Serves Brunswick County from Shallotte, where the firm has practiced since 2000. Mack Hewett handles probate matters, drafts wills and trusts and manages established trusts for clients, alongside real estate and business work. He holds a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Miami; the office runs by appointment, 9 to 4 Monday through Friday.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Brunswick County, North Carolina
How probate works in Brunswick County: the Clerk of Superior Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court
Brunswick County · Superior Court District 15B
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
310 Government Center Drive Northeast, Bolivia, NC 28422
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysAttorneys file estate documents through eCourts File & Serve. Self-represented filers may use File & Serve or file on paper at the clerk's office. The original will and any codicils are delivered to the clerk on paper and stay in the clerk's office. On paper: Self-represented filers may file on paper at the clerk's office; Original wills and codicils are delivered to the clerk on paper.
Self-represented filing
AllowedAn estate may be opened and administered without a lawyer. The statewide estate forms are on the Judicial Branch forms page.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Credit card, Debit card, Money order.In person: cash, credit or debit card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover; a processing fee applies), money order or certified check; personal checks are not accepted. By mail: money order or certified check made payable to Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court. Fees on documents filed through File STDX Serve are paid online in File STDX Serve.
County forms
- Estates & Special Proceedings Calendar RequestAsks the clerk to set a hearing date on a motion filed in an estate or special proceeding; it is submitted by email to the special proceedings mailbox or by mail, with a certificate of service on the other parties.
310 Government Center Drive Northeast
Unit 1
Bolivia, NC 28422
Departments
- Estates1-910-253-3904 · brunswick.estate@nccourts.org
- Special Proceedings1-910-253-3905 · brunswick.specialproceedings@nccourts.org
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Brunswick County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Brunswick County, probate runs through the Clerk of Superior Court at 310 Government Center Drive Northeast, Bolivia. The court sits in the Superior Court District 15B.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under North Carolina intestacy law when there is no will.
Most North Carolina estates take 9 months to 12 months to move through this process. Creditors have 3 monthsNCGS §§ 28A-14-1, 28A-19-1, 28A-19-3, 28A-19-6, 28A-19-16Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Brunswick County
What probate costs in Brunswick County, North Carolina comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Clerk of Superior Court at 310 Government Center Drive Northeast, Bolivia. The court is part of the Superior Court District 15B.
North Carolina charges $120 plus 0.4% of personal property, up to $6,120N.C.G.S. § 7A-307(a)(1), (1a), (2)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in North Carolina are negotiated, typically 2%Modeled estimate under N.C.G.S. § 28A-13-3(a)(19), § 28A-23-3(a) (attorney fees are a negotiated administration expense; no statutory schedule or percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%Modeled estimate under N.C.G.S. § 28A-13-3(a)(19), § 28A-23-3(a) (attorney fees are a negotiated administration expense; no statutory schedule or percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
North Carolina allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payN.C.G.S. § 28A-23-3 (clerk sets commission up to 5% on receipts/expenditures; no fixed schedule)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
North Carolina requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under N.C.G.S. § 28A-8-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in North Carolina typically runs 9 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Clerk of Superior Court
Probate cases in Brunswick County, North Carolina are filed at the Clerk of Superior Court. The court sits in the Superior Court District 15B.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Estates and Special Proceedings.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
In North Carolina, informal probate is not availableN.C.G.S. § 28A-2-1 (clerk of superior court is ex officio judge of probate), § 28A-6-1 (single application for letters; no informal/formal election)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Brunswick County Self-Filing Assessment.
Brunswick County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Hearings in estates and special proceedings are set by calendar request
A motion is calendared only after it has been filed. The calendar request names the requested date and hearing length, says whether the other parties agreed, and can ask for a remote hearing or an interpreter.
SourceOther Requirements
Phones and laptops are allowed in the courthouse for court business
Cell phones, laptops and tablets may be used in the courthouse to reach electronic court files. Phones are turned off and put away before entering any courtroom.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Clerk of Superior Court: Evidence of the decedent’s death — a certified or authenticated copy of the death certificate is the first of four alternatives the clerk may accept; the NC Judicial Branch tells applicants to bring a certified death certificate (N.C. Gen. Stat. 28A-6-1(c)); Original will and any codicils (offered for probate; AOC-E-201 / addendum AOC-E-309 for out-of-state probate) (N.C. Gen. Stat. 28A-2A-1); Oath / Affirmation of the personal representative (AOC-E-400) (N.C. Gen. Stat. 28A-7-1)N.C. Gen. Stat. 28A-6-1 (application for & grant of letters), 28A-6-2 (letters without notice), 28A-2A-1 (probate of will); 28A-7-1 (oath required before letters issue)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Brunswick County
In North Carolina a death is registered locally, and in Brunswick County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Brunswick County Register of Deeds as well as by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - NC Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Register of Deeds
Brunswick County · Brunswick County Register of Deeds
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
75 Courthouse Drive Northeast, Building I, Bolivia, NC 28422
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Order online
P.O. Box 87
Bolivia, NC 28422
Fax
1-910-253-2703
Local rule
- The office holds deaths in Brunswick County from October 1913 on. An in-person request carries a government-issued photo identification, and the counter takes cash, money order or certified check only.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $10 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
State Medical Examiner
Brunswick County · North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Phone
1-919-743-9000 (option 3 for family inquiries)
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
4312 District Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607
Website
Serves this county
North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Mail and offices
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
3025 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-3025
Fax
1-919-743-9099
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Brunswick County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Register of Deeds.
Deeds and other real property documents for Brunswick County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 75 Courthouse Drive Northeast, Building I, Bolivia, NC 28422. Phone: 1-910-253-2690. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 87, Bolivia, NC 28422.
The Register of Deeds charges $26 for the first 15 pages plus $4 for each page beyond 15.
Brunswick County accepts electronic recording through Inttek.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Brunswick County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
75 Courthouse Drive Northeast, Building I, Bolivia, NC 28422
Website
E-recording
P.O. Box 87
Bolivia, NC 28422
Fax
1-910-253-2703
Recording fees
| Base fee (first 15 pages) | $26 |
| Each page beyond 15 | $4 |
| Non-Standard Document Fee | $25 |
NCGS 161-10(a)(1)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Brunswick County
North Carolina uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Brunswick County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in North Carolina are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Brunswick County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Clerk of Superior Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Serves New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Onslow counties from Wilmington. Nick Leger represents executors, administrators, and trustees through probate and intestate administration — inventories, creditor notices, accountings, and distribution — and litigates will caveats, undue-influence claims, and spousal elective-share disputes. The practice is limited to estate work and guardianship.
A small father-and-son practice in downtown Wilmington, serving New Hanover, Pender, and Brunswick counties. James Seay III carries personal representatives through estate administration — gathering and valuing assets, notifying creditors, filing inventories and accounts, and distributing to heirs — and handles will contests. Initial consultations are a flat $250 except in estate planning matters.
Serves Brunswick County from Shallotte, practicing before the Brunswick County Clerk of Court and Register of Deeds. Tonia Trest Twigg carries estates through probate — court filings and accountings, publication of creditor claims, and distribution to beneficiaries — and handles incompetency and guardianship proceedings. The office offers free consultations.
Serves the Crystal Coast from Bridges Street in Morehead City, with clients in Beaufort, New Bern and Jacksonville. Its probate work runs from qualifying the personal representative and obtaining letters testamentary through creditor claims, the spousal year's allowance, inventories and final accountings, and extends to will caveats. Cecil Harvell opened the practice in 1987.
Serves Wilmington and New Hanover County from Wrightsville Avenue. Two of its attorneys work in trusts and estates, taking fiduciaries through estate and trust administration and handling estate-tax, gift-tax and charitable gift planning. Jill Kaess is a CPA, a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law certified by the North Carolina State Bar, and an ACTEC Fellow.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- N.C. Gen. Stat. 28A-6-1 (application for & grant of letters), 28A-6-2 (letters without notice), 28A-2A-1 (probate of will); 28A-7-1 (oath required before letters issue)
- N.C.G.S. § 28A-2-1 (clerk of superior court is ex officio judge of probate), § 28A-6-1 (single application for letters; no informal/formal election)
- N.C.G.S. § 28A-23-3 (clerk sets commission up to 5% on receipts/expenditures; no fixed schedule)
- N.C.G.S. § 7A-307(a)(1), (1a), (2)
- NCGS §§ 28A-14-1, 28A-19-1, 28A-19-3, 28A-19-6, 28A-19-16
- NCGS 161-10(a)(1)
- Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court, official page
- Brunswick County Register of Deeds, official page
- Brunswick County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from North Carolina statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in North Carolina
Free tools for settling an estate in North Carolina: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in North Carolina: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysN.C.G.S. §§ 28A-20-1, 28A-20-3, 28A-20-4Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 3 monthsNCGS §§ 28A-14-1, 28A-19-1, 28A-19-3, 28A-19-6, 28A-19-16Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in North Carolina happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeN.C.G.S. § 36C-1-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
In North Carolina, informal probate is not availableN.C.G.S. § 28A-2-1 (clerk of superior court is ex officio judge of probate), § 28A-6-1 (single application for letters; no informal/formal election)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
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