Can I close the estate if I personally agree to pay the remaining creditor claim instead of the estate paying it? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes—sometimes a North Carolina estate can be closed even if the estate does not write the check, but only if the creditor is properly resolved. The cleanest path is…
Do I still have to go through probate if the will leaves everything to a trust, and what is my role as executor versus trustee? – North Carolina Short Answer Often, yes. In North Carolina, a “pour-over” will that leaves probate assets to a trust still usually requires opening an estate with the Clerk of…
If I’m a signatory on one of the deceased person’s bank accounts, can I access it without going through probate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, being a “signatory” alone usually does not mean the account automatically becomes the signatory’s money at death. Access without probate depends on how the account is titled…
If my parent died before my grandparent, do I still inherit anything from my grandparent’s land through my parent? – North Carolina Short Answer Possibly. Under North Carolina law, a grandchild can take a deceased parent’s place if (1) the grandparent’s will leaves the land to the parent and the will does not require the…
What documents do I need to prove I’m the heir and update the property title? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the documents needed to update a deceased relative’s house title usually depend on whether there was a Will and whether an estate was (or must be) opened with the Clerk of Superior…
How do I get Social Security tax documents for a deceased person if their online account is blocked? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, when a deceased person’s online Social Security account is blocked, the usual way to get the Social Security tax form (typically Form SSA-1099/SSA-1042S) is to work through the Social…
What proof do I need to show an insurance company that I’m authorized to receive a payment for an estate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an insurance company usually reissues an estate-related payment only after receiving proof that a court has appointed a personal representative (executor or administrator). The most common proof…
Who is allowed to be appointed as the administrator when the deceased wasn’t married and the only child is an adult? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, when someone dies without a will and was not married, the adult child is usually the first person the Clerk of Superior Court will consider to…
How can I find out if my parent had a trust and who the trustee is if I don’t have the trust documents? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the fastest way to confirm whether a trust is involved is usually to start with the probate file at the Clerk of Superior Court…
How do I properly fill out the estate inventory to close out a parent’s estate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the personal representative (executor or administrator) usually must file an Inventory (often called the “90-day inventory”) with the Clerk of Superior Court and later file an Annual Account and/or Final Account to…
