N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1273: When letters issue to public guardian.

The public guardian shall apply for and obtain letters of guardianship in the following cases:

(1) When a period of six months has elapsed from the discovery of any property belonging to any minor or incompetent person without guardian.

(2) When any person entitled to letters of guardianship shall request in writing the clerk to issue letters to the public guardian; but it is lawful and the duty of the clerk to revoke said letters of guardianship at any time after issuing the same upon application in writing by any person entitled to qualify as guardian, setting forth a sufficient cause for such revocation. (1987, c. 550, s. 1.)