In lieu of an intestate share or elective share, a surviving spouse may choose to take a life estate in one-third of the value of all real property owned by a deceased spouse during the marriage. A life estate is not the same as full ownership; rather, a life estate is an interest in land…
Here are some of the more common reasons to consider revising your Will, Trust, Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney, and other estate planning documents: • Change in your marital status – marriage, separation, divorce, or death of a spouse. • Birth or adoption of a child unless your Will already provides for…
It may be – only an attorney can give a legal opinion on the legality of the document. Every state has its own laws governing what constitutes a valid Will. Even if the out-of-state Will is valid, a North Carolina attorney could include special provisions under North Carolina law in your Will which could save…
It may be – only an attorney can give a legal opinion on the legality of the document. With these types of Wills, there is a greater risk that unintended mistakes could occur on how the Will was prepared or executed (signed). The language in the Will could be ambiguous or incomplete, or may not…
When a person dies without a Will, it is said that he or she dies “intestate.” In that case, the North Carolina Intestate Succession Laws govern who will inherit your property. Who inherits your property depends on your marital and family status at the time of your death. Here are some examples: • Married with…