Explore our informative articles, insights, and updates focused on North Carolina Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Partition Actions, and Surplus Fund cases. Our goal is to make these complex topics accessible, offering you guidance and understanding at each step of the legal process. Whether you’re looking to navigate probate administration, protect your assets through careful planning, understand partition actions, or resolve issues with surplus funds, our articles are designed to empower you with practical advice, legal insights, and actionable steps. Stay informed and feel confident as you make decisions about your estate and legal matters.
Do I have to agree or sign anything for the sale to proceed, and what happens if I don’t? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina partition sale, a co-owner’s signature or agreement is generally not required for the court-ordered sale to go forward once the clerk has ordered a sale and appointed…
How can I calculate what each person will receive when a life estate and remainder interests are involved in a partition sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina partition sale involving a life estate and remaindermen, the court first orders the property sold and pays closing costs, court costs, commissioner fees, and…
Does the power of attorney for the life tenant control that share, and what protections exist if they misuse the funds? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina partition sale, the life tenant is entitled to the value of the life estate share, and a valid power of attorney generally allows the agent…
Does having the mortgage only in my name change how equity is split if both of us are on title? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if both co-owners are on the deed, the starting point is that equity is shared according to the ownership stated on title, not whose name is on…
How can I sell a jointly owned home when the other owner insists on an equal split even though I paid the entire down payment and loan? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, co-owners generally share sale proceeds based on the ownership listed in the deed, but a cotenant who has paid the…
If the other owner refuses to cooperate with listing or closing, what are my options? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a co-owner who wants to sell is not stuck just because another co-owner refuses to list or close. A co-owner may file a partition action in superior court asking the court…
If both of our names are on the deed but only I paid for the property, can a court award me a larger share or reimburse the down payment? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, when both parties are on the deed, each normally owns an equal share of the property. However,…
If the deed lists only my partner but I funded the purchase, do I still have ownership or repayment rights when the home is sold? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, legal ownership usually follows the name on the deed, but courts can sometimes recognize financial or equitable rights for a non-titled…
Can we resolve this without going to court through mediation or a written agreement at closing, and how would that affect timing and costs? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, co-owners in a potential partition dispute can usually resolve how to divide sale proceeds without going to court by using a written agreement…
What proof should I gather to show I paid the down payment and all mortgage payments so I can be reimbursed before splitting the net? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a cotenant who pays the property’s carrying costs—such as the down payment, mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, and necessary repairs—may ask the…
How can I use a partition action to divide sale proceeds so my contributions are credited instead of an automatic 50/50 split? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a co-owner can use a partition proceeding not only to force a sale, but also to ask the court to credit that co-owner for…
What is the typical timeline after a co-owner is served in a partition case, and how do extensions affect when a hearing is set? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina partition case, a respondent who has been served generally has 30 days from service to file an answer, and the clerk can…
Can a court make a co-owner move out or remove them if they block showings, appraisals, or the commissioner during a partition case? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a court can remove an occupying co-owner from the property in a partition case, but this usually happens only after the court orders…
What happens if a will says someone has a life estate but the deed transferred the property before death without a life estate? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a valid deed that transferred property during the owner’s lifetime usually controls over a later or conflicting provision in a will. If the…
Do we have to file for guardianship if capacity is uncertain, and what does that process involve from start to finish? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a guardianship case is usually filed only if an adult cannot understand decisions well enough to manage essential personal, housing, or financial matters, and less-restrictive options…
How can I get legal authority to handle a parent’s lease if they don’t fully understand a power of attorney? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if a parent cannot understand and sign a power of attorney, the main options to handle a lease are (1) a limited guardianship or (2) a court-ordered…
If a friend already has guardianship, can that guardian sign housing or property paperwork and help us with the lease? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a guardian can usually sign housing or lease paperwork only if that person has authority over the ward’s property (as a general guardian or guardian of…
What happens if the person has good and bad days with memory or awareness—can a power of attorney still be signed and be valid? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a power of attorney can be validly signed on a “good day” if, at the time of signing, the person understands in…
Can I manage my sibling’s finances as guardian even if I cannot contribute my own funds, and how is that different from being a representative payee? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a guardian of the estate manages the ward’s money and property but is not required to spend personal funds on…
Do I need to notify or get consent from other siblings before the court will appoint me, and what if someone objects? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina adult guardianship cases, a sibling does not have to obtain written consent from other siblings to be appointed guardian, but the law does require formal…