Quick answer: North Carolina's probate court cost is a $120 base fee plus 0.4% of the personal property ($0.40 per $100), capped at $6,000 (N.C.G.S. § 7A-307). On a $250,000 estate that's about $1,120; on a large estate it maxes out at $6,000.
How the North Carolina court cost works
Unlike states with a flat filing fee, North Carolina charges a percentage of the estate's personal property — but with a ceiling. The Clerk of Superior Court in each county (Mecklenburg/Charlotte, Wake/Raleigh, Guilford/Greensboro, Forsyth/Winston-Salem, Durham, and the rest of the 100 counties) applies the same statewide formula:
| Estate (personal property) | Court cost |
|---|---|
| $50,000 | ~$320 |
| $100,000 | ~$520 |
| $250,000 | ~$1,120 |
| $500,000 | ~$2,120 |
| $1,000,000 | ~$4,120 |
| $1,470,000 and above | $6,000 (capped) |
Because the cap is $6,000, any estate with personal property above ~$1.47 million pays the same $6,000 court cost. Real estate that isn't sold by the estate is generally outside this base.
Other court-related costs
- Notice to creditors — publication in a local newspaper, about $75–$120.
- Certified copies / Letters — a few dollars each; you'll need several for banks and title.
- Surety bond — often required, especially for non-resident executors (125% of assets under $100,000, 110% above); premium is an estate expense.
Where court costs sit in the total
Thanks to the cap, court costs are usually the smallest part of NC probate — the executor commission and attorney fees dominate. See the whole picture in the NC probate cost breakdown, learn about attorney fees, or estimate your total with the North Carolina probate cost calculator.