What happens to any money left over after the estate pays valid creditor claims from the land sale proceeds? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina probate, any land-sale money left over after the estate pays valid claims (and the costs of administering the estate) is distributed to the people entitled to inherit under…
What can I do if the sender says they paid me but my bank says the money never arrived? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the practical first step is to force the issue into a traceable paper trail: get the sender’s proof of payment (check image or ACH/wire trace details) and open…
If multiple people own the home, who is responsible for the loan payments after the owner dies? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the person responsible for loan payments after a co-owner dies depends on who signed the loan, not just who owns the home. If a surviving co-owner (or spouse) is a…
Can I get paid back from a deceased neighbor’s estate for the care I provided when there was no will? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes, it may be possible to be paid from a deceased neighbor’s estate in North Carolina even when there was no will, but payment is not automatic. The usual path…
Can my spouse join the probate consultation, and do we both need to be involved to get started? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, a spouse can join a probate consultation, and it is often helpful when the spouse has information about assets, debts, or family members. To get started, the key…
How can I claim money that was left to me if I don’t have the death certificate yet? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, most banks, life insurance companies, and other payors will not release inherited funds until they receive proof of death—usually a certified death certificate. The good news is that a…
What happens to my purchase contract if the estate process takes longer than expected? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a delayed estate administration does not automatically cancel a real estate purchase contract. What happens next usually depends on the contract’s closing date language (including any extensions), whether the seller side can deliver…
How do I figure out who has the right to handle the estate if there’s a surviving spouse who is incapacitated or moving into a nursing facility? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the person with the right to handle an estate is the person the Clerk of Superior Court appoints as the…
How do I get copies of any 1099 forms issued for a deceased person’s retirement plan account during probate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina probate, the cleanest way to obtain copies of any 1099s issued for a deceased person’s retirement plan account is for the court-appointed personal representative (executor/administrator) to request them…
What is a letter of authorization used for during the process of handling a deceased parent’s affairs? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina probate matters, a “letter of authorization” is commonly used to let a third party (like a bank, insurer, employer, or other institution) share information about a deceased parent’s accounts with…
