Do I need court approval before paying attorney fees or other bills out of the estate account? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually, a North Carolina personal representative can pay ordinary estate administration expenses and valid creditor claims from the estate bank account without getting a separate court order each time. The main exceptions are…
Can I handle the bank paperwork myself while the estate case is still moving forward in court? – North Carolina Short Answer Often, yes. In North Carolina, a personal representative (executor or administrator) can usually communicate with banks, submit their forms, and provide the documents banks commonly require (like certified Letters) even while the estate…
What kind of evidence is usually needed to prove or disprove an abandonment claim in an intestate estate case? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina intestate estates, an “abandonment” claim usually turns on concrete proof about the relationship: where the person lived, whether they provided support, and whether their conduct showed an intentional…
What happens if an interested party can’t be located or doesn’t respond after receiving notice? – North Carolina Short Answer In many North Carolina estate proceedings, the case can still move forward if an interested party cannot be located or does not respond—so long as proper legal notice was given. If the person cannot be…
Can I get an advance or loan against my expected inheritance while the estate is still being handled? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes, but it depends on what “advance” means. In North Carolina, a personal representative (executor/administrator) may choose to make an early, partial distribution, but doing so can create risk if debts, taxes,…
What happens if a debt collector says the creditor recalled the account—who do I deal with to resolve the claim? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if a debt collector says the creditor “recalled” the account, it usually means the collector no longer has authority to negotiate or accept payment on that bill.…
Can a relative transfer estate assets to themself before the probate process is finished, and what can be done to challenge that? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually not. In North Carolina, once a personal representative (executor or administrator) is appointed, that person must collect, safeguard, and report estate assets and then distribute them only…
What happens to our separation agreement and the plan to sell the marital home now that my legally separated spouse has died? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a legal separation does not end the marriage, so a surviving spouse can still have probate rights unless those rights were waived in a valid…
How can I confirm the law firm filed the estate accounting with the clerk and that it was accepted? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an estate accounting is filed in the estate file with the Clerk of Superior Court (Estate Division). The most reliable ways to confirm filing and acceptance are (1)…
Can I sue to get my personal property back if relatives took it from where I was living, and how is that different from the probate case? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, when someone wrongfully takes or keeps personal belongings that belong to an heir (and not to the decedent’s estate),…
