What’s the best way to split property tax responsibility when one co-owner paid past taxes and other co-owners say they also paid? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the cleanest way to split past property taxes among co-owners is to treat taxes as a shared “carrying cost,” verify what was actually paid (and…
What is the difference between a deed of trust and a promissory note, and what does each one do? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a promissory note is the borrower’s written promise to repay the loan, including key terms like the amount owed and interest. A deed of trust is the real-estate…
What documents and steps do I need to complete a fast sale of the house without delays? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the fastest home sales usually happen when the seller lines up title and payoff documents early, uses a written contract, and closes through a closing attorney who can clear liens…
How do I confirm who legally owns the property now that one spouse has died? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the current legal owner after a spouse dies usually depends on how the last recorded deed titled the property. If the deed shows the spouses owned the property as tenants by the…
What evidence should I gather to prove my truck is worth more than the insurer says? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the most persuasive way to challenge a low total-loss offer is to document the truck’s pre-crash condition and show real-world comparable sales in the local market. Strong evidence usually includes a…
Can a lawyer in my state prepare a deed to transfer land located in another state? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes, but it depends on the other state’s deed rules and whether the work is considered practicing law in that other state. In general, the deed for land is governed by the law and…
Can I require the other side to reimburse me for repairs as they happen instead of waiting until the final closing? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually not by “requirement” unless the purchase contract (or a written amendment) says reimbursement will be paid during the pre-closing period. In most North Carolina closings, repair costs are…
How can we clear up the title so the property can’t be disputed later if someone dies or wants to transfer it? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the most reliable way to prevent later disputes is to turn an unclear family “paper trail” into a clean, recorded chain of title. That usually…
Will disclaiming a deed affect my taxes or my eligibility for benefits? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a properly done disclaimer (also called a renunciation) can be treated as if the interest was never accepted, which can matter for certain tax and benefit rules. But a disclaimer is not the same thing…
Can I use an FHA loan to buy a foreclosure property, and what restrictions apply? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes—an FHA-insured mortgage can be used to buy some foreclosure properties in North Carolina, but the deal must fit both FHA lending rules and North Carolina’s foreclosure-sale timeline. The biggest practical restriction is timing: many…
