Dec232025
Probate Q&A Series

Who can file a year’s allowance on behalf of a child, and what documents are required? – North Carolina

Short Answer

In North Carolina, a child’s year’s allowance must be claimed during the child’s lifetime by the person who has legal priority to file for the child—usually the child’s guardian, then a surviving parent (if the child lives with that parent), then the person the child lives with. The claim is filed as a verified petition with the Clerk of Superior Court in the proper county, and if an estate personal representative has been appointed, a copy must also be delivered or mailed to that personal representative. The most common “document set” includes the verified petition (often on AOC-E-100), relationship proof (such as a family affidavit), and documentation showing whether letters have been issued (for the six-month deadline).

Understanding the Problem

Who can sign and file a North Carolina child’s year’s allowance claim when the child is a minor, and what paperwork does the Clerk of Superior Court typically require to accept and process the filing? The decision point is whether the person signing has the legal priority to act for the child and can submit the required verified filing in the correct county and within the correct time window.

Apply the Law

North Carolina treats a child’s year’s allowance as a statutory claim filed with the Clerk of Superior Court. The law requires a verified petition (a sworn filing) and sets an order of priority for who may file on the child’s behalf. If a personal representative has been appointed, the law also adds a notice step: the petitioner must provide the personal representative a copy by personal delivery or first-class mail. When letters (letters testamentary or letters of administration) have been issued, the key deadline is generally six months from the issuance of letters.

Key Requirements

  • Proper filer (priority order): The petition must be filed by the person with statutory priority to act for the child (typically a guardian; otherwise a qualifying caregiver as defined by statute).
  • Verified petition filed with the correct clerk: The claim must be submitted as a sworn/verified petition to the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where venue is proper for the estate matter.
  • Notice to the personal representative (if appointed): If an estate personal representative exists, the petitioner must deliver or mail a copy of the verified petition to that personal representative.

What the Statutes Say

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: The clerk’s questions about the signature style matter because North Carolina requires a verified filing by the legally authorized person (the proper filer in the statutory priority order) and clerks often compare the signature on the sworn petition to the notary acknowledgment and the filer’s identified role (guardian, surviving parent, or other caregiver). If a sibling’s allowance has not been filed by a parent and a deadline is approaching, the key issue becomes whether a personal representative has been appointed—because letters being issued can trigger a six-month filing window. A missing life-insurance check can affect what assets are practically available to satisfy an allowance, but it does not change who may file or the filing deadline.

Process & Timing

  1. Who files: The person with priority under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 30-17(c) (often the child’s general guardian/guardian of the estate; otherwise the qualifying surviving parent or other qualifying caregiver). Where: Clerk of Superior Court (Estates) in the county where venue is proper for the estate proceeding. What: A verified petition for child’s year’s allowance (many counties accept AOC-E-100, “Application and Assignment Year’s Allowance” for the standard allowance). When: If a personal representative has been appointed, file within six months after letters testamentary/administration are issued.
  2. Give required notice (if a personal representative exists): Personally deliver or send a copy of the verified petition by first-class mail to the personal representative, and keep proof of delivery/mailing for the court file if the clerk requests it.
  3. Clerk review and order: The clerk reviews entitlement and the estate’s available personal property and enters an order awarding property/cash to satisfy the allowance. If the clerk decides a hearing is needed, the clerk can require a contested estate proceeding before the allowance is decided.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

  • Wrong person signs: A notarized signature is not enough if the signer is not the person with statutory priority (or cannot show that status). Clerks commonly ask for proof of guardianship or proof of the child’s living arrangement when a non-guardian files.
  • Verification problems: The petition must be verified (sworn). Mismatched names, inconsistent signature forms, or incomplete notary blocks can delay acceptance or trigger a request to re-execute the filing.
  • Missing the six-month letters deadline: When letters have issued, waiting can forfeit the standard route to claim the allowance. Tracking the letters date (not the date of death) is critical in estates with a personal representative.
  • Notice failures to the personal representative: If notice is not delivered/mailed as required, the clerk may pause processing or the personal representative may later challenge the process.
  • Asset-transfer paperwork not ready: Even after an order is entered, banks and insurers usually require certified copies and sometimes account-specific forms; bringing enough copies and basic asset statements helps avoid repeat clerk visits.

Conclusion

In North Carolina, a child’s year’s allowance claim must be filed as a verified petition with the Clerk of Superior Court by the person with statutory priority to act for the child (typically a guardian; otherwise certain caregivers in the priority order). If a personal representative has been appointed, a copy must be delivered or mailed to the personal representative, and the filing deadline is generally six months after letters are issued. Next step: file a verified petition (often AOC-E-100) with the Clerk of Superior Court in the proper county before the six-month letters deadline.

Talk to a Probate Attorney

If a clerk is questioning who can sign for a child’s year’s allowance or a filing deadline is approaching, an attorney can help confirm the proper filer, assemble the verification and supporting documents, and ensure required notice is given to the personal representative. Call us today at (919) 341-7055.

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.

Category: Probate Q&A Series

Author: jpierce

Attorney Jared Pierce is the founder of Pierce Law Group in Raleigh, North Carolina, a firm he established with a dedicated focus on probate administration and estate planning across North Carolina. Born and raised in the Republic of South Africa, Jared moved to Durham with his family in 2001, bringing with him a rich cultural background and a distinctive accent that often serves as a conversation starter.