I have a legal question concerning executing a will?

My mother recently passed away and I am the executor of her estate. When I executed her will at the courthouse, they informed me that I could only pay up to $3,500 towards her funeral expenses. She had two life insurance policies with no beneficiary that she bought to cover the cost of her burial. Can I go ahead and sign those over to the funeral home without fear of being held in contempt? Or do I have to pay them the $3,500 cash, finance the remainder, wait for the 90 day probate to end and then pay off the loan? Trying my best to do it right and definitely don't want to wind up in jail. Also, we live in the state of North Carolina. Thanks