What happens to any money recovered in a wrongful death case?

At the conclusion of any wrongful death action, any amount received shall be applied first to reimbursement of the estate for the expenses incurred in pursuing the action and the remainder shall then be distributed as provided in the Intestate Succession Act. The Intestate Succession Act is North Carolina’s default rules for the distribution of a decedent’s proceeds to heirs. These heirs are commonly referred to as beneficiaries of the wrongful death action. An attorney can help you determine who qualifies as a beneficiary that can take under a wrongful death action and how any proceeds would be distributed.