Greensboro Probate Court Lookup

Greensboro probate court records are filed at the Guilford County Clerk of Superior Court on South Eugene Street. Greensboro is the largest city in Guilford County and the county seat. Residents looking for estate records can search the clerk's files in person or use the state court portal. Probate court records in Greensboro include wills, letters testamentary, inventories, annual accounts, and final estate settlements. The Estates Division staff can help with record lookups during regular business hours.

Where to File Probate in Greensboro

All Greensboro probate court records are filed at the Guilford County Clerk of Superior Court. Clerk Lisa Johnson-Tonkins serves as the judge of probate for the county. The main courthouse is in downtown Greensboro. There is also a second courthouse location in High Point, but the Greensboro office is the primary filing location for estate matters.

Keep in mind that the Greensboro courthouse closes for lunch from 12:45 PM to 1:45 PM. Plan your visit around this break. The courthouse has security screening at the entrance, so bring your photo ID and leave large bags at home when you visit to search Greensboro probate court records.

Note: Guilford County also has a courthouse in High Point at 505 E Green Drive, which handles some court matters for the southern part of the county.

Searching Greensboro Estate Records

You can search Greensboro probate court records in person at the Estates Division or online. The North Carolina eCourts portal lets you look up estate cases by name or case number for free. You can see basic case information like filing dates and party names. For copies of the actual documents in the file, visit the clerk's office or call the Estates Division at (336) 412-7575.

The image below is from the Guilford County court page on the NC Courts website.

This page provides details about the Guilford County court divisions including the Estates Division that manages Greensboro probate court records.

At the courthouse, the Estates Division staff can pull estate files and make copies. Certified copies cost about $5 each. Plain copies cost less. Staff can search by the name of the person who died or by case number. If you are not sure which type of record you need, the staff can explain the different documents in the probate court records file.

The clerk has exclusive original jurisdiction over probate matters. This means the Superior Court in Greensboro is the only place to file wills, open estates, and manage probate court records for Guilford County.

Estate Administration in Greensboro

Opening an estate in Greensboro creates a set of probate court records that track every step. The process starts with filing the application and ends with the final distribution of assets. The Guilford County clerk's office provides forms and guidance on what to file.

To open an estate, you file Form AOC-E-201 with the original will, a certified death certificate, and an Estates Action Cover Sheet. The filing fee is $120. After the clerk reviews the documents and admits the will to probate, the personal representative takes an oath at the courthouse. The clerk then issues letters testamentary or letters of administration. These letters are part of the Greensboro probate court records and give the representative legal authority over the estate.

The representative must publish a Notice to Creditors once a week for four weeks in a Greensboro newspaper. Creditors get 90 days from the first notice to file claims against the estate. An inventory of all assets must be filed within 90 days of qualification. The representative must also file annual accounts showing income, expenses, and distributions.

The screenshot below is from the Guilford County courthouse page on the state courts site.

This page has courthouse details for the Greensboro location where estate cases are filed.

When all debts are paid and assets are distributed, the representative files a final account. The clerk reviews the account and closes the estate. Every document filed along the way becomes part of the permanent probate court records in Greensboro. These records are public and can be searched by anyone.

Greensboro Probate Filing Fees

Fees for Greensboro probate court records follow the standard North Carolina schedule. The base fee to open an estate is $120 at the Guilford County courthouse. There is also an estate administration fee of 0.4% of the probate value, up to $6,000. Call the Estates Division at (336) 412-7575 to check current fees before you file.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can apply for a fee waiver. File a Petition to Proceed as an Indigent with the court and provide proof of your financial situation. Copy fees for existing Greensboro probate court records are separate. Certified copies cost about $5 each.

The personal representative may claim compensation of up to 5% of the estate's receipts and disbursements. Attorney fees typically run 2% to 4% of the estate value. Bond premiums, if bond is required, cost 0.5% to 1% of the bond amount per year. All of these costs come out of the estate, not from the representative personally.

Note: Publication of the Notice to Creditors in a Greensboro paper costs between $50 and $150 depending on the newspaper.

Small Estates in Greensboro

Small estates in Greensboro may not need full probate. If the personal property of the person who died is worth $20,000 or less, you can file an Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property with the Guilford County clerk. A surviving spouse who is the sole heir can use this process for estates up to $30,000.

You must wait 30 days after the death before filing. Bring a certified death certificate, the completed AOC-E-203B form, a list of assets with values, and your photo ID. The filing fee is $120. This creates a simpler set of probate court records in Greensboro than full administration.

The small estate process does not work for real property. If the person who died owned a house or land that needs to be transferred or sold within two years, you will need to open a full estate. For questions about which path is right for your situation, call the Estates Division at (336) 412-7575.

Greensboro Court Contact Details

The image below is from the Guilford County contact directory page.

This directory lists phone numbers for each Guilford County court division that handles probate court records in Greensboro.

The Guilford County government website at guilfordcountync.gov also has information about county services and court resources. For legal help with estate matters, the North Carolina State Bar runs a lawyer referral service at 1-800-662-7660. The NC Judicial Branch at nccourts.gov has free estate forms and step-by-step instructions for people handling probate on their own in Greensboro.

Guilford County Probate Court Records

Greensboro is in Guilford County, and all estate filings go through the Guilford County Clerk of Superior Court. The county court handles probate cases for Greensboro, High Point, and all other towns in the county. For the full county guide, complete fee schedule, and related estate resources, visit the Guilford County probate court records page.

View Guilford County Probate Court Records