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Beaufort County, NC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Beaufort County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Clerk of Superior Court, Beaufort County |
| Courthouse address | Beaufort County Courthouse, 112 W Second St, Washington, NC 27889 |
| Mailing address | Clerk of Superior Court, PO Box 1403, Washington, NC 27889-1403 |
| Phone | (252) 940-4000. The Beaufort County directory lists this as both the Main Number and the Clerk of Superior Court number, with no separate Estates line. |
| Fax | No fax number is published on the Beaufort County Judicial Branch pages. |
| No office email is published for Beaufort County. Call the clerk at (252) 940-4000. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. |
| Appointments | Beaufort County publishes no booking link and no walk-in policy. Call before visiting to ask whether opening an estate requires an appointment. |
| Court costs | Opening an estate costs $120.00 in court costs, effective January 1, 2026, plus 40 cents per $100.00 of the gross estate, with a minimum of $15.00 per filing and a cumulative cap of $6,000.00, effective January 1, 2026 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307). |
| Payment | By mail, use money order or certified check only, payable to Beaufort County Clerk of Superior Court. In person, the Cashier's Office accepts cash, credit or debit card, money order or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted. |
| Local forms | No Beaufort County estate form is published beyond the statewide North Carolina AOC estate forms. |
| E-filing | eCourts is live statewide. Attorneys use File & Serve. Self-represented filers may use File & Serve but are not required to. Ask the clerk how the original will should be delivered. |
| Case search | Portal is the statewide public case search: https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. Access may require JavaScript and a browser security check. |
| Remote appearance | Estate proceedings are within the Second Judicial District Remote Hearing Procedures. In-person hearings are the default. A remote or hybrid hearing may be requested by motion, and another party may object. |
| Website | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/beaufort-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you open an estate in Beaufort County, make a working list of the accounts, vehicles, personal property, real estate, debts and known heirs. The clerk will need enough information to point you toward the right statewide form and to issue letters testamentary or letters of administration when full administration is needed.
Sunset's estate settlement tools can help you find accounts across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organize assets and liabilities, and prepare the information you need before you call or visit the Beaufort County clerk.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Beaufort County estates are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Beaufort County Courthouse, 112 W Second St, Washington, NC 27889. The Judicial Branch publishes one court location for Beaufort County.
Use Beaufort County when the decedent was domiciled in Beaufort County at death. If the decedent had no North Carolina domicile, venue may be in a North Carolina county where the decedent left property or assets, with priority in the county where proceedings are first started (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-3-1).
Be careful not to confuse Beaufort County with the town of Beaufort in Carteret County, or with Washington County, North Carolina. Beaufort County's courthouse city is Washington, NC.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the right Beaufort County filing place. Estate matters are handled by the Clerk of Superior Court at the Beaufort County Courthouse in Washington, NC. Call (252) 940-4000 before visiting because the county publishes no booking link or walk-in policy.
- Choose the correct statewide AOC estate form. A will generally starts with AOC-E-201. An intestate full administration generally starts with AOC-E-202. A collection by affidavit starts with AOC-E-203B, and summary administration uses the applicable AOC-E-905 or AOC-E-906 form.
- Gather the original will if there is one, a certified death certificate, asset and debt information, names and addresses for heirs or devisees, and any required renunciations or consents. Ask the Beaufort County clerk how the original will should be delivered.
- File with the clerk. Attorneys use File & Serve. Self-represented filers may use File & Serve but are not required to and may call the clerk about counter filing. The statewide File & Serve site is https://efilenc.tylertech.cloud/OfsEfsp/ui/landing.
- Pay the opening court costs. Opening an estate costs $120.00 in court costs, effective January 1, 2026, plus 40 cents per $100.00 of the gross estate, with a minimum of $15.00 per filing and a cumulative cap of $6,000.00, effective January 1, 2026 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307). By mail, Beaufort County accepts money order or certified check only. In person, the Cashier's Office accepts cash, credit or debit card, money order or certified check.
- Qualify as executor, administrator or other personal representative if the clerk approves the application. The clerk issues letters testamentary for an executor under a will or letters of administration for an administrator when there is no will.
- Give required notice and manage creditor claims under North Carolina law. If a hearing is set, Beaufort County's district remote-hearing order makes in-person hearings the default, but a party may request a remote or hybrid hearing by timely motion.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory and account forms when due, collect and distribute property, address claims, and complete the final filings required for the chosen estate path.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Beaufort County
Beaufort County does not publish a local estate packet or county-only estate form. Families use the statewide North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts estate forms.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| 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, the form that opens a collection by affidavit. |
| 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. |
| AOC-E-905 and AOC-E-906 | Summary administration forms, depending on whether there is a will. |
| AOC-E-100 | Petition and assignment year's allowance for the current covered death-date version. |
| AOC-E-650 | Estates action cover sheet. |
The statewide form library is at https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms. Guide & File currently offers a guided interview for summary administration, and the Judicial Branch has announced additional probate interviews: https://northcarolina.tylertech.cloud/SRL/SRL.
Local nuance
Beaufort County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Beaufort County filing |
|---|---|
| One clerk phone number | Use (252) 940-4000 for the Beaufort County Clerk of Superior Court. The county publishes no separate Estates line and no office email. |
| Separate street and mailing addresses | Go to 112 W Second St, Washington, NC 27889 for courthouse business. Mail filings or payments to PO Box 1403, Washington, NC 27889-1403. |
| No local estate paperwork | Beaufort County's local rules and forms page does not list estate-specific local forms. Use the statewide AOC estate forms. |
| Remote hearing order | The Second Judicial District Remote Hearing Procedures include estate proceedings. In-person hearings are the default, and remote or hybrid hearings require a timely motion or a judicial official's direction. |
| No appointment policy posted | Call the clerk before visiting to ask whether the counter takes walk-ins for estate openings or wants an appointment. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Beaufort County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Call the Beaufort County clerk before filing to ask what the clerk needs for the spouse's chosen path and for any original will. If the home title or other property must be addressed through the estate, full administration or summary administration may be discussed with the clerk or an attorney. | Sunset helps organize accounts, debts, ownership information and estate settlement tasks before the spouse contacts the clerk or counsel. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | The child may be looking at collection by affidavit if the estate fits North Carolina's statewide requirements, or full administration if it does not. Beaufort County has no local small-estate form beyond AOC-E-203B. The child should call (252) 940-4000 about mailing, counter filing, File & Serve and delivery of any original will. | Sunset helps identify financial institutions, assemble asset details and generate a packet the family can review before filing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If Beaufort County real property must be sold or title must be cleared through the estate, counsel often makes sense. The filing still runs through the Clerk of Superior Court in Washington, NC, with any contested or transferred matters handled under North Carolina procedure. | Sunset helps the parent find accounts, prepare estate settlement information and connect with a vetted North Carolina probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Superior Court, Beaufort County | The filing counter for Beaufort County estate matters. | Beaufort County Courthouse, 112 W Second St, Washington, NC 27889. Mailing PO Box 1403, Washington, NC 27889-1403. Phone (252) 940-4000. https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/beaufort-county |
| Beaufort County contact directory | Judicial Branch list of Beaufort County courthouse phone lines. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/beaufort-county/contact-directory |
| North Carolina Judicial Branch estates help topic | Plain-language court information on wills, letters, what to bring to the clerk and bond. | https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/wills-and-estates/estates |
| Statewide estate forms | AOC form library for Estate forms. | https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms |
| Portal | Statewide public case search and hearing search, and online payment where a case is eligible. | https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/ |
| Legal Aid of North Carolina, Greenville office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents in its service area, including Beaufort County. Ask at intake whether an estate question fits their help areas. | 301 S Evans St, Ste 400, Greenville, NC 27858. Toll free 1-800-682-4592. Local (252) 758-0113. Statewide Helpline 1-866-219-5262. https://legalaidnc.org/get-help/offices/ |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful in Beaufort County when real property must be sold or title must be cleared through the estate, heirs disagree, a caveat is threatened, creditors press claims, or a matter belongs in or moves to the Superior Court Division under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-2-4. North Carolina does not bar a non-attorney personal representative from handling an estate without counsel, but legal advice can prevent expensive filing and title problems. Sunset connects families with a vetted North Carolina probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families locate accounts, policies and other assets that may belong in the estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet, including the details you need for Beaufort County filing decisions and statewide North Carolina estate forms.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Beaufort County estate involves real property, creditor issues, a caveat or a court hearing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted North Carolina probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families move through estate settlement without charging the family for the core support it provides.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Beaufort County, North Carolina?
File with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Beaufort County Courthouse, 112 W Second St, Washington, NC 27889. Mail goes to Clerk of Superior Court, PO Box 1403, Washington, NC 27889-1403.
Is there a separate Beaufort County probate division?
No. North Carolina estate matters are handled by the clerk of superior court, who serves as ex officio judge of probate. Beaufort County publishes one Clerk of Superior Court phone number for estate questions, (252) 940-4000.
Does Beaufort County have an Estates phone line?
No separate Estates line is published for Beaufort County. The Judicial Branch lists (252) 940-4000 as both the Main Number and the Clerk of Superior Court number.
Do I need an appointment to open an estate in Beaufort County?
Beaufort County publishes no booking link and no walk-in policy. Call (252) 940-4000 before visiting to ask whether the clerk takes walk-ins for estate openings or wants an appointment.
Can I e-file a Beaufort County estate case?
eCourts is live statewide. Attorneys use File & Serve. Self-represented filers may use File & Serve but are not required to. Ask the Beaufort County clerk how the original will should be delivered because an original will may require a paper step.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Beaufort County?
Opening an estate costs $120.00 in court costs, effective January 1, 2026, plus 40 cents per $100.00 of the gross estate, with a minimum of $15.00 per filing and a cumulative cap of $6,000.00, effective January 1, 2026 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307).
Does Beaufort County publish local probate forms?
No Beaufort County estate-specific local form is published. Use the statewide North Carolina AOC estate forms, including AOC-E-201 for a will, AOC-E-202 for an intestate administration and AOC-E-203B for collection by affidavit.
Can I attend a Beaufort County estate hearing remotely?
In-person hearings are the default under the Second Judicial District Remote Hearing Procedures. Estate proceedings are within the order's scope, and a party may request a remote or hybrid hearing by motion at least 10 days before the hearing. Another party may object within 5 days after service of the request.
Can I look up a Beaufort County estate case online?
Use the statewide Portal at https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. Access may require JavaScript and a browser security check, and the clerk can tell you what information is available for a specific estate.
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.