Comprehensive Guide to Estate Asset Inventory in North Carolina
Once an executor or administrator – the deceased’s personal representative – has been granted authority by the court, the probate process begins. Their first job will be to evaluate all of the nonexempt elements of the state and inventory them. This can include getting appraisals of certain types of property, such as real estate.
Assets placed in trusts and certain types of accounts that are payable to a beneficiary upon death are exempt from probate. The value of these items also do not contribute to the total value of the deceased’s estate. This means that effective estate planning can help larger estates qualify for streamlined options.
Resolving Debts and Obligations
Personal representatives will need to place an advertisement of the deceased’s probate proceeding in a local newspaper for four weeks. This gives creditors the opportunity to file claims about any outstanding debts. In addition, the personal representative must undertake a reasonable investigation to identify outstanding debts of the deceased and directly contact those creditors.
There are some situations where the deceased might owe more money to creditors than what the estate is presently worth. North Carolina enforces rules over what debts receive priority in these instances: Assets with liens attached must be paid first, then funeral and burial expenses, then taxes.
It is possible that not all debts may be ultimately resolved, but the estate’s assets may need to be liquidated to pay as much as possible, even if this means the asset cannot be distributed in accordance with the deceased’s wishes. However, there is an exception for monetary support for a surviving spouse and minor children. Those immediate family members are entitled to one year of financial support.
Finally, the personal representative is responsible for filing final state and federal tax returns for the deceased. Federal estate taxes will not apply to a grand majority of estates. Their total value must exceed $11.58 million as of 2020, and assets protected by trusts do not contribute to this total. North Carolina no longer has a state level estate tax.
Distribution of Assets and Concluding the Process
Once all debts have been paid, the personal representative can begin the distribution of all remaining assets. If a will is available, property should be distributed in strict accordance with the deceased’s written intentions. Otherwise, assets must be divided in accordance with North Carolina’s intestacy laws, which dictate that property is given to the surviving most immediate family members.
The personal representative is required to submit a final report to the probate court. This document and its supporting evidence should include a full accounting of every action the representative took, including the placement of newspaper advertisements, contacting of creditors, payment of debts, and distribution of assets. Upon receipt and acceptance of this report, the court will formally “settle” and close the estate.
Ready to Start Probate? Contact Oak City Estate Planning Today(919) 975-5359 or contact us online for a Free Consultation.
Why You Need a Lawyer to Manage Probate in North Carolina
The personal representative shoulders an immense amount of responsibility in the wake of a loved one’s passing. You may be aggrieved to learn that you have been named executor if you have no financial background or bandwidth to conduct the work necessary in probate. In these situations, quality legal representation can give you the assistance that you need to efficiently move through the process.
Our Raleigh probate lawyer at Oak City Estate Planning can be your partner in this difficult moment. If you feel overwhelmed by probate or do not even know where to begin, our team can walk you through each step. We are intimately familiar with North Carolina courts’ expectations and requirements and can assist you in fulfilling your obligations as a personal representative.
What Is Probate?
Probate is the process of “settling” and closing an estate after someone passes away. It is a legal process that involving the cooperation with a local court, with each state operating under different rules and procedures.
It is during the probate process that a last will and testament, and a critical element of any estate plan, is authenticated and examined. A will deemed valid will serve as a guide for moving through probate, including doing everything possible to honor the final wishes and intentions of the deceased. Steps of probate include identifying heirs, managing any disputes, settling outstanding debts, and distributing assets.
The costs and time associated with probate vary by the size and complexity of the estate being probated. Smaller, simpler estates with relatively few assets can often be settled in several weeks. Larger estates with numerous assets can take far longer, especially since valuable property tends to be the subject of protracted disputes amongst disgruntled heirs.
-
My husband (46 years old) died suddenly in his sleep without warning. I was 6 months pregnant and had a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old. Planning for our deaths was not a seemingly urgent thing to do in our life phase. Once we became parents we knew how important it was to have a will and a trust so that our plans and hopes for our children could be fulfilled. But, as things often do, stopping for a moment to get this done just didn't happen. It was so much easier to keep kicking the can down the road and letting our future selves worry about that issue.- C.A.
In the grief of losing my husband, children's father, and family's provider there was also so much administrative burden to handle. Had we already had our will and our assets can figured as they should have been, so much fear, anxiety, and confusion could have been avoided.
Right after my husband's death, I contacted Lars and he helped me create a trust, will, and healthcare directive -- I wanted to have this in place before the birth of my third child. It gave me incredible piece of mind to know that my children would be provided for in the manner I would want it to be, as well as knowing I would eliminate my family from unnecessary administrative and financial burdens. And amazingly, it did not take more than a few hours of time!
I highly recommend everyone have a will, but particularly anyone with children or loved ones that will need care should you die. I learned the hard way that you don't plan ahead for the The things that are likely to happen, but for the things that may happen. Thank you Lars for giving me great peace of mind! -
Lars is great! He walked us through the process and made sure that we understood each step. He helped create new categories in the planning process that will ensure we provide our family a detailed outline of our wishes. Highly recommend him to anyone looking to start or continue their estate planning journey.- W.S
-
My wife and I found working with Lars Kissling to be a productive and enlightening experience. His knowledge of estate planning is extensive. He patiently answered our questions and showed both concern and compassion about our own situation. We recommend Oak City Estate Planning. It is truly an investment in your family's future. I think Lars' services are needed by all, especially for families with small children or those with special needs. The end result is piece of mind going forward.- B.B
-
- B.K.
My husband and I were very satisfied with the professional advice from Lars. He recently assisted us in updating our estate plan. He led us through a process that provided clarity on our goals for our plan. We would highly recommend Lars Kissling to others.
-
“He was a great help to me and was very patient to explain all my options, many of which I did not know I had. He also helped me find financial planners which I desperately needed.”- Mary M.
-
“The process was easy and we now have a robust estate plan that covers any and all eventualities, protecting both ourselves and our beneficiaries. We highly recommend Lars at Oak City Estate Planning, having done so with friends and colleagues.”- Phil B.
Our Simple 4-Step Process
-
1IntroductionAfter signing up for a vision meeting, you will watch a video that provides an overview of estate planning.
-
2VisionDuring this meeting, you will meet with Mr. Kissling and discuss your case and specific planning needs.
-
3DesignThe second meeting with the attorney involves sitting with Mr. Kissling and actually putting your plan together.
-
4SigningIn the third and final meeting, you will review the plan, tie up any loose ends, and sign your finalized plan.
Proving the Will and Selecting the Personal Representative
If your loved one names multiple beneficiaries and/or their estate’s value exceeds $20,000, their estate will likely have to go undergo the full probate process. This begins by identifying and granting formal authority to the personal representative of the deceased. It will also include
Hopefully, your loved one left behind a last will and testament that names an executor. This individual, often a family member or legal representative, will be responsible for managing probate and carrying out the final wishes of the deceased.
In order for the designated executor to be approved, the probate court must first “prove” and recognize the last will and testament as legitimate. Formalizing a will in North Carolina involves the presence and signatures of two witnesses. If there is any doubt about the authenticity of the will, those witnesses may need to be summoned to testify.
Many probate delays start with an inability to efficiently prove the will. It may take time to track down witnesses, or they may not be available. There may be other factors, like family members that stand to benefit from the estate but are frustrated with the size of their inheritance disputing the will’s legitimacy. They may claim the deceased was unduly influenced or was not of sound mind when the latest draft was formalized. These conflicts will need to be resolved before probate can proceed and assets can be distributed.
Our Raleigh probate attorney can work with you to resolve disputes over wills as quickly as possible. We are familiar with how these conflicts are adjudicated and can leverage our knowledge to help achieve a positive outcome.
Once the court recognizes a will, the executor named therein will be granted the ability to manage the estate. Should there be no valid will or the named executor is for some reason unavailable, the court will instead appoint an administrator. In North Carolina, a surviving spouse generally has the privilege of assuming the role of personal representative should one not be named. Otherwise, an individual seeking to become the personal representative will need to petition the court.
An important thing to note is that executors or administrators who are not residents of North Carolina will need to appoint a resident to receive court documents. They may also be required to post a bond that protects the estate in instances of incompetency.