This type of case is called a full estate because it requires going through the full probate process. This process has three main phases.   The first step is applying to open up the estate and determining who the heirs are under a will or under North Carolina law if the person that passed away did not have a will. The second step involves completing a detailed inventory of the property that is passing through the Read More

A Spousal Allowance refers to the right a person has to claim the personal property of their spouse even if they have not gone through the full probate or estate administration process.   This tool allows the surviving spouse to access funds ahead of the longer timelines and creditor claims that come with the completion of a full estate administration. The surviving spouse, with a few exceptions, may claim up to Read More

Client Confidence and Satisfaction:Recommending a seller side attorney shows a commitment to providing support and protection for your clients. Having control over your client’s experience by providing a trusted attorney you know and trust increase the odds a smooth experience. By teaming up with a trusted attorney seller agents instill confidence in their clients and ensures exceptional service. The peace of mind Read More

ARE JANUARY AND FEBRUARY THE MOST POPULAR DIVORCE MONTHS? Family lawyers tend to refer to January and February as the “National divorce months” due to the high number of people filing for divorce after the new year. Why is this and is there any truth to this assumption? Statistically, family law firms have reported increased divorce filings in the months of January and February as compared to the other months of the Read More

The crooks are everywhere. You may not have heard of “Deed Fraud,” but it has become a real problem in some areas of the United States. There are several ways in which a crafty criminal can steal the deed to your property. Since the scam takes some time to put together, the scammers often target vacant homes. The vacant property could be empty for a variety of reasons: (1) the owner is now deceased; (2) it could be a Read More

A Spousal Allowance, technically known as an “Application and Assignment Year’s Allowance,” refers to the right that a person has to claim the personal property of his or her spouse after that spouse passes away. This tool allows the surviving spouse to access certain funds with priority over creditors and ahead of the longer timelines that come with the completion of a full estate administration. The surviving Read More

When you enter into an offer to purchase and contract for real property, you typically agree on a due diligence fee and an earnest money deposit. The due diligence period is when the buyer pays an agreed-upon amount to then gather information about the property and determine if the property they have contracted to buy is the right property and purchase for them. The earnest money deposit is an agreed-upon amount of Read More

If you are buying or selling a home in North Carolina, you may wonder who pays the taxes at the closing table. Taxes are one of the closing costs that both buyers and sellers have to pay to finalize the transaction. However, not all taxes are the same, and not all taxes are paid by the same party. In this blog post, we will explain the different types of taxes involved in a North Carolina real estate closing, and who Read More

The holidays can be stressful and trigger sad feelings, especially when you are going through a divorce. The holidays tend to remind people of the good times or how different your life is now. Here are 5 tips to help you cope with divorce and separation during the holidays: Recognize your emotions and honor them. Keep lines of communication open to family, friends and your therapist, and stay busy so you do not bear Read More

What is alimony? Alimony in North Carolina is an order for payment for the support and maintenance of a spouse or former spouse, periodically or in a lump sum amount for a specified or indefinite term, ordered in an action for divorce or an action for alimony without divorce. N.C. Gen. Stat. §50-16.1A(1). Alimony is not automatically awarded in divorce proceedings.  The court must first determine that one spouse is Read More