North Carolina court records by county: case search and dispositions
12 counties of North Carolina have a court records page. Each names the court that hears felony cases, the office that keeps the files, the county court records in the search and how to find a case by name.
What a North Carolina court records background check costs
The count near any address is free. No card, and no one is told you looked.
Everyone near one address, or a Background Check on one person.
- Photos, offence and distance, with a PDF
- Pay once. Nothing renews
- $19.99 for 3, and checks never expire
Three addresses watched all year, with one check included every month.
- Email when someone registers, moves in or out
- Home, school and grandparents, unlocked while it runs
- Or $6.99 a month. Cancel in one click
Every record type for the state on one page: North Carolina criminal records.
North Carolina court records by county: case search and dispositions. 12 pages, largest county first.
| County | Felony court | County court records | Court records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County · 1,190,275 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | Wake County court records |
| Mecklenburg County · 1,163,701 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | Mecklenburg County court records |
| Guilford County · 549,866 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | Guilford County court records |
| Forsyth County · 392,921 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | Forsyth County court records |
| Durham County · 336,892 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | Durham County court records |
| Buncombe County · 275,901 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | Buncombe County court records |
| Union County · 256,452 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | Union County court records |
| Johnston County · 241,955 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | Johnston County court records |
| Cabarrus County · 240,016 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | Cabarrus County court records |
| New Hanover County · 238,852 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | New Hanover County court records |
| Gaston County · 237,242 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | Gaston County court records |
| Brunswick County · 159,964 | Superior Court | Ask the clerk | Brunswick County court records |
Populations: US Census Bureau, 2023 estimates. A county gets a page only when its jail roster is live in the search and it has at least three facts of its own to state.
· shares below are over the North Carolina court records we index; approximate, not an official figure
How North Carolina court cases end: convictions, dismissals and pending cases. About 484,000 records across North Carolina, read as a whole; approximate, not an official figure.
Among the North Carolina court records we index that state a charge, the most common category of categorised charges is traffic offenses (not DUI) (47%), followed by drug possession (10%) and public order, trespass and property damage (9%). A record can carry charges in several categories, so the shares of categorised charges can add to more than 100%. Across all North Carolina criminal records on our index, the most common category is theft, larceny and stolen property (13%).
How recent. About 2% of the records show activity in the last 12 months, among the 26% that carry a date.
Every figure is a share of the records we index for North Carolina, rounded; approximate, not an official figure. Cells with too few records behind them are left out rather than shown as zero. The county pages carry the same picture for each county where enough records exist; criminal charge types explains the categories.
North Carolina court case search: the courts and the clerk.
Felony cases in North Carolina are heard in the Superior Court, misdemeanors in the District Court, and the Clerk of Superior Court keeps the case files. No statewide court source is part of our search for North Carolina; where a county publishes its own court records the county page carries them, and otherwise the clerk's file is the only place the outcome lives.
A name is a weak key on a court index. The court case search by name page explains how a name fails and what narrows it; the court records search page covers the record layer itself.
Beyond North Carolina court records: jail rosters and arrest records by county. The same counties, the other two questions.
North Carolina background check: search court records by name.
- Type a first and last name, and add an age or date of birth so the right person rises to the top.
- The check searches every North Carolina record type in the search, with the sex offender registries, in one step.
- One paid check, with a personal account. Nothing renews, and the person is never told.
Not a consumer report. Hiring or renting? Use an FCRA-regulated check; see what an employer’s check shows.
North Carolina court records FAQ
How do I search North Carolina court records by name?
Pick the county below, then search the full name with a date of birth; a name alone matches everyone who shares it. The Clerk of Superior Court can search by name and date of birth or by case number.
Which court hears criminal cases in North Carolina?
Felony cases are heard in the Superior Court; misdemeanors go to the District Court. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps the case files.
Does North Carolina publish court records statewide?
No statewide court source is part of our search for North Carolina. Some county pages carry the county's own court records; otherwise the outcome comes from the clerk.
What does a disposition mean on a North Carolina court record?
How the case ended: a conviction (including a guilty plea), a dismissal, an acquittal, a diversion, or nothing yet because the case is open. It is the one part of a criminal record that speaks to an outcome.
Can a North Carolina court record be expunged?
Often, for some outcomes, on petition after a waiting period; the rules are North Carolina's. Once an order is entered the clerk marks the file and it leaves the public record. This is a general description, not legal advice.