Elder Law Report

A quiet revolution just reshaped estate planning in North Carolina: a properly certified, attorney‑stored electronic copy of your will can now be probated like the original. We unpack what that means in real life—fewer frantic searches for paper, fewer hearings over missing originals, and a smoother path for families when they need clarity most. With all 100 counties live on e‑courts, the shift from pen and ink to secure digital storage isn’t a trend; it’s the new backbone of reliable probate.We walk through the essential safeguards that make e‑wills work. A North Carolina attorney must certify that the digital file is a full and complete copy of your attested will, confirm that you authorized electronic storage, and advise you that tearing up paper no longer revokes a converted will. Revocation still belongs to you—but it now happens in writing, often via a new will that expressly revokes prior wills and codicils, or a written revocation filed alongside the stored record. This paper trail removes guesswork a