an estate inventory by filing a verified supplemental inventory with the Clerk of Superior Court to add or correct assets or values. You update accountings by filing an amended account (if the period’s account…
How do I get a remote notarization accepted by my bank for probate documents? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a notarization is valid if it complies with state notary laws, including approved remote notarization. But banks can set stricter internal requirements and may refuse a remote notarization. Ask the bank for its…
Can I use a foreign notary for probate filings? – North Carolina Short Answer North Carolina courts generally accept notarizations performed outside North Carolina if the notarization complied with the law where it was performed; foreign (non‑U.S.) notarizations may require an apostille or U.S. consular authentication. However, banks can set stricter internal requirements. File your…
How can I extend the deadline to file my estate inventory with the court? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a personal representative must file the estate inventory within three months of qualifying. If you need more time, you can ask the Clerk of Superior Court for a short extension by showing good…
Do I need to include a bank account on the initial inventory if I can’t access it yet? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, you must list all assets the decedent owned at death on the 90‑day inventory, even if you cannot access the account yet. If you do not have the…
How is inheritance determined when heirs were never legally adopted by the decedent? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a person inherits as a “child” in intestacy only if they are the decedent’s biological child (with paternity/maternity established as the law requires) or a child legally adopted by the decedent. Stepchildren or individuals…
How can I regain access to estate funds when I was removed as an account holder? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you cannot use the decedent’s bank account just because you were a signer. The bank is right to revoke access after death. To access estate funds, you must obtain legal authority:…
What legal options do I have to ensure my inheritance rights from overseas? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an heir living abroad can use the Clerk of Superior Court’s estate proceedings to compel a copy of a will, require inventories and accounts, and recover estate property. If a nonresident decedent owned North…
What steps can I take to confirm if a will was valid and filed? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, wills are filed and probated with the Clerk of Superior Court (Estates Division) in the county where the person lived at death. Once admitted to probate, the original will stays with the clerk…
