What are the steps to publish the notice to creditors and close the estate on a simple timeline? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a personal representative (executor) generally publishes a Notice to Creditors early in the estate, then waits out the creditor period before making final distributions and filing a final accounting…
Can an executor move estate property into their own name before the estate is settled, and how do we challenge those transfers? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an executor (personal representative) generally cannot transfer estate property into the executor’s own name for personal benefit before the estate is settled. The executor owes…
Can journal entries be used like a holographic will to show our parent wanted the children to inherit the home? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes, but only if the journal entry itself qualifies as a valid holographic (handwritten) will under North Carolina law. A journal entry that merely describes wishes or plans usually does…
How can I report a realtor who may have steered my sale to friends and refused to show or consider other offers, and what evidence should I collect? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, suspected misconduct by a real estate broker (including failing to present offers, undisclosed conflicts, or other dishonest dealing) can…
How do I get access to my deceased parent’s mail if delivery was stopped and a sibling at the property hasn’t been checking it? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the cleanest way to get access to a deceased parent’s held or stopped mail is to have a court-appointed personal representative (executor or…
If a shareholder account was closed before the person died, do I still report it in probate and how can I confirm its final balance and transactions? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina probate, the inventory generally lists what the decedent owned at death. If a shareholder (stock/DRIP) account was fully closed before…
How can I find out whether there is a will and who should handle the estate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the Clerk of Superior Court (the probate court) has exclusive authority over probating wills and appointing the person who handles an estate (the “personal representative”). A will is usually found in…
Can I ask creditors to pause collection efforts during probate, and how should I communicate with them? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina probate, a personal representative can ask a creditor to pause collection activity while the estate is being administered, especially when payment depends on a pending sale or a clerk-authorized…
What documents do I need to collect a small stock account, and will the brokerage accept a small‑estate affidavit? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a brokerage may accept an Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (a small-estate affidavit) if the estate qualifies under the small-estate limits and at least 30 days have…
Should I keep homeowners coverage on a vacant property during probate, and is a different type of policy required? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, it is usually wise to keep insurance in place on a house during probate, even if it is vacant, because a loss (fire, vandalism, liability claim) can reduce…
