Detailed Answer

When someone named executor in a will seeks to probate that document in North Carolina, they must follow clear rules under Chapter 28A of the North Carolina General Statutes. Probate begins in the Clerk of Superior Court’s office in the county where the decedent last lived. Here are the initial steps every executor should take:

1. Locate and secure the original will. The court requires the original document. Without it, the clerk may refuse to admit the will. Store it in a safe place until filing.
2. Identify interested parties. Interested parties include the surviving spouse, children, beneficiaries named in the will, and heirs at law. You must notify them of your probate petition. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-12-1.
3. File the application for probate. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-8-1, submit these items to the Clerk of Superior Court:
   • Original will and any codicils
   • Formal petition for probate
   • Oath of personal representative
   • Renunciation forms from alternate personal representatives, if they decline to serve
   • Required filing fee
4. Publish and mail notice to creditors. After filing, the clerk issues a notice to creditors. You must publish that notice in a local newspaper and mail a copy to known creditors. Follow the requirements in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-19-3.
5. Obtain Letters Testamentary. Once the court admits the will, the clerk issues Letters Testamentary. These documents authorize you to collect assets, pay debts, and distribute property according to the will.

Key Takeaways for Executors

• Secure the original will before you file.
• Notify all interested parties promptly.
• Prepare and file your petition with the Clerk of Superior Court in the decedent’s county of residence.
• Publish the creditor notice and mail to known creditors per statute.
• Pick up Letters Testamentary to begin administering the estate.