What steps do I need to take to get a duplicate title for a vehicle and address a foreclosed trailer? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an estate administrator can usually get a duplicate vehicle title through the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by applying as the deceased owner’s “legal representative” and…
How can I find and review the correct probate filing for my parent? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, most probate filings (if any were opened) are kept in the estate file maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court (Estates Division) in the county where the parent lived at death. The most reliable…
How can we enforce a court order to return personal property awarded under the spousal allowance? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, enforcement usually starts by getting a clear Clerk of Superior Court order that identifies the specific personal property awarded as the spousal year’s allowance and directs who must deliver it. If…
How do I use a small estate affidavit to transfer assets when items are missing? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a “small estate affidavit” (collection of personal property by affidavit) can let a qualified heir collect certain personal property without opening a full probate estate, but it only works for property that…
Who is responsible for issuing the 1099 if an account changed custodians during the tax year, and how do I make sure the estate receives all required forms? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina estate administration, the financial institution (the “payer”) that actually paid the taxable income is generally the one responsible for…
As an adult heir, can I attend the next probate hearing and speak about claims and distributions, and how do I make sure I’m notified? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an adult heir can usually attend a probate-related hearing before the Clerk of Superior Court and be heard if the heir is…
How can out-of-state family members handle probate court filings remotely? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, most probate administration happens through the county Clerk of Superior Court, and many required signatures (including the personal representative’s oath) can often be completed outside the county—and sometimes outside the state—using a notary and then submitted by…
How can I serve as a co-administrator if I live in a different state from where the probate case is filed? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, living out of state usually does not prevent someone from serving as a co-administrator of an estate. The Clerk of Superior Court (the probate court) typically…
Can I get updates on the estate administration from out of state if my sibling is unavailable? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, an heir or other “interested person” can usually get estate administration updates and copies of filed documents by contacting the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the…
How can I prove my authority as executor to access a deceased family member’s medical billing records? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the cleanest way to prove executor authority to a hospital or other provider is to provide a certified copy of the executor’s Letters Testamentary (or Letters of Administration) issued by…
