News and Articles

How do I challenge a purported executor or beneficiary who lacks legal appointment or documentation? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, no one has authority to act for a decedent’s estate until the Clerk of Superior Court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration. If someone is holding themselves out as “executor” or…

What should I know before signing and filing a verified surplus funds petition? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, surplus funds from a court-ordered (judicial) sale are applied to sale costs and liens first; any balance usually belongs to the record owner at the time of sale or, if deceased, the owner’s estate.…

How do I notify other heirs about my petition for surplus funds? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you notify other heirs by first filing your petition with the Clerk of Superior Court and having the clerk issue a proper summons, then serving each heir under Rule 4 (sheriff, certified mail, or approved…

What steps do I need to file a petition for surplus funds in North Carolina Superior Court? – North Carolina Short Answer File a verified petition with the Clerk of Superior Court in the North Carolina county where the court-ordered sale occurred, serve all interested parties, and request a hearing. The clerk will issue an…

What legal options do I have to recover proceeds if I was shortchanged in the sale of inherited property? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, heirs and trust beneficiaries can demand a formal accounting, challenge improper sales, and seek court remedies against the fiduciary (trustee or personal representative). If duties were breached or…

What steps can I take to challenge a trustee for breaching duties and misusing trust assets? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, beneficiaries can demand information and an accounting, ask the Clerk of Superior Court to remove or suspend a trustee, and file a civil lawsuit for breach of trust to recover losses…

What happens if my co-tenant paid all carrying costs but we didn’t sign an agreement on reimbursement? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina partition cases, a co-tenant who paid necessary carrying costs (like property taxes, insurance, mortgage interest, and essential repairs) can usually ask the Clerk of Superior Court to credit those amounts…

How do we calculate and deduct carrying costs from each co-tenant’s share in a partition sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina partition by sale, the Clerk of Superior Court can credit “carrying costs” (like property taxes, insurance, mortgage interest, and necessary repairs) to the co-tenant who advanced them, then proportionally charge…

Can a consent order resolve our dispute over carrying costs instead of holding another hearing? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In a North Carolina partition special proceeding, the Clerk of Superior Court can enter a consent order that resolves how carrying costs (like taxes, insurance, or mortgage interest paid to preserve the property) will…

How can I ask the court to reimburse me for carrying costs I paid while the property was co-owned? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina partition by sale, you ask the Clerk of Superior Court to award you “credits” or contribution for necessary carrying costs (like property taxes, insurance, mortgage interest, and…

What assets and debts must I list and how do I notify creditors? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, your Inventory (AOC-E-505) lists all probate assets you control as executor, with date-of-death values. Real estate is listed differently depending on whether it’s devised to the estate or only reachable to pay debts; life…

What are the steps to open a full probate estate under a simple will? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you open a full probate by filing the original will and an Application for Probate and Letters with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the decedent lived. If appointed, you…

Will any liens or judgments against the decedent’s estate reduce the foreclosure surplus funds I can collect? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, foreclosure surplus funds are first used to pay junior liens that actually attached to the property (for example, later deeds of trust, tax or HOA liens). General estate debts or…

How can I recover foreclosure surplus funds from a property in North Carolina when my spouse held title and has died without a will? Short Answer In North Carolina, surplus funds from a foreclosure are held by the Clerk of Superior Court and paid to the person legally entitled after a hearing. When the owner…

If my former partner buys out my interest, how is the buyout price determined? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, co-owners usually set a buyout price by starting with the home’s current fair market value (often via an independent appraisal), then applying credits and debits for things like taxes, insurance, necessary repairs, improvements,…

How do I start a partition action to end co-ownership of our former domestic partnership home? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a partition case starts as a special proceeding before the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the property sits. Any co-owner can file and must serve all other co-owners…

Can I get reimbursed for the renovation labor and supplies I contributed under a partition action? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina partition law, a co-owner can usually receive credits for necessary carrying costs (like taxes and insurance) and for permanent improvements, but the credit for improvements is based on the value they…

What evidence do I need to prove I paid half of the property expenses in court? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina partition case, you prove contribution by showing clear, verifiable records that tie each payment to the property and to you. Bring tax bills and insurance declarations with matching canceled checks…

How can I force a sale of our jointly owned home when my former partner refuses to cooperate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, any co-owner can start a partition case to force a division or sale of jointly owned real estate. The Clerk of Superior Court will order a sale if the…

What steps do I need to take to recover a fair share of proceeds from a disputed sale of co-owned land? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a co-owner generally cannot sell more than their own undivided interest in land; a forged signature on a deed is void and conveys nothing. To secure…