Short Answer

In North Carolina, estate files are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court (Estates Division) in the county where the estate was opened, and most filings—including the inventory—are public records. You can visit or contact that clerk’s office to request copies (regular or certified) for a small fee. If an inventory hasn’t been filed or seems incomplete, you may ask the clerk to compel the administrator to file or supplement it.

Understanding the Problem

You want to know how you, as an heir in a North Carolina intestate estate, can obtain copies of what’s in the court’s probate file—especially the inventory—and what to do if the file looks incomplete. Here, the inventory lists only a vehicle, and you’ve received no information about other assets. This article explains how to get the file, what should be in it, and your options if required filings are missing.

Apply the Law

In North Carolina, the estate file is kept by the Clerk of Superior Court, Estates Division, in the county where the estate was opened. The personal representative (administrator, in an intestate case) must file a detailed inventory within three months of qualifying. If additional assets are later discovered or values change, a supplemental inventory is required. Annual and final accounts report receipts, payments, and distributions and are audited by the clerk. If an inventory or account is overdue or incomplete, an interested person may ask the clerk to order the administrator to file one promptly; continued noncompliance can lead to removal or contempt.

Key Requirements

• Access to the file: Estate filings are generally public; request copies from the Estates Division in the county of administration.
• 90-day inventory: The administrator must file an inventory within three months after qualifying; you can obtain a copy from the file.
• Supplemental inventory: If new assets are found or values change, the administrator must update the inventory.
• Annual/final accounts: The administrator must file periodic accounts until closing; these can also be copied from the file.
• Compel filings if missing: An heir or other interested person may ask the clerk to order the administrator to file or supplement an inventory or account.

What the Statutes Say

• North Carolina Gen. Stat. § 28A-20-1 (Inventory due in three months) – sets the inventory deadline.
• North Carolina Gen. Stat. § 28A-20-3 (Supplemental inventory) – requires updates when new assets or valuation changes are discovered.
• North Carolina Gen. Stat. § 28A-20-2 (Failure to file inventory) – clerk may order filing and impose sanctions for noncompliance.
• North Carolina Gen. Stat. § 28A-21-4 (Compelling account filing) – allows orders to compel overdue accounts.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Because the inventory must be filed within three months of your brother’s qualification, first check the estate file at the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where he opened the estate and request a copy of the inventory (AOC-E-505) and any accounts (AOC-E-506). If the file shows only a vehicle and no supplemental inventory or account, you may ask the clerk to require a supplemental filing. Real estate and non-probate assets may not appear as personal property on the inventory, but a proper inventory should still reflect estate assets and updates if new items are found.

Process & Timing

1. Who files: You (as an heir/interested person). Where: Clerk of Superior Court, Estates Division, in the county where the estate is open. What: Request copies of the estate file (including the Inventory for Decedent’s Estate, AOC-E-505, and any Annual/Final Accounts, AOC-E-506). For fees, see the Judicial Branch’s “Current Court Costs” page: https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/publications/current-court-costs. When: Any time; inventories are due three months after the administrator qualifies.
2. If the inventory is missing or appears incomplete, ask the clerk to issue a notice or order to file/supplement. If needed, file a short petition in the estate case and have an Estate Proceeding Summons (AOC-E-102) issued and served. The clerk will set a hearing date; timing varies by county.
3. After a clerk’s order, the administrator typically must file the required inventory or account within a set period (often 20–30 days). If they do not, the clerk may impose remedies, including removal or contempt. You can then obtain the new filings from the clerk.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Real estate and some non-probate assets (for example, joint accounts with right of survivorship, POD/beneficiary designations) may not appear as probate personal property; absence from the inventory can be normal.
• Supporting documents (like bank statements and vouchers) may not be part of the public file or may be redacted.
• To compel action, you must properly serve the Estate Proceeding Summons on the administrator; service mistakes can delay relief.
• Copy and certification fees change; confirm current amounts with the clerk or review the court’s fee schedule.

Talk to a Probate Attorney

If you’re dealing with a North Carolina estate and need copies of the inventory or help compelling filings, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand your options and timelines. Call us today.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.