Can I sell a deceased parent’s house if a tenant is still living there and refusing to leave? – NC Short Answer Usually not in a clean, practical way until the estate has authority to control the property and the tenant issue is addressed. In North Carolina, a valid lease does not end just because…
Can a personal representative contact insurance directly to confirm what is still owed by the estate? – NC Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, a personal representative can usually contact health insurers or other carriers directly to confirm whether claims are still pending and what amount, if any, remains owed by the estate. That step…
How can I find out whether insurance already made payments on a deceased person’s final medical expenses? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, a personal representative usually finds out whether insurance has already paid final medical bills by gathering the decedent’s insurance information, reviewing mail and explanation-of-benefits statements, and contacting the insurers and medical…
Can claims exist in an estate even if they do not appear on the court portal? – NC Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, a claim against an estate does not have to appear on the clerk’s court portal to exist. A creditor can present a claim by delivering it to the personal representative, mailing…
What happens if no claims are filed during the estate administration process? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, if no creditor claims are filed during the estate administration process, the personal representative can usually move toward paying approved estate expenses, making distributions to heirs or beneficiaries, and filing the final accounting to close the…
What documents are usually needed to obtain funeral expense records for probate? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, a funeral service will usually want proof that the person asking for the record has authority to act for the estate. That often means a written request from the personal representative or attorney for the estate,…
Can a law firm request funeral receipts on behalf of an estate, or does the attorney need to make the request directly? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, the key issue is usually not whether a supervising attorney personally signs the request. The real question is whether the person or firm making the request…
Can the personal representative contact Medicare directly to find out what portion of a medical bill was paid? – NC Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, a personal representative generally may contact Medicare or the medical provider to confirm whether Medicare paid part of a decedent’s bill, whether a balance remains, and whether the creditor…
If my sibling is the executor of my parent’s estate, what rights do I still have as a beneficiary or interested party? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, a beneficiary or other interested party does not lose rights just because a sibling is serving as executor. The executor must administer the estate through the…
How do I find out whether I can step in if the executor is not doing the job properly? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, an heir, devisee, creditor, or other interested party may be able to ask the Clerk of Superior Court to step in when an executor is not carrying out estate…
