The probate process can be a complicated process, but it is a process that most people will need to go through after a loved one has passed away. Clarity Legal Group can provide help making plans so your loved ones do not have to go through probate and so your assets can pass outside of probate through faster and less expensive processes such as the trust administration process. However, if your loved one has already passed, it will be too late to avoid probate and you will need to ensure that you understand your role within this process as well as your obligations.
Clarity Legal Group can provide personalized one-on-one advice to help you with probate law issues so you should give us a call to talk with a Chapel Hill probate lawyer as soon as your loved one has passed away. We can represent the executor of an estate, heirs or beneficiaries, anyone wishing to contest a will, and others who are involved in the probate process.
You can also read on to access some helpful Chapel Hill, NC probate resources that can help you to be better prepared for the probate process and for what you must do to facilitate the transfer of assets and wind up the affairs of the deceased after your loved one has passed.
Chapel Hill Probate Resources
Chapel Hill, NC is located in both Durham County and Orange County, so where the deceased or incapacitated person lived within Chapel Hill will determine whether probate proceedings take place in Durham County Courts or Orange County Courts.
Resources that you can use include:
- The website for the Orange County Probate Court in District 15B: This website provides information about the probate process and the court where probate takes place. The website explains that the Clerk of the Superior Court for Orange County has exclusive jurisdiction over probate and estate matters. This includes appointing personal representatives who oversee the probate process. The office hours for the Clerk of the Superior Court that presides over probate are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and the telephone number is 919-644-4500. The fax number for the County County, NC probate court is 919-644-4501. The mailing address is 106 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough.
- The website for the Durham County Probate Court in District 14. This website also details how the probate process will work within the county. As the site explains, the Office of Clerk of Superior Court is a judicial office, but also an administrative one. The Judge of Probate also serves as the Clerk of Superior Court and has jurisdiction over probates, estates, and matters related to wills as well as matters related to incapacity. The court can be reached at 919-808-3003.
Clarity Legal Group can provide assistance in understanding which court probate or guardianship proceedings must take place in and can assist you with filing all court paperwork and forms. We can also help you at court hearings, during the trust administration process, and in all of the other legal steps you need to take to wind up the affairs of a deceased loved one after your friend or family member has passed away.
Probate Resources in North Carolina
There are also many other resources that you can take advantage of to help you be more prepared for probate or to help you to understand why you might want to create an estate plan to avoid the probate process. Some of the other resources that you can make use of include:
- Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney information from the North Carolina Bar Association: This resource is a pamphlet published by the North Carolina Bar Association that provides information on a wide variety of issues related to wills and other estate planning matters. There are details about powers of attorney; life insurance; the probate process; leaving property to loved ones; estate tax and more. You can also find specific advice about choosing a guardian and making sure that minor children are protected if something should happen to you.
- Estates and Trust Returns from the North Carolina Department of Revenue: This resource provides information on preparing a North Carolina Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts. You can find details about what a fiduciary is responsible for when it comes to filing income tax returns in the state of North Carolina. You’ll be able to access the forms that must be filed, learn when a return has to be submitted, and find out details about how fiduciaries should include names and contact information for an estate or a trust.
- Estate tax forms from the IRS: This website provides information on filing federal tax forms after someone has passed away. The website includes details on obtaining a tax ID number for the estate as well as on determining gross income of the deceased in order to comply with all IRS tax obligations. The fiduciary who is overseeing the estate administration process will be responsible for submitting these forms.
Clarity Legal Group can assist with interpreting the law and understanding how you can work within North Carolina’s rules for probates and estates to best protect and provide for your loved ones.
Getting Help from Chapel Hill Probate Lawyers
Handling the probate process alone can be very difficult, especially if you are in charge of managing the assets of the deceased or if you are coping with grief over the passage of a beloved family member. You do not have to go through this process alone.
Clarity Legal Group can provide compassionate and knowledgeable legal advice throughout the entirety of the probate process. We handle the legal issues for you to protect an inheritance, to ensure the wishes of the deceased are respected, and to make the probate process as stress free as possible. To find out more about the ways in which our firm can help you to plan for probate or to move through this process when your loved one has passed on, give us a call at 919-484-0012 or contact us online today.
