Caldwell County Court Records

Caldwell County court records refer to documents containing specific information about legal matters heard and determined by a Caldwell Court. These papers become records when retained and stored in the court’s physical or online archive for future reference.

Court records typically contain pleadings, evidence, motions, costs, fines, transcripts, and information relating to the basis of a court judgment, order, or decree. This information is crucial for assisting parties involved in pending legal matters in predicting the outcome of such issues and understanding their implications. Additionally, the availability of these records aids transparency and assists the public in monitoring and scrutinizing court decisions.

Are Court Records Public in Caldwell County?

In Caldwell County, court records are public documents in compliance with the Public Records Act. As a result, the authorities who maintain these records present them upon request, provided that all criteria for a valid request have been met.

It is important to note that certain types of records may be restricted from public access due to sensitive or confidential information. Examples of these records are involuntary hospitalization cases and juvenile cases.

Note: Record seekers may be able to access confidential cases by requesting permission from the court for a copy of the recording on form AOC-G-115. However, not all court proceedings are recorded. For instance, most criminal District Court proceedings are not recorded unless ordered by a judge.

Caldwell County Court Records Search

Almost anyone can access non-confidential records. The County Clerk of Court maintains the County’s Official Public Records. Additionally, the courthouse itself may maintain certain records. Record seekers can access the County court records by visiting the courthouse or the clerk’s office to request the records. However, we recommend contacting the clerk’s office before approaching the courthouse.

Caldwell County Court Records Search by Name

The Clerk of Court maintains a self-service terminal at the Clerk’s office, which is available for public use. Record seekers can use this self-service terminal to search for specific records using the defendant's name, case number, victim, or witness name.

Caldwell County Courts

Caldwell courts operate within the state’s unified court system, the General Court of Justice. The Business Court is a specialized court division composed of Superior Court judges dedicated to handling complex business and commercial cases. The District Courts are trial courts with limited jurisdiction over certain civil and criminal cases. Some District Courts have Family Court programs that handle domestic relations and juvenile cases that District Courts would otherwise hear. The Superior Courts typically handle cases beyond the jurisdiction of the District Courts.

The courts in Caldwell County are located at:

Caldwell County Courthouse
216 Main Street NW
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 759-3503

Caldwell County District Court Records

District Courts have jurisdiction over various civil and criminal cases. Criminal cases encompass misdemeanors, infractions, and municipal ordinance violations, while civil cases include general claims up to $25,000. Additionally, District Courts handle appeals of county game commission decisions, domestic violence protection cases, and requests for civil no-contact orders. They also manage involuntary mental health commitments and have a Small Claims Court division for claims up to $10,000. Furthermore, District Courts oversee domestic relations cases and juvenile matters; some operate specialized Family Court programs.

The Clerk of the Superior Court manages record-keeping for both the Superior Court and the District Court. Record seekers can visit the self-service terminal at the Clerk of Court’s Office in Caldwell to access information about the County’s cases. We recommend viewing a user's manual on how to operate the terminal.

Caldwell County Criminal Records

In addition to the courts, law enforcement authorities create and maintain criminal records in Caldwell. The Sheriff’s Department is the main law enforcement authority in the County, making it the first stop for accessing criminal records. The Sheriff maintains various County crime-related records, ranging from Caldwell County Arrest Records and documents pertaining to criminal detentions to fingerprint and warrant searches. Moreover, the Detention Division of the Sheriff’s Office mans the County Jail and maintains a list of local inmates charged with criminal violations.

Note: Criminal records are public records, and anyone can access them between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at:

Sheriff’s Office
2351 SW
Morganton Blvd.
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-2324

In addition, record seekers can electronically access criminal records using the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office website. The website contains a host of information ranging from inmate rosters and sex offender registers to criminal fingerprinting.

Caldwell County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Interested persons can look up information about criminal cases by visiting the self-service terminal at the clerk of court’s office. The terminal allows individuals to search for criminal cases using criteria like defendant name, case number, and victim or witness name. Furthermore, record seekers can access the paper files for these court cases by visiting the clerk of the court’s office.

Get Caldwell County Civil Court Records

Civil court records refer to case files and documents filed with the court containing claims made by one party against another party. The claims include personal injury, family law, property and real estate, contracts, business, and intellectual property disputes.

Caldwell County civil court records are available for public inspection in the Clerk of Court’s Office - the County Clerk of Court’s office is the official record keeper for civil court records in the County.

Interested persons can access these records by visiting the Office of Clerk of Court’s Office. However, some records may not be available due to privacy laws or court rules.

Caldwell County Family Court Records

Family court records typically include legal disputes related to children and the breakdown of relationships. These records can involve cases such as:

• Juvenile delinquency
• Abuse, neglect, and dependency allegations
• Termination of parental rights
• Domestic violence
• Child custody and visitation rights
• Divorce and related financial issues like child support, alimony, and equitable distribution of property

Considering the series of facts and evidence that family court records provide, it is not uncommon for public members to be interested in these records. Accordingly, the Clerk of Court’s Office maintains the Caldwell County family court records. Interested persons request these records in person at the Clerk’s Office located at:

216 N Main St NW
Lenoir, NC, 286451
(828) 759-35031.

Caldwell Dissolution of Marriage Records

A marriage dissolution in Caldwell County is a legal arrangement whereby a married couple lives apart for one year. The Register of Deeds Office is the official record keeper for marriage-related records in Caldwell County. Accordingly, interested persons can obtain marriage records, including records related to the dissolution of a marriage, by submitting an online request to the Register of Deeds Office.

Alternatively, interested persons can request a copy of the record by mail. However, utilizing this medium requires sending a $10 check or money order with a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Caldwell County Register of Deeds. Furthermore, the requestor must sign the request and submit a copy of a government-issued photo ID.

Where interested persons cannot make their request online or via mail, they can visit the Register of Deeds Office in person to obtain a certified copy during regular business hours. The Office is located at:

905 West Avenue NW
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 757-1310

Caldwell County Marriage and Divorce Records

While marriage refers to the legal union of two persons, divorce is the legal separation of the two persons. A record is created when the paperwork used to conclude the marriage or divorce is retained and preserved in the archive of the relevant court or government agency.

In Caldwell, marriage and divorce records are public documents in compliance with the Public Records Act. Therefore, anyone can access them by submitting a request to the agency that maintains them.

To access marriage records, interested individuals can submit a request to the Register of Deeds’ Office via mail, online, or in person by visiting the Office.

For divorce records, NC Vital Records maintains divorce certificates and other divorce-related documents dating back to 1958. Accordingly, record seekers can obtain divorce records by placing an order using the order a certificate page on the NC Vital Records website.

Note: The Caldwell County Clerk of Courts Office also maintains records of marriages and divorces filed there. As a result, interested persons may visit the Clerk’s Office in person to request records.

Caldwell Birth and Death Records

The Caldwell County Register of Deeds manages birth and death records in Caldwell. To access these records, you can submit an online request or mail a request to the Register of Deeds’ Office.

Alternatively, interested persons can get a copy of these vital records by visiting the Office during regular business hours. However, keep in mind that the office charges $10 per certificate. In addition, a requestor must present a valid means of identification, such as a verifiable picture ID, a driver's license, or a passport.

Note that North Carolina law limits access to certified copies of these records - records bearing the official seal of the Register of Deeds Office. As a result, only these people can get a certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate:

• The person on record
• Their spouse (currently married)
• Brother
• Sister
• Child or Step-child
• Grandchild
• Parent
• Grandparent
• Those seeking information for legal determination of personal or property rights
• Authorized agent, attorney, or legal representative of the person whose certificate is being requested

Caldwell County Probate Court Records

In Caldwell County, probate court records involve the preservation of court documents dealing with the wills and estates of deceased residents of the County. It deals with the judicial administration of a deceased person’s assets according to their will or by some other legal means considered appropriate by a court in Caldwell. The Caldwell County Probate courts handle a handful of cases ranging from simple estate matters to will validation and the distribution of a person’s assets and debts after their death. Note that the County Clerk of Courts maintains probate court records. Therefore, interested persons can obtain court records by requesting them at the Clerk of Courts Office.

Caldwell County Property Records

The Register of Deeds Office maintains Caldwell County’s official property records archive dating back to 1841. These records include deeds of trust, cancellation of deeds of trust, real estate conveyances, power of attorney, separation agreements, assumed names, and road maintenance agreements.

Interested persons can access property records by visiting the Register of Deeds Office in person to request the records. Furthermore, individuals can gain more information on property records by visiting the Register of Deeds website.

Caldwell County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources like Northcarolinacourtrecords.us are a possible alternative for accessing court records in Caldwell County. These online resources generally enable quick and easy access to any proceedings. However, third-party online resources are typically more expensive and may not be comprehensive. And since such platforms operate independently of any state agency, the accuracy of results cannot be guaranteed.