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Craven County, NC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Craven County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Clerk of Superior Court, Craven County. The clerk of superior court acts as ex officio judge of probate for estate matters. |
| Courthouse address | Craven County Courthouse, 302 Broad St, New Bern, NC 28560 |
| Mailing address | Craven County Courthouse, PO Box 1187, New Bern, NC 28563 |
| Phone | (252) 639-3000. The Judicial Branch lists this as both the courthouse main line and the Clerk of Superior Court line, with no separate Estates line. |
| Fax | (252) 639-3030, listed by Craven County government. Call (252) 639-3000 before faxing anything, and do not fax an original will. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published. |
| Opening cost | For the 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 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307). |
| Payment methods | By mail, use money order or certified check payable to Craven County Clerk of Superior Court. No cash or personal checks by mail. In person, the Cashier's Office accepts cash, credit or debit card with processing fees, money order, or certified check. No personal checks. |
| Local forms | No local estate forms are published for Craven County. Use statewide Administrative Office of the Courts estate forms at https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms. |
| E-filing | eCourts is live statewide. Attorneys use File & Serve. Self-represented filers may use File & Serve, but should call the clerk about paper steps and original wills. File & Serve: https://efilenc.tylertech.cloud/OfsEfsp/ui/landing |
| Case lookup | Use the statewide Portal for case and hearing searches: https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. If a Craven estate does not appear, call the clerk. |
| Remote appearance | North Carolina law permits judicial officials to use approved audio and video proceedings (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-49.6), but Craven publishes no remote appearance procedure for estate matters before the clerk. |
| Website | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/craven-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Craven County probate path, list the assets, debts, titled property, beneficiaries, and whether there is a will. That asset picture controls whether the clerk can issue letters, whether a collection by affidavit or summary administration may fit, and whether estate settlement will involve real property or creditor issues.
Sunset can help build that picture before you call or visit the clerk in New Bern. Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions, which helps families find accounts, balances, and institutions that may affect estate settlement.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Craven County estates are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Craven County Courthouse, 302 Broad St, New Bern. The Judicial Branch publishes one courthouse location for Craven County, and the Havelock number in the contact directory is a magistrates line, not a place to open an estate.
The county includes Bridgeton, Cove City, Dover, Havelock, New Bern, River Bend, Trent Woods, Vanceboro, and unincorporated Craven County. Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Fleet Readiness Center East are in Havelock, which is often relevant to family logistics, but it does not change the probate procedure.
Venue is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a person not domiciled in North Carolina, a county where the decedent left property or where estate property has come (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-3-1).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate path. Start with the will, death certificate, asset list, debts, real property, and who has priority to serve as personal representative, executor, or administrator.
- Choose the correct statewide estate forms. In Craven, estate filings use the statewide AOC estate forms, not a county packet.
- Call the clerk at (252) 639-3000 before traveling to New Bern. Craven publishes no booking link and no statement saying whether walk-ins are accepted for opening an estate.
- Prepare for courthouse entry. Craven publishes an entry order saying the general public may not bring purses, backpacks, or bags of any kind into the courthouse, and that wallets may not exceed 3.5 inches high by 8.5 inches wide.
- File with the Clerk of Superior Court at 302 Broad St in New Bern, or mail to PO Box 1187, New Bern, NC 28563. If there is an original will, ask the clerk how it must be delivered because an original will cannot be submitted electronically as an original.
- Pay using an accepted method. For the 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 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307). Craven accepts money order or certified check by mail, and cash, card, money order, or certified check in person.
- After letters are issued, give and publish creditor notice as required by North Carolina law, then gather assets, protect property, and pay allowed expenses and claims.
- File the inventory and accountings required by the statewide process. Use AOC-E-505 for the inventory and AOC-E-506 for accounts.
- Use Portal for case and hearing searches when available, and call the Craven clerk if the estate is not easy to find online.
- Close the estate after administration is complete, required accountings are accepted, and any remaining distribution issues are resolved.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Craven County
Craven County does not publish a local estate form, estate checklist, local estate cover sheet, or estate calendar request. Its local rules page lists civil calendaring, bail, fingerprinting, and courthouse attire materials, but not decedent estate paperwork.
| Form | Use in Craven 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. |
| AOC-E-905 and AOC-E-906 | Summary administration forms, depending on whether there is a will. |
| AOC-E-100 | Year's allowance petition. Use the form library because some versions depend on date of death. |
Statewide estate forms are at https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms. Filter to Estate (E).
Local nuance
Craven County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Craven filing |
|---|---|
| Restricted courthouse entry | Craven publishes an order saying the general public may not bring purses, backpacks, or bags of any kind into the courthouse. Plan how you will carry estate paperwork before you go to 302 Broad St. |
| Wallet size limit | Wallets are allowed but may not exceed 3.5 inches high by 8.5 inches wide. |
| Phones and wireless devices | The published entry notice says no cell phones or wireless devices are allowed in courtrooms. Call the clerk if you need to know how this affects a visit to the counter. |
| Attire order | Craven lists a county-specific courthouse attire administrative order on its local rules page. Dress for court and ask the clerk's office what the order requires if you are unsure. |
| One clerk phone line | The only published clerk line is (252) 639-3000. Craven does not publish a separate Estates line. |
| Different mailing address | Use 302 Broad St for the courthouse, but use PO Box 1187, New Bern, NC 28563 for mail. |
| Payment methods | By mail, use money order or certified check only. In person, the Cashier's Office accepts cash, card with processing fees, money order, or certified check. No personal checks. |
| No local estate packet | Craven uses statewide AOC estate forms and publishes no local estate paperwork. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | File at the Clerk of Superior Court in New Bern if Craven is the proper venue. The path depends on title, the will, and whether the spouse is the sole devisee or heir. Call (252) 639-3000 before going because Craven publishes no appointment policy. | Sunset helps organize the home, accounts, debts, and beneficiary information so the spouse can decide whether full estate settlement is needed or a simpler statewide path may fit. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Use the Craven mailing address, PO Box 1187, New Bern, NC 28563, and send only an accepted payment method if mailing a payment. Call the clerk about the original will and whether any in-person step is required. Craven's Cherry Point community means distance logistics are common, but the legal path is the statewide North Carolina path. | Sunset helps find accounts, prepare a clean asset list, and generate documents the child can review before calling or filing with the clerk. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | Real property that must be sold through the estate often pushes the matter toward full administration. File with the clerk in New Bern, and expect the gross estate assessment to include proceeds from realty that come into the fiduciary's hands under the statewide fee statute. Contested matters or a caveat may move beyond the clerk's estate authority (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-2-4). | Sunset helps assemble asset information, create the probate packet, and connect the family with counsel if a sale, dispute, creditor issue, or transfer to superior court is likely. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Superior Court, Craven County | Filing counter for Craven estates. Staff can explain filing logistics, what to bring, payment methods, and how the clerk wants an original will delivered. | 302 Broad St, New Bern, NC 28560. Mailing: PO Box 1187, New Bern, NC 28563. Phone (252) 639-3000. https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/craven-county |
| Craven County contact directory | Judicial Branch list of courthouse contacts. It shows the same number for the courthouse and the Clerk of Superior Court, with no separate Estates line. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/craven-county/contact-directory |
| Craven County payment information | Explains mail and in-person payment methods and the Cashier's Office. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/craven-county/craven-county-payment-information |
| Craven County local rules and forms | Lists local rules, including the Craven courthouse attire order. It does not publish local estate forms. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/craven-county/craven-county-local-rules-and-forms |
| North Carolina Judicial Branch estates help topic | Plain-language court guidance on wills, estates, letters, what to bring, and common estate questions. | https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/wills-and-estates/estates |
| Decedent's estate procedures pamphlet | Administrative Office of the Courts pamphlet on procedures for executors, administrators, collectors by affidavit, and summary administration. | https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/publications/decedents-estate-procedures-pamphlet |
| Statewide estate forms | Administrative Office of the Courts form library. Filter to Estate (E). | https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms |
| Portal | Statewide case and hearing search, plus online payment where a case is eligible. | https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/ |
| Guide & File | Free guided document preparation. Its estate coverage is a guided interview for a petition for summary administration with or without a will. | https://northcarolina.tylertech.cloud/SRL/SRL |
| Legal Aid of North Carolina, Greenville office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents of counties it serves, including Craven. Ask at intake whether your 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, 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 more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, balances, and institutions that may need to be included in a Craven County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet Sunset helps organize the family information, asset list, debts, and court forms so you can review a complete packet before filing with the Clerk of Superior Court in New Bern.
Find a local probate attorney If the estate involves a home sale, creditor dispute, caveat, out-of-state fiduciary, or transfer to superior court, Sunset can connect the family with a North Carolina probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families Sunset helps families understand the next step, prepare for the clerk's counter, and move estate settlement forward without adding another bill during the first stage of administration.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Craven County?
File with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Craven County Courthouse, 302 Broad St, New Bern, NC 28560. If mailing, use Craven County Courthouse, PO Box 1187, New Bern, NC 28563. Venue is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-3-1).
What are the Craven County clerk's office hours for opening an estate?
The courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closed Saturday and Sunday. Craven publishes no lunch closure and no filing cutoff.
Do I need an appointment to open an estate in Craven County?
Craven publishes no booking link and no walk-in policy. Call the clerk at (252) 639-3000 before going to New Bern to ask how the counter is handling estate openings.
What can I bring into the Craven County Courthouse?
Craven publishes an order saying the general public may not bring purses, backpacks, or bags of any kind into the courthouse. Wallets may not exceed 3.5 inches high by 8.5 inches wide. Because an estate filing often involves an original will, death certificate, and paperwork, plan ahead and call the clerk if you are unsure how to carry documents into the courthouse.
What does it cost to open an estate in Craven County?
For the 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 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307). Craven does not add a county surcharge.
Are there local Craven County probate forms?
No. Craven publishes no local estate form packet. Use the statewide Administrative Office of the Courts estate forms at https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms and filter to Estate (E).
Can I file a Craven County estate online?
Attorneys use File & Serve. Self-represented filers may use File & Serve, but Craven does not publish instructions for how an original will is delivered, and an original will cannot be submitted electronically as an original. Call (252) 639-3000 before relying on an online filing alone.
How do I look up a Craven County estate case?
Use the statewide Portal at https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. The site may require account steps or a human verification step. If you cannot find the estate, call the Craven clerk at (252) 639-3000.
Can I handle a Craven County estate from out of state or by video?
You may be able to handle some steps by mail or online, but Craven publishes no remote appearance procedure for estate matters. North Carolina law permits judicial officials to use approved audio and video proceedings (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-49.6), so raise travel issues with the clerk before you file or schedule anything.
Can I open an estate at the Havelock magistrate's office instead of New Bern?
No Craven page says estates can be opened in Havelock. The Havelock number in the contact directory is for magistrates. Estate filings go through the Clerk of Superior Court at the Craven County Courthouse in New Bern.
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.