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Tyrrell County, NC Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Clerk of Superior Court, Tyrrell County. In North Carolina, estate administration is handled before the clerk of superior court, who is the ex officio judge of probate. |
| Courthouse address | Tyrrell County Courthouse, 403 Main St, Columbia, NC 27925. |
| Mailing address | Tyrrell County Courthouse, PO Box 406, Columbia, NC 27925. |
| Phone | (252) 766-6510. This is the published courthouse and Clerk of Superior Court number. Tyrrell publishes no separate Estates line. |
| Fax | No fax number is published for the Tyrrell clerk. |
| No office email address is published for the Tyrrell clerk. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The courthouse page publishes no lunch closure or filing cutoff. |
| Court costs | Effective January 1, 2026, opening an estate costs $120.00 in court costs, plus 40 cents per $100.00 of the gross estate, a minimum of $15.00 per filing and capped at $6,000.00 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307). |
| Payment methods | By mail, use a money order or certified check payable to Tyrrell County Clerk of Superior Court. No cash and no personal checks by mail. In person at the Cashier's Office, the clerk accepts cash, credit or debit card with processing fees and some restrictions, money order, or certified check. No personal checks. |
| Local forms | Tyrrell publishes no local estate form, estate checklist, estate cover sheet, or estate calendar request. Use the statewide AOC estate forms. |
| E-filing | eCourts is live in all 100 North Carolina counties. Attorneys must use File & Serve. Self-represented filers may use File & Serve but are not required to register unless they choose to file that way. Ask the clerk how to deliver any original will. |
| Case search | Portal is the statewide case search and hearing search site: https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. If a Tyrrell estate file does not appear, call the clerk at (252) 766-6510. |
| Remote appearance | The Second Judicial District Remote Hearing Procedures dated August 5, 2026 include estate proceedings and use Webex or another AOC-approved audio-visual application. The order does not guarantee that a particular estate matter will be remote. |
| Website | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/tyrrell-county |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Tyrrell County, list the accounts, vehicles, real property, debts, beneficiaries, and whether there is a will. The clerk's forms ask for a preliminary inventory, and the right estate settlement path depends on what property must be collected or transferred.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 institutions so families can find accounts before they choose forms, pay court costs, or ask the clerk to issue letters testamentary or letters of administration.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File Tyrrell County estate matters at the Tyrrell County Courthouse in Columbia. The Judicial Branch publishes one court location for Tyrrell County, at 403 Main St, and the clerk's mailing address is PO Box 406.
Tyrrell County includes Columbia, the county seat and only municipality, and the Alligator, Columbia, Gum Neck, Scuppernong, and South Fork townships. Venue is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a decedent 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
- Start with the will, a certified death certificate, the asset list, and the debt picture. Call the Tyrrell clerk at (252) 766-6510 before traveling, because Tyrrell publishes no booking link and no walk-in policy for opening an estate.
- Choose the statewide AOC 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, and the later inventory and account forms when required.
- File with the Clerk of Superior Court at 403 Main St in Columbia, or mail to Tyrrell County Courthouse, PO Box 406, Columbia, NC 27925. Ask the clerk how the original will should be delivered, because Tyrrell does not publish an original-will delivery rule.
- When you file, provide a valid email address or certify that you do not have email access, as required by the Second Judicial District Remote Hearing Procedures for attorneys and self-represented litigants filing a complaint, motion, or responsive pleading.
- Pay the statutory court costs by a Tyrrell-accepted method. Effective January 1, 2026, opening an estate costs $120.00 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). By mail, send a money order or certified check only. In person, use the Cashier's Office payment options.
- If notice to creditors is required, arrange publication and mailing after the personal representative, meaning the executor or administrator, qualifies. North Carolina creditor notice must give claimants at least three months from first publication or posting, and publication runs once a week for four consecutive weeks.
- If the clerk sets a hearing, ask whether the matter may proceed remotely or in a hybrid format under the Second Judicial District Remote Hearing Procedures. The clerk or the clerk's designee hosts Webex proceedings, but the order does not promise that every estate hearing will be remote.
- After the clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration, collect estate property, keep records, file the inventory and accounts when due, pay approved claims and expenses, distribute property, and close the estate with the clerk.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Tyrrell County
Tyrrell County publishes no local estate rule, estate checklist, estate cover sheet, or estate calendar request on its Local Rules and Forms page. The page lists Second Judicial District rules and family, juvenile, mediation, and medical malpractice documents, but nothing for a decedent's estate.
| Form | Use in Tyrrell County |
|---|---|
| AOC-E-201 | Application for probate and letters testamentary or letters 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. 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 accounting. |
| AOC-E-650 | Estates action cover sheet. |
Use the AOC form library rather than saving old PDFs, because some estate forms are versioned by date of death: https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms
Local nuance
Tyrrell County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Tyrrell filing |
|---|---|
| One published clerk line | Call (252) 766-6510 for estate questions. The same number is published for the courthouse and the Clerk of Superior Court, and Tyrrell publishes no separate Estates line. |
| Two addresses | Use 403 Main St in Columbia for in-person filing. Use Tyrrell County Courthouse, PO Box 406, Columbia, NC 27925 for mail. |
| Restricted payment methods | By mail, send only a money order or certified check payable to Tyrrell County Clerk of Superior Court. Do not mail cash or a personal check. In person at the Cashier's Office, the clerk accepts cash, credit or debit card with processing fees and some restrictions, money order, or certified check. No personal checks. |
| No local estate paperwork | Tyrrell's Local Rules and Forms page does not publish an estate checklist, local estate form, or estate calendar request. Use the statewide AOC estate forms. |
| Remote hearing order | The Second Judicial District Remote Hearing Procedures include estate proceedings, use Webex or another approved application, and make the clerk or the clerk's designee the host for proceedings in the county. |
| No booking link | Tyrrell publishes no online scheduler and no walk-in statement. Call before traveling to Columbia to ask how the clerk wants you to open the estate. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| August 5, 2026 | The Second Judicial District Remote Hearing Procedures posted on Tyrrell County's Local Rules and Forms page state that estate proceedings are included in the order's civil-proceeding definition, and that the clerk of superior court or the clerk's designee schedules and hosts Webex proceedings. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Tyrrell County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home is titled and what personal property must be collected. File any needed estate paperwork with the Tyrrell clerk in Columbia, and ask whether summary administration, year's allowance, or full administration fits the facts. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize the asset list, and prepare questions for the clerk or a North Carolina attorney before the spouse travels to Columbia. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call (252) 766-6510 before mailing or traveling, because Tyrrell publishes no appointment policy and no original-will delivery rule. If collection by affidavit is the right path, use AOC-E-203B and follow the clerk's filing and payment instructions. | Sunset helps locate accounts, generate the packet, and identify which items still require a paper step with the clerk. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale or title-clearing need usually requires closer attention to full administration and any real-property issues. File in Tyrrell if venue belongs there, and consider counsel if title, creditors, or heirs create disputes. | Sunset helps gather financial information, create an estate settlement checklist, and connect the family to a vetted North Carolina probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it helps with | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Superior Court, Tyrrell County | The filing counter for Tyrrell estate matters. Staff can tell you what to bring and how the clerk wants an original will delivered, but cannot give legal advice. | Tyrrell County Courthouse, 403 Main St, Columbia, NC 27925. Mailing: PO Box 406, Columbia, NC 27925. Phone (252) 766-6510. https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/tyrrell-county |
| Tyrrell County contact directory | The Judicial Branch's list of courthouse contacts for Tyrrell County. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/tyrrell-county/contact-directory |
| Tyrrell County payment information | Accepted payment methods by mail and in person, including Cashier's Office payment options. | https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/tyrrell-county/tyrrell-county-payment-information |
| North Carolina Judicial Branch estates help topic | Court-published 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 AOC estate forms | The form library used for Tyrrell estate filings. | 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 that the Judicial Branch lists for year's allowance, summary administration, and small estate administration. | https://northcarolina.tylertech.cloud/SRL/SRL |
| Legal Aid of North Carolina, Greenville office | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents in its service area, which includes Tyrrell. 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, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. https://legalaidnc.org/get-help/offices/ |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a North Carolina probate attorney when Tyrrell real property must be sold or title must be cleared through the estate, when heirs disagree, when a caveat is threatened, when creditors press claims, when the personal representative lives out of state and bond is a concern, or when the issue is one the clerk cannot decide and must go to the Superior Court Division (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-2-4). Sunset connects the family to a vetted North Carolina probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search across more than 2,300 institutions so the Tyrrell estate settlement starts with a clearer picture of accounts, debts, and property.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset information into an organized probate packet and helps you identify the statewide AOC forms that may be needed before filing with the clerk in Columbia.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Tyrrell estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted North Carolina probate attorney for the next step.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families organize the work, understand the court steps, and avoid starting with incomplete information.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate paperwork in Tyrrell County?
File with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Tyrrell County Courthouse, 403 Main St, Columbia, NC 27925. Use the mailing address, Tyrrell County Courthouse, PO Box 406, Columbia, NC 27925, for mail.
Does Tyrrell County have a separate estates phone number?
No. The Judicial Branch publishes (252) 766-6510 as both the courthouse main line and the Clerk of Superior Court line, and publishes no separate Estates line for Tyrrell County.
Can I e-file an estate in Tyrrell County?
eCourts is live in all 100 North Carolina counties. Attorneys must use File & Serve, and self-represented filers may use it but are not required to do so. Ask the Tyrrell clerk how to deliver any original will, because Tyrrell does not publish an original-will delivery rule.
How much does it cost to open an estate in Tyrrell County?
Effective January 1, 2026, opening an estate costs $120.00 in court costs, 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). Tyrrell does not set a separate local estate fee.
What payment methods does the Tyrrell clerk accept?
By mail, use a money order or certified check payable to Tyrrell County Clerk of Superior Court. The payment page says no cash and no personal checks by mail. In person at the Cashier's Office, the clerk accepts cash, credit or debit card with processing fees and some restrictions, money order, or certified check, and no personal checks.
Does Tyrrell County have local probate forms?
No. Tyrrell's Local Rules and Forms page publishes no estate local rule, estate checklist, estate cover sheet, or estate calendar request. Use the statewide AOC estate forms at https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms.
Can I appear remotely for a Tyrrell County estate hearing?
Possibly, if the clerk sets the matter that way. The Second Judicial District Remote Hearing Procedures include estate proceedings and use Webex or another AOC-approved application, but the order does not guarantee that a particular estate matter will be remote. Call (252) 766-6510 to ask about the specific hearing.
How do I look up a Tyrrell County estate case?
Use the statewide Portal at https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/ for case search and hearing search. If the estate file does not appear or the site asks for more access steps, call the Tyrrell clerk at (252) 766-6510.
Do I have to travel to Columbia to start a Tyrrell County estate?
Not always, but Tyrrell does not publish a walk-in policy, appointment policy, paper-counter rule, or original-will delivery rule. Call the clerk at (252) 766-6510 before traveling or mailing documents.
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.