How long does a surviving spouse have to open an estate? | NC

About this video

Q: How long does a surviving spouse have to open an estate after someone dies, and what happens if they delay? A: In many cases, there is not one simple deadline that forces a surviving spouse to open a probate estate by a certain number of days after death. But waiting can still cause real problems. Until someone qualifies and the court issues letters, there is no court-authorized personal…