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Market Ranking · 2026-10-08

Top Probate & Estate Counties in North Carolina (2026)

27,176 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 County → Get leads10,000+$459,89816.7%222d
2Johnston County → Get leads1,000+$280,630——
3Guilford County → Get leads1,000+$309,30010.3%—
4Mecklenburg County → Get leads500+$326,53022.2%—
5Alamance County → Get leads500+$250,142——
6Cabarrus County → Get leads500+$295,200——
7Robeson County → Get leads500+$99,450——
8Durham County → Get leads500+$479,859——
9Forsyth County → Get leads500+$238,200——
10Cumberland County → Get leads250+$243,500——
11Gaston County → Get leads250+$241,330——
12Buncombe County → Get leads250+$384,700——
13Rockingham County → Get leads250+$183,852——
14Columbus County → Get leads250+$105,000——
15Iredell County → Get leads250+$224,080——
16Mcdowell County → Get leads100+$149,020——
17Granville County → Get leads100+$145,006——
18New Hanover County → Get leads100+$417,400——
19Unknown County100+———
20Bladen County → Get leads100+$119,285——
21Craven County → Get leads100+$216,120——
22Catawba County → Get leads100+$229,800——
23Cleveland County → Get leads50+$215,972——
24Sampson County → Get leads50+$130,659——
25Randolph County → Get leads50+$134,480——
26Scotland County → Get leads50+$87,180——
27Haywood County → Get leads50+$223,100——
28Burke County → Get leads50+$135,491——
29Richmond County → Get leads50+$106,621——
30Henderson County → Get leads50+$282,150——

Related reports

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

Other North Carolina rankings: Foreclosure · Divorce & Equity Division · Partition · Guardianship · 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 probate and estate filings are tracked in North Carolina?+

Keystone Court Data tracks 27,176 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, 16.4% 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)," 2026-10-08, https://keystonecourtdata.com/reports/top-probate-counties-nc