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Brunswick County, NC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Brunswick County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Clerk of Superior Court, Brunswick County. In North Carolina, estates are handled by the clerk of superior court, who is the ex officio judge of probate. |
| Courthouse address | Brunswick County Courthouse, 310 Government Center Drive NE, Bolivia, NC 28422. |
| Mailing address | Brunswick County Courthouse, 310 Government Center Drive NE, Unit 1, Bolivia, NC 28422. Keep Unit 1 on mail. |
| Estates phone | (910) 253-3904. The courthouse main and Clerk of Superior Court line is (910) 253-3900. |
| [email protected] for estate questions. [email protected] for the local calendar request form. | |
| Fax | No fax is published for Brunswick estate filings. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published. |
| Court costs | As of the AOC estates costs chart 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 $15.00 minimum per filing and a $6,000.00 cap under the same statute. |
| Payment methods | By mail, use a money order or certified check payable to Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court. Do not mail cash or a personal check. In person, the first-floor Cashier's Office accepts cash, credit or debit card with processing fees and restrictions, money order or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted. |
| Local forms | Yes. Brunswick publishes an Estate / Special Proceeding Calendar Request for hearing requests. Estate openings and accountings use statewide 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 Estates line how the clerk wants any original will delivered. |
| Case search | Use Portal, the statewide case search and hearing search tool: https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. If a Brunswick estate file does not appear, call the Estates line. |
| Remote appearance | Brunswick's local Estate / Special Proceeding Calendar Request includes a remote-hearing request checkbox. The form says the request is subject to clerk approval and that time and exhibits may be limited. |
| Website | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/brunswick-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Brunswick County, make a list of the will, known accounts, debts, vehicles, real property and beneficiaries. The right estate settlement path depends on the asset and liability picture, and the clerk's office will expect the correct statewide form, a certified death certificate and any original will.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts and assets before choosing the filing path. For Brunswick families with coastal property, out-of-state heirs or accounts held outside North Carolina, that search can prevent a second filing trip to Bolivia.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Brunswick County has one published courthouse for estate filings: the Brunswick County Courthouse at 310 Government Center Drive NE, Unit 1, Bolivia, NC 28422. Estates for Bald Head Island, Belville, Boiling Spring Lakes, Bolivia, Calabash, Carolina Shores, Caswell Beach, Holden Beach, Leland, Navassa, Northwest, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Sandy Creek, Shallotte, Southport, St. James, Sunset Beach and Varnamtown are filed at that one courthouse.
Venue is based on the decedent's domicile at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in North Carolina, venue may be in a county where the decedent left property or where estate property has come (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-3-1). For Brunswick County, that means a Southport, Leland, Shallotte or beach-community address does not create a separate filing location. The county filing counter is in Bolivia.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate settlement path from the will, the asset list and the debt picture. Use the statewide AOC estate form that matches the situation, such as AOC-E-201 for a will, AOC-E-202 when there is no will, AOC-E-203B for a collection by affidavit, or the summary administration forms when that statewide path fits.
- Call the Brunswick Estates line at (910) 253-3904 or email [email protected] before traveling to Bolivia. Brunswick publishes no booking link and no walk-in statement, and no local page states how the clerk wants an original will delivered.
- Prepare the filing packet. The Judicial Branch tells filers to bring the will if there is one, a certified death certificate, the application and preliminary inventory of the decedent's property, and the court costs.
- File with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Brunswick County Courthouse, 310 Government Center Drive NE, Unit 1, Bolivia, NC 28422. Attorneys use File & Serve. Self-represented filers may use File & Serve, but should contact the Estates line for the current paper and original-will handling steps.
- Pay by a Brunswick-accepted method. As of the AOC estates costs chart 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 $15.00 minimum per filing and a $6,000.00 cap under the same statute. By mail, send a money order or certified check. In person, use the first-floor Cashier's Office.
- After qualification, publish and mail notice to creditors as required by North Carolina law, then file the inventory and later accountings on the statewide AOC forms.
- If an estate matter needs a hearing, file the motion first. Then use Brunswick's Estate / Special Proceeding Calendar Request, confer with the other parties, send the request to [email protected] or mail it to the courthouse, and serve the other side and the clerk.
- If travel to Bolivia is difficult, ask for a remote hearing on that same local calendar request. The request is subject to clerk approval under the county form and remote proceedings are permitted by statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-49.6), but no remote setting is guaranteed.
- Once the clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration, the personal representative, meaning the executor or administrator, collects assets, pays valid claims, distributes property and closes the estate with the required account or closing filing.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Brunswick County
Brunswick uses the statewide North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts estate forms, plus one county-specific hearing form. The statewide form library is at https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms.
| Form or resource | Use in Brunswick 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. This opens a collection by affidavit. |
| AOC-E-204 | Affidavit of collection, disbursement and distribution. This closes a collection by affidavit. |
| AOC-E-505 | Inventory for decedent's estate. |
| AOC-E-506 | Account for annual or final accountings. |
| Estate / Special Proceeding Calendar Request | Brunswick's local form for asking the clerk to place an estate or special proceeding matter on calendar. It asks for the motion filing date, requested hearing date, hearing time estimate, party conference information, service details and any remote-hearing or interpreter request. |
Local nuance
Brunswick County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Brunswick filing |
|---|---|
| Use the Estates line | Brunswick publishes Estates at (910) 253-3904 and [email protected]. Use that contact for estate settlement questions instead of the courthouse main line. |
| Keep Unit 1 on the address | The mailing address is 310 Government Center Drive NE, Unit 1, Bolivia, NC 28422. The courthouse is in the Government Center complex, and Unit 1 helps distinguish the courthouse from other buildings on the same road. |
| The courthouse is in Bolivia | All Brunswick municipalities, including Southport, Leland, Shallotte, Oak Island, Sunset Beach and Bald Head Island, file estates at the Bolivia courthouse. |
| Local calendar request | For a hearing, file the motion first, confer with other parties, complete the Estate / Special Proceeding Calendar Request, send it to [email protected] or mail it to the courthouse, and serve the other side and the clerk. |
| Remote-hearing checkbox | The Brunswick calendar request lets a filer ask for a remote hearing. The form says approval belongs to the clerk and that time and exhibits may be limited. |
| Payment rules | By mail, use a money order or certified check and do not send cash or personal checks. In person, the first-floor Cashier's Office accepts cash, card with processing fees and restrictions, money order or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted. |
| Courthouse devices | A 2025 order allows phones, laptops and tablets used for court business, but phones must be off and put away before entering a courtroom, and recording is prohibited without permission. Because an older no-phone notice still appears on the courthouse page, follow the posted signs at the entrance. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local change | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| February 3, 2025 | A Brunswick courthouse device order rescinded the prior cell-phone ban and allows phones, laptops, tablets and similar devices used for court business, while requiring phones to be off and stored before entering a courtroom and prohibiting recording without permission. | A person coming to the Bolivia courthouse for an estate matter may need account information or documents stored on a device, but should still expect courtroom restrictions and should follow posted signage at the courthouse entrance. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start with the Brunswick Estates line and the clerk's counter in Bolivia. Coastal real property often raises title and sale questions, so the deed, mortgage, will and ownership documents should be reviewed before choosing the statewide path. | Sunset finds accounts, organizes property information and helps decide whether the estate settlement is simple enough for the clerk's counter or should be paired with a local attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call (910) 253-3904 or email [email protected] before mailing anything. The mailing address is 310 Government Center Drive NE, Unit 1, Bolivia, NC 28422, and the original will delivery method should be checked with the clerk. | Sunset helps gather the asset list, prepare the packet, keep the Unit 1 mailing address straight and reduce unnecessary travel to Bolivia. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the estate sale requires a hearing, file the motion first and then use Brunswick's Estate / Special Proceeding Calendar Request. A remote hearing can be requested on the same form, subject to clerk approval. | Sunset organizes the estate settlement documents, tracks accounts and can connect the family with counsel when a sale, creditor issue or hearing makes the filing more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Superior Court, Brunswick County, estates counter | The filing counter for Brunswick estates. Staff can explain what to bring and how the clerk wants filings handled, but cannot give legal advice. | 310 Government Center Drive NE, Unit 1, Bolivia, NC 28422. Estates (910) 253-3904. [email protected]. https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/brunswick-county |
| Brunswick County contact directory | Lists courthouse contacts, including Estates and Special Proceedings. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/brunswick-county/contact-directory |
| Brunswick County local rules and forms | Publishes the Estate / Special Proceeding Calendar Request and courthouse orders. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/brunswick-county/brunswick-county-local-rules-and-forms |
| Brunswick County payment information | Explains accepted payment methods and the first-floor Cashier's Office. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/brunswick-county/brunswick-county-payment-information |
| North Carolina Judicial Branch estates help topic | Plain-language court guidance on wills, letters, what to bring to the clerk and estate procedures. | https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/wills-and-estates/estates |
| Decedent's estate procedures pamphlet | Administrative Office of the Courts summary of procedures for executors, administrators, collectors by affidavit and summary administration. | https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/publications/decedents-estate-procedures-pamphlet |
| Statewide estate forms | The AOC form library for Estate (E) forms used in Brunswick. | 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 available estate interview is for summary administration. | https://northcarolina.tylertech.cloud/SRL/SRL |
| Legal Aid of North Carolina, Wilmington office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents in its service area, which includes Brunswick. Ask at intake whether the estate question fits its help areas. | 272 N Front St, Ste 220, Wilmington, NC 28401-3977. Local (910) 763-6207. Statewide intake 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 to help families locate accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before the Brunswick filing is chosen.
Generate the probate packet Sunset turns the estate settlement information into an organized packet, with the right statewide AOC forms and Brunswick County mailing and contact details.
Find a local probate attorney When coastal real estate, out-of-state heirs, creditor pressure or a hearing makes the case harder, Sunset can connect the family with a North Carolina probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families Families can use Sunset to organize the work, understand next steps and decide when professional help is needed without paying Sunset for the service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Brunswick County, and is the courthouse in Southport?
File with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Brunswick County Courthouse, 310 Government Center Drive NE, Unit 1, Bolivia, NC 28422. The courthouse is in Bolivia. Southport, Leland, Shallotte, Oak Island, Sunset Beach, Bald Head Island and the other Brunswick municipalities all use the same Bolivia courthouse.
What is the phone number for the estates office in Brunswick County?
The Estates line is (910) 253-3904. The courthouse main and Clerk of Superior Court line is (910) 253-3900, but Brunswick publishes a separate Estates contact for estate questions.
Can I email the Brunswick County clerk about an estate?
Yes. Use [email protected] for estate questions. If you are submitting the local Estate / Special Proceeding Calendar Request, the form directs submissions to [email protected] or to the courthouse mailing address.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Brunswick County?
As of the AOC estates costs chart 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 $15.00 minimum per filing and a $6,000.00 cap under the same statute. Brunswick has local payment-method rules, but it does not add a county estate surcharge.
Do I need an appointment to open an estate in Brunswick County?
Brunswick publishes no booking link and no walk-in statement for opening an estate. Call the Estates line at (910) 253-3904 or email [email protected] before traveling to Bolivia.
Does Brunswick County have its own probate forms?
Brunswick uses the statewide AOC estate forms for openings, inventories and accounts. It also publishes one local estate document, the Estate / Special Proceeding Calendar Request, for asking the clerk to schedule a hearing.
How do I get a hearing scheduled in a Brunswick County estate matter?
File the motion first. Then complete the Brunswick Estate / Special Proceeding Calendar Request, state the requested date and time estimate, say whether you conferred with the other parties, send it to [email protected] or mail it to 310 Government Center Drive NE, Unit 1, Bolivia, NC 28422, and serve the other side and the clerk.
Can I appear remotely for a Brunswick County estate hearing?
You can ask. Brunswick's Estate / Special Proceeding Calendar Request has a remote-hearing checkbox, and the form says the request is subject to clerk approval and that time and exhibits may be limited. Remote proceedings are permitted by statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-49.6), but the form does not promise approval.
How do I look up a Brunswick County estate case?
Use Portal, the statewide case search and hearing search tool, at https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. If the estate file does not appear or the site asks for additional identity steps, call the Brunswick Estates line at (910) 253-3904.
Do I have to travel to Bolivia if I live out of state?
Not always, but you should ask the clerk before relying on mail or online filing. Attorneys use File & Serve, and self-represented filers may use it, but the method for delivering an original will in Brunswick is not published. Call (910) 253-3904 before mailing the packet or booking travel.
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.