AOC-E-201 Walkthrough: Completing Application for Probate and Letters Testamentary

The AOC-E-201 form sits in front of you. It’s four pages long. The header says “Application for Probate of Will and for Issuance of Letters Testamentary.” The legal language is dense. The form seems to be asking for information in no particular order.

You have no idea what you’re doing.

This form is the official way North Carolina courts say: “I want to probate this will, and I want to be the executor.” It’s the first official document you file with the court. And it feels overwhelming.

But here’s the truth: the AOC-E-201 is actually simpler than it looks. Most of the form is just asking for basic information. The language is legal, but the questions are straightforward. And once you understand what each section means, you can fill it out in 30 minutes.

This guide breaks down the AOC-E-201 line by line. We’ll explain what each section means, what information you need, how to avoid the most common mistakes, and what happens after you submit.

What Is the AOC-E-201?

AOC-E-201 stands for “Application for Probate of Will and for Issuance of Letters Testamentary.” It’s the official North Carolina form that initiates formal probate and asks the court to appoint you as executor.

What it does: When you file AOC-E-201, you’re telling the court three things: (1) I have a valid will to probate, (2) I want to act as executor, (3) Please appoint me executor and issue Letters Testamentary proving my authority.

Who uses it: The person named in the will as executor (that’s you). Or an attorney filing on your behalf. Or, if you’re doing this yourself (pro se), you file it directly.

When you use it: After the person has died and you’ve located the will and death certificate. Typically within days or weeks of death.

What it initiates: Formal probate process. Once the court approves your AOC-E-201, you’re officially the executor. The court issues Letters Testamentary (your authority document). You can then access accounts, manage assets, and begin probate administration.

Which form do you use: If there’s a valid will, use AOC-E-201. If there’s no will (the person died intestate), use AOC-E-202 instead. The forms are similar, but the language differs slightly (AOC-E-201 refers to executor; AOC-E-202 refers to administrator).

Authority: NCGS 28A-4-1 governs the probate process that AOC-E-201 initiates.

Before You Start: Gather Required Information

Don’t open the form yet. First, gather all the information you’ll need. This prevents you from filling halfway through and realizing you’re missing critical information.

Decedent information:

• Full legal name (exactly as it appears on the will and death certificate)
• Date of death (from death certificate, MM/DD/YYYY format)
• Date of birth
• Residential address at time of death (which county determines venue)

Will information:

• Date the will was signed (from the will document itself, usually at the bottom)
• Where is the original will? (With attorney, safe deposit box, at home, already filed with court, etc.)

Executor information (that’s you):

• Your full legal name (as you want it to appear in court records)
• Your current mailing address (where court will send official documents)
• Your phone number and email
• Your relationship to the decedent (spouse, child, sibling, friend, professional executor)

Beneficiary information:

• Names of all people and organizations named in the will as beneficiaries
• Current addresses for each beneficiary
• This is the most critical piece. Read the will carefully and list everyone named.

Asset information:

• Estimated total value of estate (gross value, not net)
• Breakdown by asset type: real property value, bank account balances, investment account values, vehicles, life insurance, etc.
• You don’t need exact values; estimates are fine at filing time.

Debt information:

• Estimated total debts (mortgages, credit card balances, medical bills, funeral costs)
• Again, estimates are acceptable.

Take 30 minutes and gather all this information before opening the form. Write it down. Then reference your notes while completing the form. This prevents errors from missing or incomplete information.

Understanding the Form: Section by Section

Let’s walk through the AOC-E-201 section by section.

The Header Section

At the very top, you’ll select whether this is “Probate (Will)” or “Administration (No Will).” For AOC-E-201, you’re selecting Probate (Will). This tells the clerk which process you’re initiating.

County and Case Type

You’ll select the county where probate is being filed. This should be the county where the decedent lived at the time of death (NCGS 28A-4-1). If the decedent moved recently, use the county where they lived at death, not where they previously lived.

Case type will be something like “Estate,” “Probate Estate,” or “Probate Administration.” Terminology varies by county, but all refer to the same thing. If unsure, check your county clerk’s website or call to confirm which case type to select.

Decedent Information

This section asks for:

• Full legal name (exactly as on will and death certificate; if the person’s will says “Robert” but they went by “Bob,” use “Robert”)
• Date of death (match the death certificate exactly)
• Date of birth (helps court verify correct person)
• Address at death (residential, not business)

Make sure the decedent’s name is consistent across all documents (will, death certificate, this form). Inconsistencies trigger rejection. If the person’s name varies in documents (maiden name vs. married name, nickname vs. legal name), contact the clerk to clarify which name to use on the form.

Will Information

This section asks:

• Date the will was signed (from the will document)
• Location of the will (With Attorney, In Safe Deposit Box, At Home, Other)
• Whether you’re filing the original or a certified copy

If the original will is with an attorney or already filed with the court, note that. If you haven’t located the original yet, note “Will to be filed later” and update the court when you find it.

Executor Information

This is where you provide your information:

• Your full legal name (use formal name, not nickname)
• Your current address (where court will mail official documents)
• Your phone and email
• Your relationship to the decedent
• Check the box confirming you’re willing to serve as executor

This last box is important. By checking it, you’re confirming to the court that you accept the role and understand your duties. If you’re unwilling to serve, don’t check this box; the court will appoint the alternate executor named in the will (if there is one) or an administrator.

Beneficiary List

This is the most critical section and the most common source of rejection.

You’ll list every person and organization named as beneficiary in the will. For each, provide:

• Full legal name (not nickname)
• Current address
• Relationship to decedent (if you know it) or “unknown”

The list must be complete. No exceptions. If the will says “to my three children, John, Jane, and James,” you list all three. If the will says “to my children in equal shares” but doesn’t name them specifically, you still list each child individually. If the will names a charity, you list the charity.

Contingent beneficiaries must also be listed. If the will says “to my son John, or if he predeceases, to his children,” you list John AND his children.

A common executor mistake is skipping people or being vague. “To my children” doesn’t count; you list each child. “My best friends” doesn’t count; you list each friend individually.

The court cross-checks your beneficiary list against the will. If you’ve missed someone, the clerk rejects the form. You then have to correct it and resubmit, causing a 5-7 day delay.

Prevention: Before opening the form, read the will paragraph by paragraph. Create a written list of every person or organization named as beneficiary. Cross-check against the will text. Then transfer that list to the form.

Asset and Liability Information

The form asks for estimated total assets and liabilities. You provide:

• Estimated total asset value (gross, before subtracting debts)
• Breakdown by type if requested (real property, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, life insurance, etc.)
• Estimated total liabilities (debts)

You don’t need exact appraisals at filing time. “Real property valued approximately $400,000,” “Bank accounts approximately $50,000,” “Life insurance proceeds $100,000” is sufficient. The exact inventory comes later.

Use conservative estimates. If a house might be worth $350k-$450k, estimate $400k. Round to reasonable numbers. The court understands these are estimates.

After You File: What Happens Next

Once you submit the completed AOC-E-201 (either paper or through eCourts), here’s the timeline:

Day 1 (Filing day): You submit the form. If filing through eCourts, you get immediate confirmation with case number. If paper filing, the clerk receives it and logs it in.

Days 2-3 (Under review): The clerk reviews your form. They verify:

• All required fields are complete
• Beneficiary list is consistent with will
• Decedent information is correct
• Form is properly signed and, if required, notarized

Day 3-4 (Approval or rejection): The clerk either approves or rejects. If approved, the court issues Letters Testamentary (your executor authority document). If rejected, you receive notice of the specific rejection reason.

If rejected: You have a few days to correct and resubmit. Most rejections are quick fixes: add the missing beneficiary, re-scan the will if it was illegible, sign the oath section you missed. Resubmit; approval usually comes within 1-2 days of resubmission.

After approval: You download/receive Letters Testamentary. You can now access accounts, manage assets, and officially act as executor.

Timeline: In urban counties with eCourts, approval often happens within 24 hours. In rural counties with paper filing, it might take 5-7 days. But the entire process is measured in days, not weeks.

Common Mistakes: What Gets Rejected

Understanding rejection reasons helps you avoid them.

Incomplete beneficiary list (the #1 rejection reason): You miss a beneficiary named in the will. The court catches the discrepancy and rejects. Solution: read the will very carefully. List every person or organization named. Don’t assume or skip anyone.

Illegible will copy: You scanned the will at low resolution, or the image is fuzzy. The clerk can’t read text clearly. Rejection happens. Solution: scan at high resolution (300 dpi minimum). Ensure good lighting. Test the PDF on your screen before uploading. If anything is blurry, rescan.

Missing or unsigned oath: Many forms require you to sign and initial an oath section stating that the information is true and correct. If you forget to sign or miss an initial line, rejection. Solution: read the form instructions carefully. Sign all required signature lines. Don’t miss a line.

Inconsistent decedent name: The will says “Robert James Smith,” the death certificate says “Robert J Smith,” and you entered “Bob Smith” in the form. The inconsistencies trigger rejection. Solution: use the full legal name exactly as it appears on the death certificate. Use the same name consistently across all documents.

Missing asset/liability information: If the form asks for asset values and you leave it blank, or debt information and you don’t provide anything. Solution: provide estimates for all required information. “Approximately” and round numbers are fine.

How Afterpath Simplifies AOC-E-201

If you’re using Afterpath, much of this is automated.

Afterpath guides you through a simple intake questionnaire. You provide decedent information, your information, beneficiary names, and asset estimates. Afterpath generates an AOC-E-201 form with all information pre-filled, formatted correctly, and ready to submit to eCourts or print for paper filing.

This eliminates the need to understand form structure, field placement, or formatting. Afterpath handles the technical details. You focus on providing accurate information.

For complex estates, you might still want attorney review. But for straightforward probates, Afterpath-generated AOC-E-201 forms are court-ready without attorney involvement.

After AOC-E-201 Approval: Your Next Steps

Once your AOC-E-201 is approved and you receive Letters Testamentary, you’ve completed the first major milestone. But probate doesn’t stop there.

What Letters Testamentary do: They prove your executor authority. You present them to banks, investment firms, insurance companies, etc. They grant you access to accounts and assets.

What comes next in probate: You have a series of statutory deadlines:

• Within 60 days of death: file the will with court (you’ve done this with AOC-E-201)
• Within 90 days: publish creditor notice in newspaper
• Within 30 days of creditor notice: creditors can file claims
• Within 8 months: close the estate (in most cases)

Afterpath tracks all these deadlines automatically. You’ll receive reminders. The checklist keeps you organized.

Conclusion

AOC-E-201 is intimidating when you first look at it. But it’s really just asking for basic information: who died, who’s the executor, who gets what, what’s the estate worth.

Fill it out carefully. Read the will thoroughly to ensure complete beneficiary list. Double-check decedent name consistency. Provide estimates for assets and liabilities. Sign where required.

Most AOC-E-201 forms approve within 1-2 business days. If you get rejected, the rejection reason is specific and correctable. Resubmit and you’re approved.

Ready to file your AOC-E-201? Download Afterpath’s AOC-E-201 Checklist (free PDF) to ensure you have all information before starting. Or use Afterpath’s free trial to generate your AOC-E-201 automatically with all your information pre-filled.

Questions about a specific field? Chat with Angelo 24/7 for guidance. Or call your county probate clerk; they’re usually helpful with form questions.

You’ve got this. AOC-E-201 is the first official step. Get it right, and everything else follows.