If my name is already on the deed with a deceased relative, what happens to the property now? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, what happens next depends on how the deed lists the co-owners. If the deed created a right of survivorship (or the property was held by a married couple as…
Can heirs use a quitclaim deed to move title from a deceased owner to the heirs, and what has to be included for it to be accepted? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, heirs generally cannot “move” title out of a deceased parent’s name just by signing a quitclaim deed as if the…
How do I stop or delay a foreclosure while the property is listed for sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the most common ways to stop or delay a foreclosure long enough to pursue a private sale are (1) getting the lender or substitute trustee to postpone the sale date, (2) filing…
What proof do I need to show that the repairs were necessary and should be reimbursed at closing? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, reimbursement for repairs at closing usually depends on what the contract (or a written repair addendum) requires and what the closing attorney can document on the settlement statement. The…
How can I enforce payment when someone took over my property but hasn’t finished paying me for it? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, enforcing payment after someone has taken over property usually depends on what documents were signed at the time of the transfer. If the buyer signed a promissory note and…
How long do I have to disclaim a deed before it becomes final and hard to undo? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a deed transfer generally becomes much harder to unwind once the deed is delivered and recorded, especially if someone else later relies on the public record. If the goal is…
What happens if someone forged legal documents related to a property transfer or ownership? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, forging a deed or other ownership document can trigger both criminal charges and a civil court case to fix the title. Criminally, forging a deed can be a felony, and using (“uttering”) a…
What can I do if the person who got my property is refusing to return my personal belongings? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, when someone keeps personal belongings that belong to someone else, the usual legal options are (1) a court case to recover the items themselves (often called “claim and delivery,”…
Do we need to settle and pay any outstanding property taxes before the deeds can be recorded? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, unpaid property taxes do not always block deed recording, but they can in some counties. A county may require a tax certification showing no delinquent taxes are a lien on…
What happens if the other co-owners refuse to sign paperwork needed to move forward with a sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if co-owners cannot agree to sign the paperwork needed to sell jointly owned real estate, the usual legal remedy is a partition case in Superior Court. A partition case can…
