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My father recently passed away. He did not have a will. My mother is alive and was his legal spouse. Most of the assets are in both of their names. My dad had a life insurance policy on me and one for my sister where he was beneficiary. My mom was not listed on the policies. He had taken out a loan... View More 
answered on Jun 28, 2022
You don't have to go to court at all, if your mother will be administering his estate. Have her meet with an attorney as to what to do, as the attorney will want to review all assets and debts related to the estate, before giving any definitive answer. If you or your sister intend to... View More
sister had no will. not married and no children.
answered on Jun 23, 2022
If you want your name on a deed, you will have to file one at the register of deeds. You can do this, but I advise you get a lawyer to draw up the document.
The actual legal transference happens when you probate a copy of her estate in the county where the property is located.
My husband and I were married 21 years. During that time he had children with other women out of wedlock. What constitutes those children being legitimate to inherit from him? He isn't on either of their birth certificates. He did pay child support and signed an affidavit while legally still... View More
answered on Jun 7, 2022
Unfortunately in this scenario, all of your husband's biological children as well as yourself are heirs. However, there are some options available to you as the spouse that may cause all of the assets to pass directly to you rather than to all of the heirs.
Contact myself or another... View More
We can only find a copy of my grandfather's Will. His attorney has a copy as well but the original was given back to him
answered on Jun 2, 2022
Without your grandfather's original signature any copy is just that a copy.
If there is no will and the only major asset was a primary residence owned jointly with the surviving spouse, will the surviving spouse be eligible for 100% of the real estate simply because they were jointly on title? All other assets probably worth under $20K.
answered on Jun 2, 2022
Without seeing the deed I cant say for certain but I would be very surprised if the estate did not pass exactly as you describe.
of deeds. Probate rep agreed these were real estate and not included in probate. Final Accting probate rep says they are included since my Mom's will says executor must liquidate remainder of estate, both real and personal, and distribute assets. If they aren't part of probate, then how... View More
answered on May 31, 2022
Without seeing the will, I can't give a definite opinion on the status of the plots. However, generally speaking, real property will always pass outside of probate unless it is either brought back into the estate to pay bills or left explicitly to the executor in trust.
To go through probate or can I continue with the home loan through the bank?
answered on May 12, 2022
Unless the house is specifically mentioned in the will that it is to become part of the estate it does not automatically become part of the estate. The executor of the estate will likely have to join in the sale to release any potential interest the estate has but you should do everything in your... View More
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answered on Apr 29, 2022
Hire a NC attorney to search the title. It is very possible that both of you owned as Tenants In Common, such that her issue take her one/half interest as Heirs.
Just before my father passed, he and I set up a savings account online with me as a joint owner.
We neglected to add me on the checking account.
The day after he passed, a check auto-deposited in the checking account. Thinking I was joint on both, I transferred the money to the... View More
answered on Apr 18, 2022
The funds in the checking account at the time of death are part of your father's estate. Because this money was transferred after death, it becomes much harder to determine the ownership. To access the account, you will have to go through the probate process and be appointed the personal... View More
My grandfather died without a will and he owns the house and has a sizable bank account not in my name. He has no heirs other than me. What do I need to do to get them in my name. I was adopted by my biological grandma and he was married to her the moment she passed away and continued to raise me.... View More
answered on Apr 14, 2022
There are a couple of questions that will need to be answered before I can give you specific advice. Did your grandfather adopt you as well? And second, are you biologically related to your grandfather? If you can answer yes to either of those questions, you can likely get his assets transferred to... View More
How can I get the vehicles off my property with out trying to take claim of them through becoming an administrator of his estate or possibly doing an mvr-317? Can I try to get an abandoned title since they have been on my property longer than 30 days? Can I just have them hauled off at worst? What... View More
answered on Apr 5, 2022
A bond for this small of an estate would be pretty small, additionally, if you are on good terms with your family they can waive the bond. This may be the best way to handle the matter as it will be quicker. Alternatively, you can apply for an abandoned title. Most scrapyards require you to show... View More
We have a nonprofit family association. Land doesn't have deed. Widow of property wants to sell. What are our rights? Cemetery is in NC
answered on Mar 28, 2022
Without reviewing the documents, I couldn't advise you on your options. Please contact a local lawyer to the property and have them review all the documents and give you a full legal opinion.
A family member forged signatures and/ or lied claiming to be sole heir and took possession of property deeds. Now, all land and money matters have been placed on hold but currently, no lawyer is involved to help resolve matter so I'm not sure why matters are on hold or cannot be touched or... View More
answered on Mar 24, 2022
Hire a local lawyer to assist you, this sounds like a very complex issue that will need the specific knowledge that a lawyer will provide.
Need to know what to do to get a new deed with her name removed I'm disabled we have guardianship of our nieces her side I had gotten gangrene right after she past away and COVID had to have a limb removed so it's been kind of difficult dealing with this death and the sickness and... View More
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answered on Feb 21, 2022
There are attorneys in this forum that very much would like to help, but we can't without more information. At a minimum an attorney would need to look at your existing deed to see exactly how title is vested now. The existing vesting determines what direction to take. You might want to... View More
We live in NC. I never knew that tenants by the entirety existed until after we executed the deed. I added her name because I'm significantly older than her and thought it was probably a good idea. We were dating when I bought the house. We have had a joint bank account since before the... View More
answered on Feb 15, 2022
Without more information, I cannot give a definitive answer, but unless you had actual knowledge that the lawsuit was imminent you are likely okay.
Had contact to build fence. Made payment. Contractor died. Wife said she would include our claim. Numerous text messages. Finally I called courts. No probate case filed in his county of residence. Inform wife and now she isn’t responding. Can I sue his unfurled estate for my deposit?
answered on Jan 21, 2022
Once 90 days since the death has passed, any interested party can open the estate and apply to be the administrator. However, you will likely have to post a bond, and the wife can claim the first $60,000 in the estate before any creditors get paid. I don't know how much your deposit was, but... View More
This has been granted through the courts. How does she access this money & what can it be used for?
I don't understand where the money comes from (all that we have listed on the form is cars/boat/personal property). All bank accounts were joint. Is this money that she can get to... View More
answered on Jan 14, 2022
Without seeing the actual order, I cant tell you how to access it. Generally speaking, you would take a certified copy of the order to the bank or other entity and that would allow her to withdraw the money or transfer the interest. But once she has the money it is her money.
Mom is executor and trustee. Can mom avoid going to clerk of court or does she now have to open an estate? Should she still fill out that there is a will?
What does this mean..."If the trust hereinabove referred to in is not in effect at my death, or if for any other reason the... View More
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answered on Jan 14, 2022
You are describing what sounds like a pour-over will. It means that the testator wants all of his property to be administered by the terms of his (or their) trust. The best practice is to transfer all property to the trust during lifetime. The pour over will is only there to catch things that... View More
POA added her name to accounts making them joint accounts to have survivorship rights and to block Executor of estate from seeing what money was spent on. Used Zelle to move money out of joint accounts to pay credit cards and into personal accounts. Paid car note off then sold car and mothers car... View More
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answered on Jan 11, 2022
This is a classic case of breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and probably other torts (and crimes). The case against the wrongdoer is an asset of the estate. As the executor, you have the authority to sue the wrongdoer on behalf of the estate for the return of the stolen funds. This is not a... View More
answered on Dec 2, 2021
Depends on how close together the deaths are, and whether or not wills are in place for both parties. Bring everything to a local estate planning attorney and ask them for their opinion on how to proceed.
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