News and Articles

Can I recover the property taxes and mortgage payments I’ve paid on our jointly inherited home in a partition action in North Carolina? — North Carolina Short Answer Yes, North Carolina courts commonly award a cotenant credits for necessary carrying costs—like property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, mortgage payments, and essential repairs—paid on jointly owned property. Those…

How do I get my parent’s house put in my and my siblings’ names now that he died without a will in North Carolina? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, when someone dies without a will, title to their real estate passes immediately to the heirs at death, but it remains subject to…

What do I need to do to take over the mortgage on my father’s home after his death in North Carolina? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, title to a home typically passes to heirs or devisees at death, but any deed of trust (mortgage) remains on the property. Keep the loan current,…

What happens if an heir living in my inherited property in North Carolina won’t move out or agree to sell their share? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, each heir who co-owns inherited real estate has an equal right to possess it, so you usually cannot evict a co-owner. If you cannot agree…

How can I prove I’m my dad’s child for inheritance when his name isn’t on my birth certificate? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a child can inherit from a biological father even if his name isn’t on the birth certificate, but paternity must be legally established. The most common routes are a…

How do I get appointed administrator of my sister’s estate in North Carolina when she died without a will? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you apply with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where your sister lived, using the Application for Letters of Administration. The clerk appoints an eligible person…

How can I protect my inheritance in North Carolina if a family member contests the estate? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a will contest starts when an interested person files a “caveat” with the Clerk of Superior Court. The case immediately shifts to Superior Court for a jury to decide whether the…

What are my options if they only ask the court to sell the house without setting buyout terms? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you can respond to a partition sale petition by asking the Clerk of Superior Court to consider other outcomes: division of the land (partition in kind), a court-ordered buyout…

What happens if mediation fails and the court orders our co-owned house sold? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if mediation doesn’t resolve a partition case and the Clerk of Superior Court orders a sale, the court typically appoints a commissioner or broker to sell the property and applies judicial sale procedures. There…

How can I force the sale of a property when my co-owner refuses further mediation? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you file a partition action with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the property sits. The clerk decides first whether the land can be fairly divided between co-owners; if…

What is the process of refinancing and buying out the other owner? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you can buy out a co-owner either by agreement (a voluntary buyout financed with your refinance) or through a partition proceeding before the Clerk of Superior Court. If the property is heirs’ property, state law…

What are the risks if we grant the other owner a life estate in the property instead of selling it? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, giving a co-owner a life estate lets that person stay in the property for life and usually blocks a forced sale by the future owners (the remaindermen).…

What notices do I need to send to notify all heirs when opening probate in North Carolina? — North Carolina Short Answer North Carolina does not require a blanket “notice to all heirs” when you open probate. If there is a will, the Clerk of Superior Court mails notice to the named beneficiaries after the…

How do I finalize probate administration when the will is outdated and ensure I have authority to sell the property? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a personal representative may sell estate real estate if the will clearly gives a power of sale or if the Clerk of Superior Court authorizes a sale…

How can I sell my father’s house when the reverse mortgage lender keeps requesting renunciation letters? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you usually need a court‑appointed personal representative (executor or administrator) with authority to sell, or the signed joinder of all heirs, to pass clear title—especially within two years of death. Lenders…

What can I do if my uncle refuses to sign the renunciation needed to for me to qualify as personal representative? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you do not need a signed renunciation if a higher‑priority person refuses to cooperate. After set waiting periods, you can ask the Clerk of Superior Court…

How do I include a house I own outside North Carolina in my North Carolina will? — North Carolina Short Answer Yes—you can include out-of-state real estate in your North Carolina will. After you pass, North Carolina will generally honor a will that was validly executed, but the state where the house sits controls how…

What options do I have to divide or force the sale of co-owned farmland when heirs can’t agree? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, any co-owner of farmland held as tenants in common can file a partition proceeding to either divide the land (partition in kind) or ask the court to order a…

What’s the first step to determine who legally owns a portion of my grandfather’s land in North Carolina? — North Carolina Short Answer The first step is to confirm the chain of title and identify every current owner. In North Carolina, real estate passes at death to the heirs (if no will) or to the…

Can I challenge transfers made under a power of attorney if I suspect my grandfather lacked capacity at the time? — North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, you can ask the court to review an agent’s transactions under a power of attorney, compel a full accounting, and undo or recover improper transfers. You…