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Market Ranking · 2026-10-06

Top Probate & Estate Counties in North Carolina (2026)

27,171 verified probate and estate filings across 58 counties in North Carolina, ranked by filing volume. Sourced directly from public court dockets.

Probate, estate, and inherited property filings — court records created when a property owner passes away and the property must be distributed or sold. Heirs often need to sell quickly, especially if the property is out-of-state or needs significant repairs.

Key stats

County rankings by probate & estate volume

# County Filings Med. Value Absentee Med. Days
1Wake County10,000+$459,89816.7%222d
2Johnston County1,000+$280,630——
3Guilford County1,000+$309,30010.3%—
4Mecklenburg County500+$326,53023.1%—
5Alamance County500+$250,142——
6Cabarrus County500+$295,200——
7Robeson County500+$99,450——
8Durham County500+$479,859——
9Forsyth County500+$238,200——
10Cumberland County250+$243,500——
11Gaston County250+$241,330——
12Buncombe County250+$384,700——
13Rockingham County250+$183,852——
14Columbus County250+$105,000——
15Iredell County250+$224,080——
16Mcdowell County100+$149,020——
17Granville County100+$145,006——
18New Hanover County100+$417,400——
19Unknown County100+———
20Bladen County100+$119,285——
21Craven County100+$216,120——
22Catawba County100+$229,800——
23Cleveland County50+$215,972——
24Sampson County50+$130,659——
25Randolph County50+$134,480——
26Scotland County50+$87,180——
27Haywood County50+$223,100——
28Burke County50+$135,491——
29Richmond County50+$106,621——
30Henderson County50+$282,150——

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Guide: How to Find Probate & Estate Leads in North Carolina

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Frequently asked questions

How many probate and estate filings are tracked in North Carolina?+

Keystone Court Data tracks 27,171 verified probate and estate filings across 58 North Carolina counties. Data is sourced directly from public court dockets and updated as new filings appear.

Which North Carolina county has the most probate and estate filings?+

Wake County leads with 10,000+ probate and estate filings. The median property value in these filings is $459,898. All data comes from public court records.

What is the typical property value in North Carolina probate and estate filings?+

Across 39 counties with an estimated property value, the average median estimated property value in North Carolina probate and estate filings is $235,119. Values vary by county — from $61,700 to $479,859.

What percentage of probate and estate filings in North Carolina involve absentee owners?+

On average, 16.7% of probate and estate 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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Cite: Keystone Court Data, "Top Probate & Estate Counties in North Carolina (2026)," 2026-10-06, https://keystonecourtdata.com/reports/top-probate-counties-nc