Search North Carolina Court Records by Name Across All 100 Counties
North Carolina’s eCourts Portal now provides online trial-court access across all 100 counties. You can search public case information by party name, case number, citation, county and other details—but the first result is not always the correct person or the complete court file.
This guide shows how to use Smart Search, narrow common names by county, locate hearings, understand case numbers, recover a missing result, request certified documents and choose the correct route for background checks, appeals, Business Court and federal cases.
Choose the Result You Actually Need
Start with the card that matches your task. A public case lookup, court date, certified copy and criminal background check are different requests.
Search the name statewide, then add the county and case details needed to identify the correct person.
Use the three-pass methodA complete case or citation number is usually safer than a same-name search.
Understand the numberSearch hearings by party, case number, county, attorney, courtroom or judicial officer.
Find and confirm a hearingCertified copies and official single-county criminal searches come from the Clerk of Superior Court.
Choose the correct requestChoose the Correct North Carolina Court-Record System
Portal covers trial-court information from all counties, but appeals, federal matters, Business Court resources and official criminal-background searches can require a different system.
Search Superior Court, District Court, estates and special-proceeding case information across all 100 counties.
Search public Supreme Court and Court of Appeals case information, filings, orders and opinions.
Use Business Court resources for designated complex business cases, filings and published opinions.
Use PACER for federal district, bankruptcy and appellate court records.
How to Search North Carolina Court Records by Name
The strongest search starts broadly and becomes more specific. Adding the wrong county, date or middle name too early can hide the case you need.
- Open the official eCourts Portal. Enable JavaScript and cookies, then complete the CAPTCHA when the portal requests it.
- Select Smart Search. Smart Search is the main public tool for names, case numbers, citations and other case details.
- Enter the person’s first and last name. Begin without a middle name unless you are certain how the court recorded it.
- Review the broad result list. Look for the expected county, case category, filing date and party role before adding filters.
- Filter by county. Choose the county where the charge, lawsuit, divorce, estate or other proceeding was filed—not necessarily the person’s current residence.
- Repeat with name variations. Try no middle name, a middle initial, a former surname, maiden name, alias or business-name variation.
- Add a filing-date range or case status. Narrow only after confirming that the basic name produces results.
- Open the case and verify the match. Compare the case number, county, court level, party role, charges or claims, attorneys and disposition.
The three-pass North Carolina search method
Use the first and last name without unnecessary filters.
County is often the most useful filter when the name is common.
Confirm the party role, filing date, case category and final outcome.
Use the Correct eCourts Portal Tool
| Portal tool | What it searches | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Search | Party names, business names, case numbers, citation numbers, attorneys and other case data. | Find a trial-court case and open the public case details. |
| Search Hearings | Case number, party, business, attorney, bar number, judicial officer or courtroom. | Find the date, time and location of a court hearing. |
| Make Payments | Eligible criminal, infraction, probation, restitution and related balances. | Pay an eligible case after confirming the case number and amount. |
| NC Judgment Search | Public judgment-index information allowed under North Carolina law. | Look for docketed civil judgments and related index information. |
How to Use a North Carolina Case or Citation Number
A complete identifier is usually more reliable than a name. Criminal case numbers begin with the final two digits of the year in which the person was charged, but complete formats can vary between case types and legacy records.
Year: in a criminal case, the first two digits generally identify the charge year.
Category letters: letters identify a court or case category. Formats vary, so do not guess or remove letters.
Sequence and location: later digits or suffixes distinguish the individual case and court location.
Where to find the number
- Citation or traffic ticket
- Criminal charging document
- Civil summons or complaint
- Divorce, custody or support filing
- Estate or special-proceeding notice
- Hearing notice, judgment or court order
- Attorney correspondence
Match the Record to the Correct North Carolina Court Type
North Carolina trial-court records can involve Superior Court, District Court, a magistrate, or the Clerk of Superior Court acting in estates and special proceedings.
| Common matter | Likely court route | What to check in Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Felony criminal case | Superior Court | County, charge, court session, disposition and sentencing entries. |
| Misdemeanor or traffic matter | District Court | Citation number, county, hearing date, charge and disposition. |
| Divorce, custody, child support or domestic case | District Court | Party role, county, filing date and available orders. |
| Civil lawsuit | District or Superior Court | Case type, amount or relief requested, filing date and judgment. |
| Small claim | Magistrate division | County, plaintiff, defendant, hearing and judgment information. |
| Estate, guardianship or special proceeding | Clerk of Superior Court | Estate or proceeding number, county, parties and filing status. |
Confirm That the Name Result Is the Correct Person
A matching name is only the beginning. Review several independent details before treating a case as belonging to the person you searched.
Does the county match where the incident, lawsuit, marriage, estate or residence was connected?
Check whether the person is a defendant, plaintiff, petitioner, respondent, decedent, heir or another participant.
Confirm whether the record is criminal, civil, family, estate, special proceeding or small claim.
Compare the year with the event, citation, dispute or family proceeding being researched.
Known attorneys, businesses or other parties can help separate people with the same name.
A charge or complaint is not a conviction or judgment. Read the final outcome and later case events.
Use the site’s plain-English court-record glossary when a term such as disposition, dismissal, judgment, continuance or expunction is unclear.
What to Do When No North Carolina Case Appears
A missing result can be caused by name formatting, the wrong county, a different court system, restricted access or a file that has not been digitized.
The name was recorded differently
Remove the middle name, try a middle initial, former surname, maiden name, alias or business-name variation.
The county is wrong
Search statewide first, then test counties connected with the incident, residence, marriage, business or estate.
The record is older
The case may exist in paper or legacy records even when every historical document is not remotely viewable.
The case is appellate or federal
Use the separate North Carolina appellate search or PACER instead of the trial-court Portal.
The case is confidential
Juvenile, adoption, sealed, expunged and other protected records may be unavailable to the general public.
The number was entered incorrectly
Copy every letter, digit, dash and suffix exactly from the citation, notice or court document.
Run this recovery sequence
- Remove every optional filter.
- Search the first and last name only.
- Try no middle name and then a middle initial.
- Search former surnames, aliases and spelling variations.
- Search statewide, then add one county.
- Enter the complete case or citation number.
- Check Search Hearings for a scheduled appearance.
- Check the appellate system for an appeal.
- Use PACER for a federal matter.
- Contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the filing county.
Fix Common eCourts Portal Problems
| Problem | Likely reason | Practical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Portal does not load | JavaScript is disabled or the browser is outdated. | Enable JavaScript and use a current version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari or another supported browser. |
| Search will not continue | Cookies are blocked. | Allow cookies for the Portal site, reload the page and start the search again. |
| CAPTCHA keeps appearing | Portal requires a CAPTCHA challenge approximately every ten minutes. | Complete the current challenge and avoid rapid repeated searches or opening many Portal tabs. |
| The session expires | The portal timed out after inactivity. | Save or write down the case number before leaving the page idle, then reopen the search. |
| A case appears but no document opens | The case summary is public, but the filing is not remotely viewable or has not been imaged. | Contact the filing county’s Clerk of Superior Court to inspect or request the public document. |
| A payment option is missing | The case or balance is not eligible for online payment. | Confirm the case number and contact the clerk before sending payment another way. |
How to Find and Confirm a North Carolina Court Date
Use Search Hearings for the current public calendar, but confirm important appearances against the latest notice or with the clerk.
- Open Portal and select Search Hearings. This is separate from the main Smart Search result list.
- Search using the strongest identifier. Use the case number when available. Otherwise search the party name and county.
- Check the county, courtroom and judicial officer. A person can have more than one pending matter or setting.
- Read the hearing type and date carefully. A continuance, administrative setting or trial date can have different appearance requirements.
- Confirm last-minute changes. Use the newest court notice or contact the county clerk if attendance controls a legal deadline.
How to Get Plain or Certified North Carolina Court Records
Portal is useful for locating case information, but the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the case is located is the official source for file inspection, paper copies and certified documents.
| What you need | Best route | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Case information only | Portal Smart Search | Use the online summary to identify the county, case number and record needed. |
| View a public paper file | Clerk’s office in the filing county | Paper files are normally accessed where the case is located. |
| Plain copy | Request from the filing county clerk | Per-page and delivery fees may apply. |
| Certified copy | Clerk of Superior Court | Ask the receiving organization which document and certification it requires. |
| Divorce judgment | Clerk in the county where divorce was granted | A divorce judgment is different from a state-issued divorce certificate. |
Prepare this information before contacting the clerk
- Complete case number
- County where the case was filed
- Names of the parties
- Exact document title
- Approximate filing or judgment date
- Number of copies
- Whether certification is required
- Your contact and delivery information
Portal Search vs. North Carolina Criminal Background Check
These services are not interchangeable. North Carolina specifically advises people conducting background checks to use the county clerk’s office rather than relying on Portal alone.
Useful for locating public cases, but not a certified, fingerprint-based or consumer-reporting background check.
Submit Form AOC-CR-314 to the Clerk of Superior Court with the published $25 fee. The search covers only that county.
NCAOC provides separate paid remote-access services for qualifying criminal and civil data users.
Before requesting a certified county search
- Choose every county that reasonably needs to be checked.
- Use the person’s full legal name and known identifying details.
- Complete the current AOC-CR-314 form.
- Confirm mail, in-person and payment instructions with that county clerk.
- Do not treat a name-only result as fingerprint confirmation.
What May Be Missing or Restricted Online?
A public case summary does not guarantee that every filed document is remotely viewable. Some records remain in paper files, while others are confidential or restricted by law.
| Record or situation | Online access | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Public trial-court case information | Generally searchable | Use Portal, then verify the record with the filing county. |
| Older paper documents | May be limited | Visit or contact the Clerk of Superior Court where the case is located. |
| Juvenile or adoption records | Restricted | Ask the clerk about lawful access; general public access may not be permitted. |
| Sealed or expunged cases | Unavailable or restricted | Follow the court’s legal-access process rather than attempting repeated searches. |
| Confidential family or sensitive filings | Document access limited | Contact the filing county about public portions of the file. |
| Police reports or jail status | Not a court-portal record | Contact the investigating agency, sheriff or detention facility. |
Find the Correct County Clerk Without Guessing
North Carolina’s official county directory provides courthouse addresses, Clerk of Superior Court contacts, court schedules, local rules, accessibility information and service updates.
- Identify the filing county in Portal. Use the case header, venue or hearing information.
- Open the official Locations directory. Search by county, city or ZIP code.
- Select the county page. Review courthouse locations and the contact directory.
- Tell the clerk exactly what you need. Give the case number, party name, document title and whether certification is required.
- Call before travelling for an old file. Archived or off-site records may require retrieval time.
Use North Carolina Court Information Carefully
A court search can show accusations, pending matters, dismissed charges, duplicate names, incomplete documents and cases that later changed.
- Do not assume a charge resulted in conviction.
- Do not assume a complaint resulted in judgment.
- Do not assume a same-name result belongs to the person searched.
- Do not treat a Portal page as a certified document.
- Do not use this website as a consumer-reporting or eligibility-screening service.
Use the site’s court-record types guide to compare dockets, judgments, court calendars and certified copies. Review the FCRA and consumer-reporting notice before using public information in an employment, housing, credit, insurance or licensing decision.
Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Court Records
Can I search North Carolina court records online by name?
Yes. Use the official eCourts Portal Smart Search. All 100 counties have used eCourts since October 13, 2025. Search the name statewide, then narrow the results by county, filing date, case type and status.
Do I need an account to use eCourts Portal?
Basic public case searching is available through Portal without an attorney filing account. The site requires JavaScript, cookies and periodic CAPTCHA verification.
Why does Portal ask for CAPTCHA again?
The Portal requires a CAPTCHA challenge approximately every ten minutes for anonymous, registered and elevated-access users. Complete the new challenge to continue.
Why can’t I find a case even though all counties are online?
The name may have been recorded differently, the county or date filter may be incorrect, the case may be appellate or federal, or the record may be sealed, expunged, confidential or maintained only in an older paper file.
Can I search North Carolina court dates by name?
Yes. Portal’s Search Hearings tool can search by party name, business, case number, attorney, judicial officer, courtroom and other details. Confirm important appearances with the filing county.
Where do I get a certified copy of a North Carolina divorce judgment?
Contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. Give the party names, case number and approximate judgment date. A divorce judgment is different from a state-issued vital-record certificate.
How much is a certified criminal-record search?
North Carolina publishes a $25 fee for a certified criminal-record search through the Clerk of Superior Court using Form AOC-CR-314. The search covers only that single county.
Is eCourts Portal a statewide criminal background check?
No. Portal is a public court-information search. North Carolina advises people conducting background checks to use clerk or Remote Public Access options rather than treating Portal results as a complete background report.
Can I see every court document in Portal?
No. Some public case information may appear without every document image. Older paper records, confidential filings, sealed records and documents restricted from remote access may require clerk assistance or may not be publicly available.
Where do I search a North Carolina federal court case?
Use PACER. Federal district, bankruptcy and appellate records are separate from North Carolina’s state eCourts Portal.
How This North Carolina Guide Was Verified
- North Carolina eCourts Portal
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — All 100 Counties Converted
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Portal Training and Resources
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Obtaining Court Records
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Criminal Background Checks
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Form AOC-CR-314
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Remote Public Access
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Courthouse Locations
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Current Court Costs
- PACER — Federal Court Records
Read the site’s source-verification and manual-checking policy for information about how official portals, fees, forms and access restrictions are reviewed.
Statewide eCourts coverage, Smart Search functions, Portal technical requirements, court-date tools, clerk copy routes, criminal-background options and federal-record routing were reviewed against current official sources.
Court portals, fees, forms and public-access rules can change. The current North Carolina Judicial Branch or record-holding clerk controls when its instructions differ from this guide.