can an attorney administer an estate when a decedent died intestate north carolina

by Anibal Brakus 10 min read

A local probate court will appoint an administrator who will divide up the estate according to the provisions of the NC intestate succession laws. In the first instance, the intestate estate of any resident of North Carolina who dies will be divided up according to the terms of their will, to the extent that it is lawful.

Full Answer

What happens when someone dies without a will in North Carolina?

Aug 23, 2010 · In North Carolina, if a person dies without a Will, that person is said to have died "intestate," and the Administrator is the person who handles the deceased person's (decedent's) estate. If the person died with an original of his/her last Will, that person has died "testate," and the Executor named in the Will would be handling the estate.

Who is the Administrator of an estate in North Carolina?

If the decedent died without a will, a person authorized under G.S. 28A-4-1 may qualify to administer the estate by applying to the Clerk of Superior Court using this form. Side two of this form contains a preliminary listing of the assets of the …

What are the laws of intestacy in North Carolina?

REGULAR ADMINISTRATION OF AN ESTATE 1. Will, Letters, Executor, Administrator, Personal Representative (a) When a person dies with a will, the person is said to have died “testate.” When a person dies without a will, the person has died “intestate.” (b) When a person has died, a search should be made to see if that

How does intestate succession work in North Carolina?

To inherit under North Carolina's intestate succession statutes, a person must outlive you by 120 hours. So, if you and your brother are in a car accident and he dies a few hours after you do, his estate would not receive any of your property. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 29-13.

Who can administer an intestate estate?

The person dealing with the estate of the person who has died is called an executor or an administrator. An executor is someone who is named in the will as responsible for dealing with the estate. An executor may have to apply for a special legal authority before they can deal with the estate. This is called probate.

Who can be an administrator of an estate in NC?

If the decedent died intestate—without a will—or there is no executor named or available, the Clerk of the Superior Court will name an administrator as the personal representative for the estate. Generally, the administrator is the surviving spouse, an adult child, or other beneficiary.Jul 20, 2017

How is an estate distributed in North Carolina according to intestate succession?

Your entire estate will pass to and be divided equally among your parents. If there is only one parent, he or she receives everything. All property and possessions are divided evenly among the children. If there is only one child, he or she receives everything.Aug 27, 2020

How long does intestate executor have to settle an estate in NC?

You should expect it to take a minimum of six months to a year to settle an estate because of the legal notice requirements and time that creditors have to submit claims against the estate. Creditors have 90 days from the first publication date of the notice of probate.

Who can apply for probate if no will?

When someone dies without a will they are said to have died 'intestate' and no one has immediate authority to act as their personal representative. Instead, one of their relatives needs to apply to the Probate Registry for a grant of letters of administration.

Does real estate have to go through probate in North Carolina?

Unlike South Carolina and many other states, real property in North Carolina does not typically pass through probate. When a decedent dies intestate (without a Will), title to the decedent's non-survivorship real property is vested in his or heir heirs as of the time of death [G.S. 28A-15-2(b)].

What is intestate succession law?

intestate succession, in the law of inheritance, succession to property that has not been disposed of by a valid last will or testament.

Who inherits if no will in North Carolina?

Under the North Carolina statutes, if you are survived by: 1. No spouse or children, with parent(s) living: Your entire estate will pass to and be divided equally among your parents. If only one parent is still living, then everything will pass to the living parent.

How do you settle an estate without a will?

Pay the decedent's outstanding debts and taxes. Account to the court and seek an order for final distribution. As per the court order, pay yourself as Administrator of the Estate and your counsel. Distribute remaining assets to family, heirs, and beneficiaries, per the court order.

Can an executor sell property of the estate without all beneficiaries approving?

The short answer is yes: in certain situations. If there's no explicit instructions in the will, an executor does have the authority to sell property without approval from all beneficiaries. The notice of sale will be sent to all beneficiaries.Sep 17, 2021

Can executor sell property without all beneficiaries approving in NC?

The executor can sell property without getting all of the beneficiaries to approve. However, notice will be sent to all the beneficiaries so that they know of the sale but they don't have to approve of the sale.

Can personal possessions be distributed before probate?

As previously mentioned, there are no legal guidelines when it comes to deciding how to divide personal possessions, so it's up to the Executor and the Beneficiaries to decide between themselves. One option might be for all Beneficiaries to list out 5 or 10 items that they would want, in order of priority.Oct 15, 2018

Which Assets Pass by Intestate Succession

Only assets that would have passed through your will are affected by intestate succession laws. Usually, that includes only assets that you own alo...

Who Gets What in North Carolina?

Under intestate succession, who gets what depends on whether or not you have living children, parents, or other close relatives when you die. Here’...

The Spouse’S Share in North Carolina

In North Carolina, if you are married and you die without a will, what your spouse gets depends on whether or not you have living parents or descen...

Children’S Shares in North Carolina

If you die without a will in North Carolina, your children will receive an “intestate share” of your property. The size of each child’s share depen...

Will The State Get Your Property?

If you die without a will and don’t have any family, your property will “escheat” into the state’s coffers. However, this very rarely happens becau...

Other North Carolina Intestate Succession Rules

Here are a few other things to know about North Carolina intestacy laws. 1. Survivorship period. To inherit under North Carolina’s intestate succes...

When Is Probate Required?

Generally, probate is necessary only when the decedent owned property in his or her name alone. Often, individuals consult with an attorney and use...

Who Is Responsible For Probating An Estate?

The person responsible for probating and administering an estate is referred to as the personal representative. If the decedent has a valid will, r...

How Does The Probate Process in North Carolina Work?

The process begins at the office of the Clerk of Superior Court in the decedent’s county of residence. Either the executor named in the will or a p...

Other North Carolina Estate Administration Processes

In the case of small estates, North Carolina has a simplified process involving collection by affidavit that may be available. The process applies...

Do I Need An Attorney to Probate An Estate?

Being the personal representative for an estate is a significant legal responsibility. With estates having substantial assets or more than a minima...

Talk With An Experienced Northeastern North Carolina Probate Attorney

The best way to ensure that your loved one’s estate is administered properly through the probate process and otherwise is to consult with an experi...

What happens if a person dies with an original of his/her last will?

If the person died with an original of his/her last Will, that person has died "testate," and the Executor named in the Will would be handling the estate. This is the most important distinction to make before going through the steps of handling a deceased person's estate.

What is a letter of administration?

Letters of Administration are the official written authorization to carry out the responsibilities as Administrator of the estate. This application form calls for a preliminary inventory of all assets of the decedent as of the date of death. This is important because that means you as the applicant must have a general knowledge ...

Do you need to take an oath to be an administrator?

You must also take an oath or make an affirmation to carry out all the duties as Administrator faithfully and honestly , and in most circumstances you will need to furnish a bond as Administrator. This is only the very beginning of the process.

What happens when someone dies without a will?

When somebody dies without a will, it’s called dying “intestate,” and when this happens, state law determines what happens to the person’s possessions. While it’s good to know what will happen according to state law, this is almost never what you would want to happen in your specific situation, therefore the need for a will.

What happens if you don't have a will?

The Potential Loss to Your Family. Without a will, the estate court has no idea who should get what. This tends to be settled in the most straightforward manner: Sell everything and split the proceeds. This means that things of great value to your family, such as heirlooms, may be sold and may or may not be recovered.

How much does a spouse get if they have only one parent?

If you only have one living parent, they get all of it. If you have a living spouse and parents, but no children, your spouse receives the first $50,000, and the rest is split between your spouse and parent (s). If you have a living spouse, but no children or living parents, your spouse gets everything.

What does a child receive from a spouse?

Your child receives the other half of personal property and real estate. Descendants of children are also included. If you have a living spouse and two or more children, your spouse gets the first $30,000, one third of remaining personal property and one third of real estate. Your children split the rest.

What happens if you have no living spouse?

If you have no living spouse, children or parents, but have living siblings, everything is divided equally amongst your siblings. If you have none of those there are additional rules dividing property amongst more remote relatives. If you have no living relatives at all, your assets go to the State.

Can unmarried couples get married?

Unmarried Partners. Not everyone wants to, or can, get married. Intestate succession leaves unmarried partners out in the cold. This often affects second and subsequent relationships entered into late in life; many older couples elect not to get married .

Can you die without a will in North Carolina?

Dying Without A Will: Intestate Succession In North Carolina. Despite the benefits, far too many people in North Carolina don’t have a will. In many cases this is because they don’t think they need one, that wills are only useful if you have a certain amount of money, for people with larger families, or any number of other reasons.

What happens to your intestate property if you die with your parents?

If you do, they and your spouse will share your intestate property as follows: If you die with parents but no descendants. Your surviving spouse inherits 1/2 of your intestate real estate and a portion of your intestate personal property, as described in the chart above.

How long do you have to outlive to inherit in North Carolina?

Survivorship period. To inherit under North Carolina's intestate succession statutes, a person must outlive you by 120 hours. So, if you and your brother are in a car accident and he dies a few hours after you do, ...

How much does a spouse inherit?

spouse inherits 1/2 of your intestate real estate and a portion of your intestate personal property (if you die with personal property worth $100,000 or less, your spouse inherits all of it; if you have more than $100,000 worth of personal property, your spouse inherits $100,000 plus 1/2 of the balance)

How much does Jed inherit from Barrett?

When Barrett dies, the cabin passes to Jed and the children in equal shares. Jed inherits $140,000 worth of Barrett's personal property -- that is, $60,000 plus $80,000 (1/3 of the $240,000 balance). Barrett's two children inherit $80,000 each.

Why won't my property go to the state?

However, this very rarely happens because the laws are designed to get your property to anyone who was even remotely related to you. For example, your property won't go to the state if you leave a spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, or cousins.

Who inherits Gerry's intestate property?

The remaining $25,000 worth of Gerry's intestate property goes to Gerry's father. If you die with one child or descendants of that child. Your surviving spouse inherits 1/2 of your intestate real estate and a portion of your intestate personal property, as described in the chart above.

Can you have assets passed through your will?

Only assets that would have passed through your will are affected by intestate succession laws. Usually, that includes only assets that you own alone, in your own name. Many valuable assets don't go through your will and aren't affected by intestate succession laws. Here are some examples:

What is an estate with no will called?

An estate with no will, where the decedent dies without a will, is called an “intestate” estate and is settled through intestate succession. Unfortunately, since so many people never get around to having a will prepared, their loves ones are left to deal with the administration of the intestate estate.

How many people do not have a will?

According to some estimates, over 55% of Americans today do not have a Last Will and Testament or any other kind of estate plan. Having a will or other estate plan in place is one of the most important things a person can do to protect their families.

What is the surviving spouse's right to dispose of property in NC?

Under North Carolina law, however, a surviving spouse (husband or wife), regardless of a decedent’s WILL , has a right to claim a certain minimum portion of the decedent’s entire estate, reduced by the net value of assets, if any, passing to a surviving spouse from the decedent. The actual amount that the surviving spouse can claim is called the ELECTIVE SHARE, and is determined by a statutory formula based on the length of marriage. The formula is GENERALLY summarized as follows:

What is estate tax in North Carolina?

The Federal government taxes the right to pass property to others at the decedent’s death. This is commonly referred to as the ESTATE TAX. North Carolina repealed its ESTATE TAX as of January 1, 2013. In assessing the ESTATE TAX, the Internal Revenue Service looks at the fair market value of ALL the decedent’s assets (including life insurance, retirement pans and assets in the decedent’s revocable/inter vivos trust) at death.

What is a durable power of attorney?

A power of attorney is written instrument by which one person as principal, appoints another person as his or her agent and grants the designated person the power to handle his or her affairs and property. The person executing the power of attorney must have the capacity to understand the nature and significance of the act at the time execution.

How do abusive trusts work?

Promoters of abusive trusts try to convince the general public that they must have a trust to shelter their property form taxes and avoid probate. Abusive trust arrangements usually promise benefits that do not actually change the tax payer’s status or create any benefit for the taxpayer. Or, they claim to eliminate federal taxes in ways not allowed under federal tax laws. The old adage that “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is” applies here. You should ask an attorney to review the materials provided by the promoter.

What is an advance directive?

With an Advanced Directive, you may authorize your physician to withhold life support and feeding tubes if you are terminally ill or in a permanent coma. You may make different choices as to the level of care to be withheld or discontinued (for example, respirator care only, or also the withholding or discontinuance of artificial nutrition or hydration). A statutory form Advance Directive (also known as a Declaration of a Desire for a Natural Death) has been adopted by the North Carolina General Assembly.

What happens to property when you die in NC?

person ceases to own property at the moment when he or she dies. In estate matters the person who died is referred to as the decedent. In North Carolina, all real property interests which a person owns at the time of death vest immediately in the decedent's heirs at law, however, subject to defeasance by the various estate matters, including probate of a valid Last Will and Testament. NCGS § 28A-15-2(b) and NCGS § 31-39. As a result, any conveyance of a decedent's real property must be given special care to assure that the proper parties are conveying the property and that estate requirements have been met.

What happens to title after death?

The death of an owner of an inheritable interest in real property triggers a transfer of title to the property. The title passes through the estate and the result of the transfer is affected by several factors, such as whether or not the owner had a will or died intestate. Among other things, the certifying attorney must determine to whom the title passes, the risk of dissent from a will or a caveat proceeding, whether all known creditors have been paid and the right of any additional creditors to file a claim, and whether federal and/or estate taxes have been paid or will be due. All of these matters can affect the validity of a conveyance of a decedent’s real property. This manuscript reviews many of the common problems encountered in determining the status of title to the decedent’s real property and the ability of the decedent’s heirs/devisees to convey said property.

What is the term for the right to inherit property after death of spouse?

This is called a "right of survivorship". The real property does not pass through the decedent spouse's estate, unless the surviving spouse disclaims the property.

What is the purpose of a title company certifying attorney?

The title company relies upon the attorney to certify that all matters involving administration of the estate are satisfactorily addressed. Therefore, the specific requirements and exceptions are based on what information the certifying attorney provides in the preliminary opinion.

What does a title company rely on?

Title companies rely upon the certifying attorney to review the decedent's estate file to determine that the will is probated, the identity of the heirs when intestate, an Estate Tax Release/Certification is filed, the Notice to Creditors was published, and a Final Accounting is filed at the time of a conveyance. The reasons for each of these are as follows:

What Does North Carolina Law Say About Intestate Succession?

  • Like other states, North Carolina law determines how property is divided ifsomeone dies intestate. Not all property is subject to the law. For example, if you own a house jointly with your spouse, then they will get the house after your death without any court process. It also doesn’t include things like retirement accounts, payable-on-death accoun...
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Intestate Succession and Family Squabbles

  • Another potential example of an issue is if you have three children and might want to will them everything – but, if you don’t leave a will, there’s no record of what you wanted to go to who. Let’s say you have a nice classic car, which both your children want. Without a will, who gets it? This is likely to cause conflict at a time of great stress for your family. Even if you discuss it with them, …
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The Potential Loss to Your Family

  • Without a will, the estate court has no idea who should get what. This tends to be settled in the most straightforward manner: Sell everything and split the proceeds. This means that things of great value to your family, such as heirlooms, may be sold and may or may not be recovered. Your heirs might have to buy things they should have inherited. By writing a will, you can rule that cert…
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Unmarried Partners

  • Not everyone wants to, or can, get married. Intestate succession leaves unmarried partners out in the cold. This often affects second and subsequent relationships entered into late in life; many older coupleselect not to get married. In some cases this is because it might affect social security or pension benefits (for example, if somebody is reliant on a pension from their deceased or div…
See more on mccollumlawpc.com