Who is allowed to speak with a credit card company about a deceased person’s account during probate, and what proof of authority is typically needed? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, the person usually allowed to speak with a credit card company about a deceased person’s account during probate is the duly appointed personal…
Do grandchildren inherit a deceased parent’s share of real estate, and does that share get split among all siblings? – NC Short Answer Yes. Under North Carolina intestacy law, if a child of the deceased died before the deceased, that child’s line usually takes that child’s share of the real estate. In most cases, the…
Does the executor’s authorization letter to release account information have to be notarized? – NC Short Answer Usually no. Under North Carolina probate practice, an executor generally proves authority with letters testamentary or letters of administration, and a creditor may also ask for a signed written authorization if the executor wants the creditor to speak…
How long can a trust company take to approve a trust distribution when they already have the beneficiary paperwork and account information? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, there is usually no single fixed number of days for a trustee or trust company to approve a beneficiary distribution. The trustee must act in good…
How can I find out who has legal authority over a trust or estate and what they’ve done with the assets? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, the first step is to identify whether the assets are in a probate estate, a trust, or both. For an estate, the clerk of superior court in…
Which state should the probate be filed in when someone lived in a nursing home in another state for years before they died? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, probate usually belongs in the state where the deceased was domiciled at death, not automatically the state where the nursing home was located. Domicile means…
What can I do if the person handling the estate is selling or giving away the deceased person’s belongings before the inventory is filed? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, an executor or administrator must protect estate property and file a 90-day inventory with the Clerk of Superior Court. If the person handling the…
Do I need a lawyer to prepare and record the deed to transfer an inherited house, or can I do it myself? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, a lawyer is not automatically required to prepare and record a deed for an inherited house. But the transfer must match the estate’s status, the will…
As the executor, what paperwork do I still need to finish probate, like an inventory and final accounting? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, an executor usually must finish the estate by making sure creditor notice was properly handled, filing the estate inventory, keeping records for any annual account that is due, and filing…
What am I supposed to do first when my parent dies and there is a will? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, the first legal step is usually to locate the original will and take it to the Clerk of Superior Court in the proper county so the will can be offered for probate.…
