Estate Inventory and Appraisement (North Carolina)

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT FORM

North Carolina requires the personal representative to file the official
Inventory for Decedent's Estate, Form AOC-E-505, with the Clerk of Superior Court.
This template provides the substantive legal content to help you identify, classify, and
value estate assets — but you must transfer your content to the official AOC-E-505 form
and have it sworn before the Clerk or a notary before filing. The form is available from
the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts at
https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/inventory-for-decedents-estate.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

INVENTORY AND APPRAISEMENT OF THE ESTATE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA — IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE
[____________________] COUNTY — SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION, BEFORE THE CLERK

1. CAPTION AND CASE INFORMATION

2. PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE / COLLECTOR INFORMATION

3. DECEDENT INFORMATION

4. STATEMENT OF DUTY AND FILING DEADLINE (G.S. 28A-20-1)

Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-20-1, unless the time for filing has been extended by the clerk of superior court, every personal representative and collector, within three (3) months after qualification, shall return to the clerk, on oath, a just, true, and perfect inventory of all the real and personal property of the deceased that has come to the representative's hands (or to the hands of any person for the representative). The inventory shall be signed by the personal representative or collector and recorded by the clerk. Values shall be given as of the date of the decedent's death.

☐ This inventory is filed within three (3) months after qualification.
☐ The clerk has extended the time to file to [__/__/____].

Compelling the inventory (G.S. 28A-20-2). If not filed, the clerk must order the representative to file within a time not less than 20 days or show cause for removal; failure may result in removal or contempt, and the representative is personally liable for costs.

5. APPRAISAL METHOD (G.S. 28A-20-4)

All property is valued at fair market value as of the date of the decedent's death. Under G.S. 28A-20-4, the personal representative or collector may, but is not required to, employ qualified and disinterested appraisers to ascertain the fair market value of any asset whose value may be subject to reasonable doubt; different persons may be employed to appraise different kinds of assets. The name and address of any appraiser is indicated in the inventory with the asset appraised.

SCHEDULE A — REAL PROPERTY (AOC-E-505 Part I, item 6/7 and Part II, item 4)

Schedule A Subtotal: $[________________]

SCHEDULE B — TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY (AOC-E-505 Part I, item 5)

Schedule B Subtotal: $[________________]

SCHEDULE C — CASH & BANK ACCOUNTS (AOC-E-505 Part I, items 1, 2, 4; Part II, item 1)

Schedule C Subtotal: $[________________]

SCHEDULE D — STOCKS, BONDS & BUSINESS INTERESTS (AOC-E-505 Part I, item 3; Part II, item 2)

Schedule D Subtotal: $[________________]

SCHEDULE E — OTHER PROPERTY RECOVERABLE (AOC-E-505 Part II, item 3 — G.S. 28A-15-10)

Schedule E Subtotal: $[________________]

6. RECAPITULATION / SUMMARY

7. PART III — CLAIMS FOR WRONGFUL DEATH (G.S. 28A-18-2)

There ☐ is / ☐ is not a potential claim for wrongful death arising under G.S. 28A-18-2.

8. OATH / VERIFICATION (G.S. 28A-20-1)

I, the undersigned personal representative, being duly sworn, say that to the best of my knowledge the foregoing is a just, true, and perfect inventory of all the real and personal property of the decedent named above that has come into my hands or into the hands of any person for me as personal representative of the estate, valued as of the date of the decedent's death.

Signature of Fiduciary: ______________________________ Title: [____________________]

Signature of Co-Fiduciary (if any): ______________________________ Title: [____________________]

SWORN/AFFIRMED AND SUBSCRIBED TO BEFORE ME

9. CERTIFICATE OF FILING

The original Inventory for Decedent's Estate (Form AOC-E-505) is returned to and filed with the Clerk of Superior Court, [COUNTY] County, on oath, and recorded by the clerk (G.S. 28A-20-1).

Signature: ______________________________________
Printed Name: [PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE / ATTORNEY NAME]
NC Bar No.: [________________] (if attorney)
Address / Telephone / Email: [________________________________]

ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST

☐ Inventory for Decedent's Estate — Form AOC-E-505 (official form), sworn before Clerk or notary
☐ Legal description and proceeds (or fair market value) for each parcel of real property (Schedule A)
☐ Date-of-death statements / deposit contracts / signature cards for accounts (Schedule C)
☐ Appraiser's name, address, and appraisal for any appraised asset (G.S. 28A-20-4; Schedule B/D)
☐ Supplemental Inventory for after-discovered property or corrected values (G.S. 28A-20-3)
☐ Wrongful-death retention / filing documentation, if applicable (Part III; G.S. 28A-18-2)

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-20-1 — Inventory within three months after qualification; returned to the clerk on oath; signed and recorded.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-20-2 — Compelling the inventory; clerk's order (not less than 20 days), removal, contempt, and costs.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-20-3 — Supplemental inventory for after-discovered property or erroneous/misleading values or descriptions.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-20-4 — Optional employment of qualified and disinterested appraisers; fair market value as of date of death; appraiser identified in the inventory.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-15-2, § 28A-15-10, § 28A-18-2 — Title/possession of estate property; recoverable property; wrongful death.
• Inventory for Decedent's Estate, Form AOC-E-505: https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/inventory-for-decedents-estate