Surplus Funds Q&A Series

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Surplus Funds Q&A Series ·

Can an executor be reimbursed for estate expenses even if the estate was mishandled or property went into foreclosure? NC

Can an executor be reimbursed for estate expenses even if the estate was mishandled or property went into foreclosure? – NC Short Answer Yes, in North Carolina, an executor or other personal representative can often receive credit or reimbursement for proper estate expenses that were actually paid on behalf of the estate, even if other…

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Surplus Funds Q&A Series ·

What happens if a company contacts me claiming there is foreclosure surplus money and I am not sure whether it is legitimate? – NC

What happens if a company contacts me claiming there is foreclosure surplus money and I am not sure whether it is legitimate? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, a notice from a private company about possible foreclosure surplus money may be legitimate, but it should not be trusted until the surplus is confirmed through…

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Surplus Funds Q&A Series ·

Can we still move forward if another attorney for an interested party files their own surplus-funds petition first? – NC

Can we still move forward if another attorney for an interested party files their own surplus-funds petition first? – NC Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, one interested party filing a surplus-funds petition first does not automatically block another claimant from moving forward. The key issue is whether all known claimants are properly brought into…

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Surplus Funds Q&A Series ·

Why does the clerk require a title search before releasing surplus foreclosure funds, and what should the title search cover? – NC

Why does the clerk require a title search before releasing surplus foreclosure funds, and what should the title search cover? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, the clerk often requires a title search before releasing surplus foreclosure funds to make sure the money goes to the correct person and that no recorded lienholder, creditor,…

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Surplus Funds Q&A Series ·

If one of the interested parties has a guardian because they were found incompetent, who has to be served and who can respond on their behalf? NC

If one of the interested parties has a guardian because they were found incompetent, who has to be served and who can respond on their behalf? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina surplus funds special proceeding, an interested party who has been adjudicated incompetent generally cannot act on their own in the…

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Surplus Funds Q&A Series ·

What happens to other debts like credit cards when surplus funds are being calculated and distributed? NC

What happens to other debts like credit cards when surplus funds are being calculated and distributed? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, surplus funds from a foreclosure sale are not automatically used to pay ordinary unsecured debts like credit cards. The sale proceeds are applied in a set order (sale costs, certain taxes/assessments,…

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Surplus Funds Q&A Series ·

If a third-party pre-foreclosure consultant is involved, can the attorney still represent the homeowner directly and how does the referral process work? NC

If a third-party pre-foreclosure consultant is involved, can the attorney still represent the homeowner directly and how does the referral process work? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, an attorney can represent the homeowner directly even if a third-party pre-foreclosure consultant is involved, but the attorney’s client must be the homeowner (not…

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Surplus Funds Q&A Series ·

Is the contingency fee taken from the total surplus funds, or only from the amount the client actually receives if multiple people are entitled to a share? NC

Is the contingency fee taken from the total surplus funds, or only from the amount the client actually receives if multiple people are entitled to a share? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a contingency fee is usually calculated on the client’s recovery—meaning the amount actually paid to that client—rather than the entire…

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Surplus Funds Q&A Series ·

How much does it cost to hire a lawyer to recover surplus funds after a foreclosure sale, and is it contingency-based? NC

How much does it cost to hire a lawyer to recover surplus funds after a foreclosure sale, and is it contingency-based? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, attorneys often handle foreclosure surplus funds claims on a contingency fee, meaning the fee is typically paid from the recovered surplus rather than up front. The…

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Am I automatically excluded from receiving surplus funds if I’m not listed as a defendant or named party on the case paperwork? NC

Am I automatically excluded from receiving surplus funds if I’m not listed as a defendant or named party on the case paperwork? – North Carolina Short Answer No. In North Carolina, not being listed as a defendant or named party on the foreclosure or tax-foreclosure paperwork does not automatically disqualify someone from receiving surplus funds.…

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Surplus Funds Q&A Series ·

Can funeral expenses paid by a family member be reimbursed from foreclosure surplus funds, or does it have to be handled through the estate? NC

Can funeral expenses paid by a family member be reimbursed from foreclosure surplus funds, or does it have to be handled through the estate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, foreclosure surplus funds are generally paid to the person(s) legally entitled to the former owner’s equity, and disputes are decided in a special…

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Attorney Jared Pierce
Attorney Jared Pierce
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