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Sampson County, NC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Sampson County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Clerk of Superior Court, Sampson County |
| Courthouse address | Sampson County Courthouse, 101 E. Main St, Clinton, NC 28328 |
| Mailing address | Clerk of Superior Court, Sampson County Courthouse, 101 E. Main St, Clinton, NC 28328 |
| Phone | (910) 596-6600. Sampson publishes this same number for the courthouse, the Annex, the Extension and the Clerk of Superior Court, with no separate Estates line. |
| Fax | No clerk fax number is published on the Sampson County Judicial Branch pages. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published. |
| Court costs | Opening an estate costs $120.00 in court costs under the Estates Court Costs chart 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 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307). |
| Payment methods | By mail, money order or certified check only, payable to Sampson County Clerk of Superior Court. In person at the Cashier's Office, cash, credit or debit card with processing fees, money order or certified check. No personal checks. |
| Local forms | Sampson publishes no local estate form, estate checklist or estate calendar request. Use the statewide Administrative Office of the Courts estate forms. |
| E-filing | eCourts is live in all 100 North Carolina counties. Attorneys use File & Serve. Self-represented filers may use File & Serve but are not required to register unless they choose to file electronically. |
| Case search | Use Portal, the statewide public case search and hearing search site, at https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. If a Sampson estate file does not appear, call the clerk at (910) 596-6600. |
| Remote appearance | North Carolina law permits audio and video proceedings in some circumstances, but Sampson publishes no estate-specific remote-appearance order. Ask the clerk before assuming a clerk hearing can be handled by video. |
| Website | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/sampson-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Sampson County estate path, make a practical list of what the person owned, what was owed, whether there is an original will, and whether any real property in or outside Sampson County must be sold or cleared through the estate. Estate settlement starts with the asset and debt picture because that drives the form, the notice work, the court cost calculation and whether a lawyer should be involved.
Sunset can help organize that first pass by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then turning the results into a probate packet for the clerk or for a North Carolina probate attorney to review.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Sampson County estates are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court in Clinton. The Judicial Branch publishes the Sampson County Courthouse at 101 E. Main St, plus a Courthouse Annex and Courthouse Extension, all under the same main number, (910) 596-6600. The courthouse address is also the published mailing address for clerk payments and filings.
Clinton is the county seat. Sampson County includes Autryville, Clinton, Garland, Harrells, Newton Grove, Roseboro and Turkey, and sits in southeastern North Carolina near Duplin, Wayne, Johnston, Harnett, Cumberland, Bladen and Pender counties.
Venue is county based. File in Sampson County if the decedent was domiciled in Sampson County at death, or, for a decedent not domiciled in North Carolina, if estate property was left in Sampson County or came into Sampson County (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-3-1).
The jurisdiction process
- List the assets, debts, heirs, will status and any real property before you choose a path. North Carolina estate matters are handled before the clerk of superior court, who acts as ex officio judge of probate.
- Select the statewide estate form that matches the situation. Use AOC-E-201 for a will, AOC-E-202 when there is no will, AOC-E-203B for a collection of personal property by affidavit, AOC-E-905 or AOC-E-906 for summary administration, and the related inventory and account forms as needed.
- Call the Sampson clerk at (910) 596-6600 before traveling. Sampson publishes no booking link, no walk-in statement and no local instruction for how an original will should be delivered.
- Prepare the application, certified death certificate, preliminary inventory and original will if there is one. If using File & Serve, remember that attorneys use it statewide and self-represented filers may use it, but the clerk still needs whatever paper original the law requires.
- File with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Sampson County Courthouse, 101 E. Main St, Clinton, NC 28328, or send paper items to that same published mailing address if the clerk instructs you to mail them.
- Pay by an accepted Sampson method. By mail, use a money order or certified check payable to Sampson County Clerk of Superior Court. In person, the Cashier's Office accepts cash, credit or debit card with processing fees, money order or certified check. Opening an estate costs $120.00 under the Estates Court Costs chart 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 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307).
- After qualification, handle creditor notice, inventory and accountings on the statewide schedule. The clerk issues letters testamentary to an executor or letters of administration to an administrator when the application is approved.
- Use Portal to check case and hearing information when available, and call the clerk if the Sampson estate file does not appear. Sampson has no county case-search site.
- Close the estate by filing the required account or closing affidavit, paying any gross-estate court cost still due under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307, and completing the distributions the clerk approves.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Sampson County
Sampson County does not publish a local estate packet, estate checklist or estate calendar request. Estate filings in Sampson use the statewide Administrative Office of the Courts estate forms at https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms, filtered to Estate.
| Form | Use in Sampson County |
|---|---|
| AOC-E-201 | Application for probate and letters testamentary or of 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, the form that closes 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 | Petition and assignment for year's allowance. Use the form landing page because some versions depend on date of death. |
Local nuance
Sampson County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for estate settlement |
|---|---|
| One phone number for three court buildings | The Judicial Branch lists (910) 596-6600 for the Sampson County Courthouse, Courthouse Annex, Courthouse Extension and Clerk of Superior Court. There is no published Estates line. |
| Same street and mailing address | Use 101 E. Main St, Clinton, NC 28328 for the courthouse address and the clerk mailing address. Sampson does not publish a separate clerk P.O. Box. |
| Payment method limits | By mail, use a money order or certified check only. In person, use cash, card with processing fees, money order or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted. |
| No local estate paperwork | The local rules and forms page lists court and family-related materials, but no estate-specific local form. Use the statewide estate form library. |
| No booking link or walk-in statement | Call (910) 596-6600 before traveling to Clinton to ask whether the clerk wants an appointment and how to deliver an original will. |
| No estate-specific video order | Sampson publishes no estate remote-appearance order. Do not rely on a District Court Webex form for a clerk estate matter. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Sampson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking how the home was titled and whether any solely owned personal property needs to be collected. If a spouse is the sole heir or sole beneficiary, summary administration may be worth discussing with the clerk or a lawyer. File in Clinton if Sampson County is the proper venue. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize home and debt information, and prepare questions for the clerk or a probate attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call (910) 596-6600 before traveling because Sampson publishes no appointment policy and no original-will delivery instruction. If the estate fits collection by affidavit, use AOC-E-203B and plan for the same statutory court-cost structure under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307. | Sunset can gather asset information remotely, generate the starting packet, and help coordinate with a North Carolina attorney if distance makes the filing hard. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually makes full administration or legal advice important, especially if title must be cleared through the estate. File with the Sampson clerk if venue belongs in Sampson County, and expect the attorney or personal representative to address any real-property issues before sale. | Sunset helps find financial accounts, keep the estate settlement task list organized, and connect the family with a vetted North Carolina probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Superior Court, Sampson County | The filing counter for Sampson estate matters. Staff can explain what to bring and how the clerk wants filings delivered, but cannot give legal advice. | Sampson County Courthouse, 101 E. Main St, Clinton, NC 28328. (910) 596-6600. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/sampson-county |
| Sampson County contact directory | Judicial Branch directory for courthouse offices and phone numbers. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/sampson-county/contact-directory |
| Sampson County payment information | Explains accepted payment methods by mail and in person. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/sampson-county/sampson-county-payment-information |
| North Carolina Judicial Branch estates help topic | Plain-language court information about 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 pamphlet 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 for Estate forms. | 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 list includes a summary administration interview, and the Judicial Branch has announced additional probate interviews. | https://northcarolina.tylertech.cloud/SRL/SRL |
| Legal Aid of North Carolina, Fayetteville office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents in counties served by that office, including Sampson. Ask at intake whether your estate question fits their help areas. | 327 Dick St, Ste 103, Fayetteville, NC 28301. Toll free 1-800-824-5340. Local (910) 483-0400. 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
A probate attorney makes sense in Sampson County when real property must be sold or title must be cleared, heirs disagree, a caveat is threatened, creditors press claims, the personal representative lives out of state and bond is a concern, or the issue is one the clerk cannot decide. The clerk has original jurisdiction over estate proceedings, while claims for monetary damages, caveats and some other matters go to the Superior Court Division (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-2-4). 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 so the family can build a clearer asset list before filing in Sampson County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the will status, heirs, assets and debts into an organized estate settlement packet that can be reviewed before you contact the clerk or an attorney.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves a home sale, creditor dispute, out-of-state personal representative or contested issue, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted North Carolina probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find assets and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Sampson County?
File with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Sampson County Courthouse, 101 E. Main St, Clinton, NC 28328, if Sampson County is the proper venue. Venue is usually the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-3-1).
Does Sampson County have a separate probate court?
No. North Carolina estate matters are handled by the clerk of superior court, who is the ex officio judge of probate. In Sampson County, that office is reached through the courthouse main number, (910) 596-6600.
Does Sampson County have an Estates phone line?
No separate Estates line is published. The Judicial Branch lists (910) 596-6600 for the Sampson County Courthouse, the Courthouse Annex, the Courthouse Extension and the Clerk of Superior Court.
Do I need an appointment to open an estate in Sampson County?
Sampson publishes no appointment booking link and no walk-in statement for estate filings. Call (910) 596-6600 before going to Clinton to ask whether the clerk wants an appointment and what to bring.
Can I e-file a Sampson County estate case?
eCourts is live statewide. Attorneys use File & Serve, and self-represented filers may use File & Serve if they register. Sampson does not publish instructions for how an original will is delivered, so call the clerk before assuming the entire opening can be handled electronically.
How do I look up a Sampson County estate case?
Use Portal, the statewide public case search and hearing search site, at https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. If a Sampson estate file does not appear, call the clerk at (910) 596-6600.
Does Sampson County have local probate forms?
Sampson publishes no local estate form, estate checklist or estate calendar request. Use the statewide Administrative Office of the Courts estate forms at https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms, filtered to Estate.
What does it cost to open an estate in Sampson County?
Opening an estate costs $120.00 in court costs under the Estates Court Costs chart 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 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307). Sampson also publishes local payment-method limits, including no personal checks.
Can I appear remotely for a Sampson County estate matter?
North Carolina law permits some proceedings by audio and video transmission, but Sampson publishes no estate-specific remote-appearance order. Ask the clerk before planning on a video appearance for a matter before the clerk.
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.