N.C. Gen. Stat. » Chapter 28A
NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-1 (2026)

Survival of actions to and against personal representative

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) Upon the death of any person, all demands whatsoever, and rights to prosecute or defend any action or special proceeding, existing in favor of or against such person, except as provided in subsection (b) hereof, shall survive to and against the personal representative or collector of the person's estate.

(b) The following rights of action in favor of a decedent do not survive:

(1) Causes of action for libel and for slander, except slander of title;

(2) Causes of action for false imprisonment;

(3) Causes of action where the relief sought could not be enjoyed, or granting it would be nugatory after death. (1868-9, c. 113, ss. 63, 64; Code, ss. 1490, 1491; Rev., ss. 156, 157; 1915, c. 38; C.S., ss. 159, 162; 1965, c. 631; 1973, c. 1329, s. 3; 2011-344, s. 4.)

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 49 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1979–2025 · leading case: Harrell v. Bowen, 655 S.E.2d 350 (N.C. 2008).
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Harrell v. Bowen, 655 S.E.2d 350 (N.C. 2008). · cites it 21× “Survival of Actions Against Personal Representative Plaintiff argues, in the alternative, that N.C.G.S. § 28A-18-1 allows any claims he may have asserted against decedent to survive against defendant as the administrator of decedent's estate, including his claim for punitive…”
State Auto Ins. v. Blind, 650 S.E.2d 25 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 12× “appeals the trial court order awarding summary judgment to defendant Christian Earl Blind in a negligence action filed pursuant to North Carolina’s survivorship statute, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-1 (2005). Section 28A-18-1 provides that claims in favor of or against a decedent at…”
Est. of Mullis Ex Rel. Dixon v. Monroe Oil Co., 505 S.E.2d 131 (N.C. 1998). · cites it 6× “Plaintiff brought the action under N.C.G.S. §§ 28A-18-1 to -18-8, dealing with the survival of actions and wrongful-death provisions.”
Rivera v. Matthews, 824 S.E.2d 164 (N.C. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 12× “Section 28A-18-1 of our general statutes provides that "[u]pon the death of any person, all demands whatsoever , and rights to prosecute or defend any action or special proceeding , existing in favor of or *660 against such person, except as provided in subsection (b) hereof,…”
Dixon v. Hill, 620 S.E.2d 715 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 5× “*260 The 14 February 2000 order directing the substitution of the nonexistent “personal representative or collector” does not comply with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-1 or Rule 25. As our Supreme Court has stated, “our statutory scheme for handling claims against decedents’ estates…”
Taylor v. Wake Cty., 811 S.E.2d 648 (N.C. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “2d at 916 (citing N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-1(b)(2) (1999) ).”
Whitaker v. Clark, 427 S.E.2d 142 (N.C. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 3× “That, this action is filed pursuant to the Wrongful Death Statute of North Carolina, N.C.G.S. §§ 28A-18-1 and 2 and other applicable statutes of North Carolina in effect on the date of intestate’s death, and pursuant to relevant North Carolina case law.”
Est. of Jacobs v. State, 775 S.E.2d 873 (N.C. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 8× “accrue by the issuance of a pardon of innocence, and neither *398 Jacobs, Shepard, Tindall, nor Wright received a pardon of innocence prior to their respective deaths, no claims for remuneration survived to their personal representatives under N.C. Gen.Stat. § 28A-18-1 (2013).…”
Shaw v. Mintz, 564 S.E.2d 593 (N.C. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 6× “N.C.G.S. § 28A-18-1 (2001). If the death occurs "before the expiration" of the applicable statute of limitations, the "action may be commenced against [the] personal representative or collector after the expiration" of that time period; this is so "provided[] the action is…”
Est. of Fennell Ex Rel. Fennell v. Stephenson, 528 S.E.2d 911 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 3× “N.C.G.S. § 28A-18-1(b)(2) (1999). Because the test for whether an adequate state remedy exists is “whether there is a remedy available to [the] plaintiff for the violation,” Rousselo, 128 N.”
Sparks v. Oxy-Health, LLC, 134 F. Supp. 3d 961 (E.D.N.C. 2015). · cites it 2× “First, notwithstanding the language in the complaint, (see Compl.”
In re Higgins, 587 S.E.2d 77 (N.C. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 6× “The survival of causes of action is governed by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-1: (a) Upon the death of any person, all demands whatsoever, and rights to prosecute or defend any action or special proceeding, existing in favor of or against such person, except as provided in subsection…”
Show all 49 citing cases →
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-1(B)(3) — 1 case
Brown v. Brown, 524 S.E.2d 89 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-1(a) — 9 cases
Harrell v. Bowen, 655 S.E.2d 350 (N.C. 2008). “Survival of Actions Against Personal Representative Plaintiff argues, in the alternative, that N.C.G.S. § 28A-18-1 allows any claims he may have asserted against decedent to survive against defendant as the administrator of decedent's estate, including his claim for punitive…”
Rivera v. Matthews, 824 S.E.2d 164 (N.C. Ct. App. 2019). “Section 28A-18-1 of our general statutes provides that "[u]pon the death of any person, all demands whatsoever , and rights to prosecute or defend any action or special proceeding , existing in favor of or *660 against such person, except as provided in subsection (b) hereof,…”
Taylor v. Norfolk S. Ry. Co., 86 F. Supp. 3d 448 (M.D.N.C. 2015).
HORRY v. Woodbury, 659 S.E.2d 88 (N.C. Ct. App. 2008).
Praxair, Inc. v. Airgas, Inc., 1999 NCBC 9 (N.C. Bus. Ct. 1999).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-1(b) — 2 cases
Rivera v. Matthews, 824 S.E.2d 164 (N.C. Ct. App. 2019). “Section 28A-18-1 of our general statutes provides that "[u]pon the death of any person, all demands whatsoever , and rights to prosecute or defend any action or special proceeding , existing in favor of or *660 against such person, except as provided in subsection (b) hereof,…”
Woods v. Edmonds (M.D.N.C. 2024).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-1(b)(2) — 2 cases
Taylor v. Wake Cty., 811 S.E.2d 648 (N.C. Ct. App. 2018). “2d at 916 (citing N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-1(b)(2) (1999) ).”
Est. of Fennell Ex Rel. Fennell v. Stephenson, 528 S.E.2d 911 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000). “N.C.G.S. § 28A-18-1(b)(2) (1999). Because the test for whether an adequate state remedy exists is “whether there is a remedy available to [the] plaintiff for the violation,” Rousselo, 128 N.”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-1(b)(3) — 1 case
Rivera v. Matthews, 824 S.E.2d 164 (N.C. Ct. App. 2019). “Section 28A-18-1 of our general statutes provides that "[u]pon the death of any person, all demands whatsoever , and rights to prosecute or defend any action or special proceeding , existing in favor of or *660 against such person, except as provided in subsection (b) hereof,…”
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