N.C. Gen. Stat. § 30-30

The clerk of court shall hear the matter and determine whether the surviving spouse or child is entitled to some or all of the relief sought and, if the clerk determines that the spouse or child is so entitled, the clerk shall enter judgment against the estate for the amount of the deficiency. If a personal representative has been appointed for the decedent's estate, the deficiency shall be satisfied by the personal representative when a sufficiency of such assets shall come into the possession of the personal representative. Any judgment so rendered shall have the same priority over other debts and claims against the estate as an allowance assigned pursuant to G.S. 30-15 or G.S. 30-17.