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Alamance County, NC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Alamance County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Clerk of Superior Court, Alamance County. The clerk is the ex officio judge of probate for estate matters. |
| Filing courthouse | Alamance County Historical Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Graham, NC 27253. |
| Mailing address for filings | Alamance County Historical Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Graham, NC 27253. Alamance publishes the same address for visiting and mail at this courthouse. |
| Payment mailing address | The county payment page gives a separate payment-by-mail address: Clerk of Superior Court, Alamance County Courthouse, 212 W. Elm Street, Graham, NC 27253. Confirm with the estates section before mailing an estate filing with payment. |
| Phone | (336) 570-5200. Alamance publishes this as both the Clerk of Superior Court number and the Historical Courthouse main number. No separate estates phone line is published. |
| [email protected] for the estates section. [email protected] for the clerk's office generally. | |
| Fax | No clerk fax number is published for Alamance County. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published. |
| Filing fee | Effective January 1, 2026, opening an estate costs $120.00 in court costs (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307), plus 40 cents per $100.00 of the gross estate, with a minimum $15.00 per filing and a cumulative cap of $6,000.00 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307). |
| Payment methods | By mail, money order or certified check only, payable to Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court. In person, cash, credit or debit card with processing fees, money order or certified check. No personal checks. |
| Local forms | Alamance publishes no local estate form or local estate checklist. Estate filings use the statewide Administrative Office of the Courts estate forms. |
| E-filing | eCourts is live statewide. Attorneys use File & Serve. Self-represented individuals may use File & Serve, but Alamance does not publish how it wants an original will delivered. |
| Case search | Portal is the statewide case search and hearing search tool: https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. If an Alamance estate file does not appear, contact the clerk. |
| Remote appearance | Alamance's District 17 remote hearing procedures make in-person hearings the default. A party may ask for a remote or hybrid hearing by motion, but no estate hearing is promised to be remote. |
| Website | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/alamance-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Alamance County, make a working list of the will, real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, debts, beneficiaries and likely disputes. The right estate settlement path depends on what exists and who has authority to collect it, not just on whether a will was found.
Sunset can help identify accounts and assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then organize the information you need before you call the Alamance estates section or go to the Historical Courthouse in Graham.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Clerk of Superior Court in Graham serves all Alamance County estate matters. The filing counter is at the Alamance County Historical Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Graham, NC 27253. Alamance also has the Judge J.B. Allen Jr. Criminal Courthouse at 212 West Elm Street, but the Judicial Branch states that civil matters, except marriages, are conducted at the Historical Courthouse.
Alamance County communities include Burlington, Graham, Mebane, Elon, Gibsonville, Green Level, Haw River, Swepsonville, Ossipee, Alamance, Saxapahaw, Woodlawn, Snow Camp, Glencoe and Bellemont. Mebane and Gibsonville cross county lines, so the mailing city alone does not decide venue. File in Alamance only when Alamance is the county of the decedent's domicile at death, or when the nonresident venue rule points to Alamance property (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-3-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the asset and debt picture. Gather the will, if there is one, a certified death certificate, a preliminary inventory, names and addresses of interested people, and enough account information to choose the correct statewide estate form.
- Choose the correct statewide form. AOC-E-201 is used for a will and letters testamentary or administration c.t.a.; AOC-E-202 is used when there is no will; AOC-E-203B opens a collection by affidavit; AOC-E-505 is the inventory; AOC-E-506 is the account.
- Contact Alamance before traveling. Call (336) 570-5200 or email [email protected] because the county publishes no booking link, no walk-in rule and no instruction for delivering an original will.
- File with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Alamance County Historical Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Graham. If a will exists, ask the estates section how the original will must reach the clerk, because an electronic copy is not the original will.
- Pay the statutory court costs using an accepted Alamance payment method. Effective January 1, 2026, opening an estate costs $120.00 in court costs (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307), plus 40 cents per $100.00 of the gross estate, with a minimum $15.00 per filing and a cumulative cap of $6,000.00 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307). If mailing payment, confirm whether the estates section wants the filing sent to Court Square or the payment address on West Elm Street.
- If the clerk qualifies a personal representative, the clerk issues letters testamentary for an executor or letters of administration for an administrator. Those letters are the authority document banks, buyers, title companies and other institutions usually ask to see.
- Handle notice to creditors and estate administration. The personal representative must give the required creditor notice, collect assets, manage claims, keep records, and file the inventory and later accounts on the statewide AOC forms.
- If a hearing is set, assume it is in person unless the clerk or judicial official allows another method. Alamance's remote hearing procedures allow a remote or hybrid request by motion, but the local default is an in-person hearing.
- Close the estate settlement by filing the required account or closing document after assets are collected, claims are addressed, distributions are made and any remaining court costs under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307 are paid.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Alamance County
Alamance County publishes no local estate packet, estate cover sheet, estate checklist or estate calendar request. Use the statewide North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts estate forms, and contact the Alamance estates section if you are unsure which form matches the will and asset picture.
| Form | Use in Alamance County |
|---|---|
| AOC-E-201 | Application for probate and letters testamentary or administration c.t.a. when there is a will. |
| AOC-E-202 | Application for letters of administration when there is no will. |
| AOC-E-203B | Affidavit for collection of personal property of decedent. |
| AOC-E-204 | Affidavit of collection, disbursement and distribution, used to close a collection by affidavit. |
| AOC-E-505 | Inventory for decedent's estate. |
| AOC-E-506 | Account for annual or final accounting. |
| AOC-E-905 and AOC-E-906 | Summary administration forms, depending on whether there is a will. |
| AOC-E-100 | Year's allowance petition and assignment form for the current date-of-death version. |
Form library: https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms
Local nuance
Alamance County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for an estate |
|---|---|
| Estates email | Alamance publishes [email protected], an office email for the estates section. Use it to ask about appointments, original wills and filing logistics before traveling to Graham. |
| One phone number | No separate estates phone line is published. Estate calls go through the clerk's main line, (336) 570-5200. |
| Two courthouse buildings | Estate matters are civil matters and point to the Historical Courthouse at 1 Court Square. The Elm Street courthouse is the criminal courthouse and also appears on the payment-by-mail page. |
| Payment mailing caution | The filing courthouse and the payment-by-mail address are not the same published address. Confirm the correct mailing address with the estates section before sending an estate filing with payment. |
| Payment limits | Alamance takes money orders and certified checks by mail, and no cash or personal checks by mail. In person, the clerk accepts cash, cards with processing fees, money orders and certified checks, but no personal checks. |
| Remote hearings | In-person hearings are the default. A remote or hybrid hearing requires a filed request and is not automatic. |
| eCourts kiosk | An eCourts public access kiosk was deployed to an Alamance courthouse in June 2025, with Portal, File & Serve and Guide & File access, plus scanner, printer and payment services. The published announcement does not identify which Alamance building holds the kiosk. |
Recent updates
| Date | Alamance County update |
|---|---|
| August 2024 | The District 17 remote hearing procedures were ratified for Alamance County and remain in effect until further notice. They keep in-person hearings as the default and set the method for asking for or objecting to a remote hearing. |
| June 2025 | An eCourts public access kiosk was deployed to an Alamance courthouse, giving on-site access to Portal, File & Serve and Guide & File, along with scanner, printer and payment services. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Alamance County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by confirming what is titled in the spouse's name, what was co-owned, and what still needs clerk authority. Call or email the Alamance estates section before going to the Historical Courthouse, especially if you need to ask about the original will or whether an appointment is preferred. | Sunset builds the asset list, flags accounts that may not need full administration, prepares the family for the Alamance filing conversation and keeps the estate settlement tasks organized. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Use the statewide forms, ask [email protected] how the clerk wants any original will delivered, and use Portal for case and hearing lookup. Because Alamance publishes no walk-in or appointment rule, do not assume a trip to Graham is needed before asking. | Sunset helps identify accounts, assemble the collection-by-affidavit packet when that path fits, and coordinate local attorney help if the clerk needs more than a simple filing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale or title-clearing issue often needs full administration and may require legal advice. File with the clerk in Graham, expect in-person settings unless a remote request is allowed, and be ready for a matter the clerk cannot decide to move to the Superior Court Division. | Sunset organizes the estate settlement file, tracks debts and assets, and connects the family with a North Carolina probate attorney when a sale, dispute or superior court issue is likely. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Superior Court, Alamance County | Filing counter for Alamance estates at the Historical Courthouse. Staff can explain filing logistics but cannot give legal advice. | 1 Court Square, Graham, NC 27253. Phone (336) 570-5200. Estates email [email protected]. https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/alamance-county |
| Alamance County contact directory | Lists the clerk's number and office emails, including the estates section. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/alamance-county/contact-directory |
| Alamance County payment information | Explains accepted payment methods, payee name and the county's payment-by-mail address. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/alamance-county/alamance-county-payment-information |
| Alamance County local rules and forms | Publishes the remote hearing procedures and local rules. It does not publish a local estate form. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/alamance-county/alamance-county-local-rules-and-forms |
| North Carolina Judicial Branch estates help topic | Court-created overview of wills, letters, what to bring to the clerk and general estate questions. | https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/wills-and-estates/estates |
| Decedent's estate procedures pamphlet | Administrative Office of the Courts pamphlet for executors, administrators, collectors by affidavit and summary administration. | https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/publications/decedents-estate-procedures-pamphlet |
| Statewide estate forms | Official form library for the AOC estate forms Alamance uses. | https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms |
| Portal | Statewide case search, hearing search and online payment where a case is eligible. | https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/ |
| Guide & File | Free guided document preparation. The live interview list includes summary administration, and the Judicial Branch has announced additional probate interviews. | https://northcarolina.tylertech.cloud/SRL/SRL |
| Legal Aid of North Carolina, Central Carolina Offices | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents of counties including Alamance. Ask at intake whether an estate question fits their help areas. | Central Carolina office, 205 W Main Street, Suite 203, Carrboro, NC 27510. Toll free 1-800-672-5834. Statewide helpline 1-866-219-5262, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. https://legalaidnc.org/get-help/offices/ |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions so the family can see what exists before choosing the Alamance filing path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset and family information into an organized estate settlement packet using the statewide North Carolina estate forms and Alamance filing details.
Find a local probate attorney. When a home sale, dispute, creditor issue or superior court matter makes legal help the safer path, Sunset connects the family with a vetted North Carolina probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, prepare for the clerk's counter and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Alamance County?
File with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Alamance County Historical Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Graham, NC 27253. The Elm Street courthouse is the criminal courthouse, although Alamance's payment page uses that address for payments by mail.
Does Alamance County have a separate probate court?
No. Estate matters are handled by the Clerk of Superior Court, who acts as ex officio judge of probate under North Carolina law.
Is there an Alamance County estates phone number?
No separate estates phone line is published. Call the clerk's main line at (336) 570-5200, or write to the estates section at [email protected].
Do I need an appointment to open an estate in Alamance County?
Alamance publishes no booking link and no walk-in rule for estate openings. Call (336) 570-5200 or email [email protected] before traveling to Graham.
Can I e-file an Alamance County estate?
File & Serve is available statewide. Attorneys use File & Serve, and self-represented individuals may use it. Alamance does not publish how the clerk wants an original will delivered, so ask the estates section before relying on an electronic filing alone.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Alamance County?
Effective January 1, 2026, opening an estate costs $120.00 in court costs (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307), plus 40 cents per $100.00 of the gross estate, with a minimum $15.00 per filing and a cumulative cap of $6,000.00 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307). Alamance does not add a local estate surcharge.
Are Alamance County estate hearings remote?
In-person hearings are the default under Alamance's remote hearing procedures. A party may ask for a remote or hybrid hearing by motion, and a party may object, but the order does not promise that an estate hearing will be held by video.
How do I look up an Alamance County estate case?
Use Portal, the statewide case and hearing search tool, at https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. The site may require registration or a human verification step. If an estate file does not appear, contact the Alamance clerk.
Does Alamance County have local probate forms?
No local estate form or local estate checklist is published for Alamance County. Use the statewide AOC estate forms at https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.