North Carolina Estate Files

There is a database of North Carolina Estate Files from 1663-1979 at Family Search. It contains an index and images of estate files from North Carolina counties. The originals were filmed at the North Carolina Department of Archives and History. The estate records contain loose papers relating to the settlement of estates including such matters as provision for heirs including minor children as well as distribution of funds, land and property, including slaves. This project was indexed in partnership with the North Carolina Genealogical Society and Library.

You can start your search of these files at this Family Search page.

The North Carolina Secretary of State Wills digital collection contains wills from 1663 to 1789. After 1760, most original wills were kept by the clerk in the county in which they were probated. These wills are indexed in the Mitchell Will Index, filtered using the Category "Wills" subcategorized with “SS/AR”, which can be accessed in the indexes of the State Archives' online catalog. The original wills are no longer accessible to the public for conservation concerns.

Further, the digital collection provides information about the property of other North Carolinians who died in the 18th century, sometimes without leaving a will.