Market Ranking · 2026-10-06
Top Guardianship Counties in North Carolina (2026)
1,960 verified guardianship filings across 12 counties in North Carolina, ranked by filing volume. Sourced directly from public court dockets.
Guardianship filings — when a property owner becomes incapacitated and a guardian is appointed by the court to manage their affairs, including real estate. These situations often lead to property sales, especially when care costs exceed available resources.
- 1,960 total guardianship filings tracked across 12 counties
- Highest volume: Wake County (1,000+), Mecklenburg County (50+), Alamance County (50+)
- Average median property value: $382,299
County rankings by guardianship volume
| # | County | Filings | Med. Value | Absentee | Med. Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake County | 1,000+ | $468,576 | 90.9% | — |
| 2 | Mecklenburg County | 50+ | — | — | — |
| 3 | Alamance County | 50+ | $258,221 | — | — |
| 4 | Guilford County | 50+ | — | — | — |
| 5 | Cumberland County | 25+ | $345,700 | — | — |
| 6 | Durham County | 25+ | — | — | — |
| 7 | Forsyth County | fewer than 25 | — | — | — |
| 8 | Buncombe County | fewer than 25 | — | — | — |
| 9 | New Hanover County | fewer than 25 | $456,700 | — | — |
| 10 | Cabarrus County | fewer than 25 | — | — | — |
| 11 | Union County | fewer than 25 | — | — | — |
| 12 | Gaston County | fewer than 25 | — | — | — |
Related reports
Guide: How to Find Guardianship Leads in North Carolina
Other North Carolina rankings: Foreclosure · Probate & Estate · Divorce & Equity Division · Partition · Tax Sale
Full state analysis: North Carolina Court Filings Intelligence
Legal process: How Foreclosure Works in North Carolina — step-by-step timeline & investor details
Sourcing guide: How to Find Pre-Foreclosure Leads in North Carolina
Compare lead types: Foreclosure vs Probate · Foreclosure vs Divorce · All reports
Frequently asked questions
How many guardianship filings are tracked in North Carolina?+
Keystone Court Data tracks 1,960 verified guardianship filings across 12 North Carolina counties. Data is sourced directly from public court dockets and updated as new filings appear.
Which North Carolina county has the most guardianship filings?+
Wake County leads with 1,000+ guardianship filings. The median property value in these filings is $468,576. All data comes from public court records.
What is the typical property value in North Carolina guardianship filings?+
Across 4 counties with an estimated property value, the average median estimated property value in North Carolina guardianship filings is $382,299. Values vary by county — from $258,221 to $468,576.
What percentage of guardianship filings in North Carolina involve absentee owners?+
On average, 90.9% of guardianship filings in North Carolina involve properties where the owner's mailing address differs from the property address. Absentee owners may face additional pressure to sell when a court filing is filed against the property.
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Browse North Carolina countiesCite: Keystone Court Data, "Top Guardianship Counties in North Carolina (2026)," 2026-10-06, https://keystonecourtdata.com/reports/top-guardianship-counties-nc