If there is no will, can one sibling be appointed as the estate administrator without notifying me, and what do I need to do to protect my right to serve? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the Clerk of Superior Court appoints an estate “administrator” (also called a personal representative) when someone dies…
What can I do if the executor or trustee isn’t sharing information, isn’t listing all heirs, or isn’t handling the estate and trust fairly? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an executor (personal representative) and a trustee are fiduciaries. That means they must act in good faith and handle the estate or trust…
How does a possible wrongful-death settlement affect the probate process? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a wrongful-death settlement is handled by the estate’s personal representative, but the proceeds are generally not probate estate assets and are not distributed through the normal creditor-claims process. Instead, the personal representative must keep wrongful-death funds separate,…
How do I challenge an executor’s decision to deny my invoice for the decedent’s expenses? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an invoice for work done for the decedent can be treated as a creditor claim against the estate. If the executor (personal representative) denies the claim, the usual way to challenge that…
What does it mean when an estate is in probate, and what happens next? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an estate is “in probate” when the Clerk of Superior Court has opened an estate file to (1) prove a will (if there is one) and (2) supervise the legal process of collecting…
How do I challenge an estate filing that lists someone as the only heir when I believe other heirs exist? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the usual way to challenge an estate filing that incorrectly lists a single “sole heir” is to bring the issue to the Clerk of Superior Court handling…
Who has the legal authority to sign the paperwork to sell estate property? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the person with legal authority to sign sale paperwork for estate property is usually the court-appointed personal representative (the executor named in a will or the administrator appointed when there is no will). For…
Can I still get a personal representative commission if I already agreed to waive it as part of an early distribution agreement? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes, but it is usually difficult once a written waiver was part of the deal that allowed early distributions. In North Carolina, a personal representative’s commission is not…
How can I request a decedent’s tax forms like 1099s from a brokerage for estate administration? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a brokerage will usually release a decedent’s year-end tax forms (like 1099s) and account records only to the court-appointed personal representative (executor/administrator) or someone acting with that representative’s written authority. The…
What can I do if my co-administrator isn’t being transparent about estate assets? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a co-administrator who is not sharing information can create real risk for missed filings, incomplete inventories, and improper distributions. The main practical options are (1) document a clear written request for records and cooperation,…
