Cleveland County Court Records

In Cleveland County, NC, court records consist of official documents on legal proceedings. The Superior and District Courts generate court records during civil and criminal case prosecutions. North Carolina court records also provide evidence of legal trials in the various state and local courts. Court records exist in different forms. Some general examples include docket entries, complaints/ petitions, evidence/exhibits, names of the plaintiffs and defendants, judgments and orders, case transcripts, and appellate information.

Are Court Records Public in Cleveland County?

Yes, Cleveland County court records are public and accessible to interested persons. North Carolina Statutes (§ 132-1 and § 132-6) grant the public the right to access government records. Additionally, state laws reinforce the public's right to Cleveland County court records.

Notwithstanding public access to government records, North Carolina law exempts public disclosure of the following Cleveland County court records:

• Juvenile Records
• Sealed and Expunged Records
• Records that contain victim or witness information
• Records whose public disclosure may pose security risks
• Grand Jury Proceedings
• Adoption Records
• Sensitive Personal Information
• Mental Health Records.

Cleveland County Court Records Search

Generally, Cleveland County court records are available through official repositories and third-party databases. For a general search for Cleveland County court records, log in to the records online databases and use search tools to look for specific documents. Also, interested persons can search for Cleveland County court records through in-person visits to the records custodian's physical offices, public libraries, notice boards, or offline non-government sources.

Cleveland County Court Records Search by Name

There are several ways to make a name search in Cleveland County court records. A name-based search entails using a name to look for trial case records relating to prosecutions within the county's Superior and District Courts.

Inquirers can use a name as the criteria for a Cleveland County court records search with the following general steps:

• Log in to the records online repository
• Select the name option from the search criteria menu
• Enter the name of the name of the owner of the records or case title into the search tools and submit.

Also, records seekers can look for Cleveland County court records offline using names as the search criterion. To perform an offline name-based search for Cleveland County court records, include a searchable name when requesting the records custodian (this may be the case name or the name of the record owner).

Note: Per North Carolina laws, custodians of Cleveland County court may charge information seekers for access to documents and case files on court proceedings.

Cleveland County Courts

In Cleveland County and the rest of the counties in North Carolina, the trial court structure is a reflection of the North Carolina Unified Judicial System. The Cleveland County court structure comprises the Cleveland County Superior and District Courts. Per the North Carolina judicial hierarchy, the Cleveland County Superior Court has general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases within the county.

The Superior Court handles cases above the District Court's Jurisdiction; these include all felonies, some misdemeanors, and civil claims where the amount in contention is over $25,000. Also, the Cleveland County Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over probate cases and original jurisdiction over guardianship cases. In addition, the Cleveland County Superior Court oversees cases on

• Requests for declaratory relief
• Constitutional rights
• Eminent domain
• Most administrative agency decisions
• Adoption
• Complex business issues.

The Cleveland County District Court presides over criminal misdemeanors, infractions, municipal ordinance violations, preliminary hearings for criminal cases, civil claims for amounts less than $25,000, juvenile cases, and most family law cases.

To visit or contact the Cleveland County Superior or District Court, use the contact information below.

Cleveland County Superior Court

100 Justice Place
Shelby,
NC 28150
Phone: (704) 476-7800
Fax: (704) 476-7801

Cleveland County District Court

100 Justice Place
Shelby,
NC 28150
Phone: (704) 476-7800
Fax: (704) 476-7801

Cleveland County District Court Records

The Cleveland County District Court has broad jurisdiction over several types of cases. In Cleveland County, the District Court case portfolio includes but is not limited to

• Preliminary hearings on criminal cases
• Civil claims where the amount in dispute is less than $25,000
• Juvenile delinquency cases
• Family law cases
• Infractions
• Municipal ordinance violations
• Small claims.

The Cleveland County Court Clerk's Office is the custodian of the county's court records. As of July 2024, Cleveland County, NC, is not listed among the counties participating in the North Carolina eCourt pilot program; to access Cleveland County district court records, inquirers should call or visit the Cleveland County Clerk of Court Office at:

The Cleveland County Courthouse
100 Justice Place
Shelby,
NC 28150
Phone: (704) 476-7800

Cleveland County Criminal Records

Cleveland County criminal records are official judicial and law enforcement documents on the criminal activities of persons within Cleveland County, NC. The Cleveland County Superior and District Courts, as well as the various law enforcement agencies within the county, create criminal records to detail the process of criminal trials and the circumstances surrounding the arrest of persons for crimes against individuals and society.

Generally, law enforcement agencies generate arrest records and other documents as evidence of arrests and incidents during official duties. Cleveland County criminal records are public documents. However, their availability may depend on the law enforcement agency in possession of the records.

To inquire about Cleveland County arrest records and other public documents in the possession of law enforcement agencies, records seekers should visit the Cleveland County, NC Sheriff's Office website, click Inmate Inquiry, and look for Cleveland arrest records through the Inmate Inquiry Page.

Also, interested persons can call or visit the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office at

100 Justice Pl, Shelby,
NC 28150
Phone: (704) 484-4888

In addition, information seekers can visit the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Offender Search Page and look for criminal records of active or inactive Cleveland County inmates.

Cleveland County Criminal Court Case Lookup

In Cleveland County, the Clerk of Court Office is the custodian of post-trial criminal records. To access Cleveland County criminal records, visit or call the Clerk of Court Office at the Cleveland County Courthouse and request access to Cleveland criminal records. Also, records seekers should look for Public Access Terminals at the courthouse to access Cleveland criminal records.

Get Cleveland County Civil Court Records

Cleveland County civil court records refer to official documents and files on non-criminal case prosecutions within the county's Superior and District Courts. It encompasses but is not limited to trial documents on

• Probate cases
• Family law matters
• Landlord-tenant disputes
• Small claims
• Property-related litigation
• Personal Injury Claims
• Civil Rights
• Employment Disputes.

In Cleveland County, the Clerk of Court Office is the custodian for civil court records. Public access to some Cleveland County civil court records may require eligibility or court orders due to the private nature of some information they contain. Persons seeking to access Cleveland County civil court records should call or visit the county's Clerk of Court Office at the Cleveland County Courthouse.

Cleveland County Family Court Records

Family court records in Cleveland are documents and files on family matter-related adjudications within the county's District Court. Family law records include case documents on adoption, child custody and support, paternity, divorce, alimony, domestic violence and protective Orders, and name change.

Family law records involve matters of a private nature; hence, the law exempts some records, documents, and information from public scrutiny. For instance, records on adoption, domestic violence, and confidential information such as Social Security Number and financial account number are not public. To be eligible to access some Cleveland County family court records, a record seeker must be an involved party or their legal representative, an authorized government agency, or have a subpoena from the court.

For information on Cleveland County family law records, eligible individuals should call or visit the Cleveland County Clerk of Court Office at the Cleveland County Courthouse.

Cleveland County Marriage and Divorce Records

Cleveland County marriage and divorce records are official documents on marriages and divorces within Cleveland County, NC. Marriage and divorce records are public documents, and they are accessible to members of the public. However, to protect the privacy of their owners, custodian agencies may redact some information from publicly available documents.

There are several options for record seekers to obtain information on Cleveland County marriage certificates and divorce decrees.

To access a Cleveland marriage certificate:

• Visit the Cleveland County, NC Register of Deeds/Passports Vital Records Certificate Page:
  • Read the instructions, scroll down, and click the Get Certificate link to access the Certificate Order Page
  • Click Get Started under the Marriage Certificate header to access the online application form
  • Enter the necessary information to order a marriage certificate into the application form
  • Enter credit card information and make applicable payment
  • Apply and wait for the certificate to come through the mail
• Download a Vital Records Request Form from the Vital Records Certificate Page
  • Fill out the request form with the necessary details
  • Include a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE), a check/money order for $10.00 to cover the access and mailing fees, a copy of a valid driver's license or state-issued identification, and mail the request to:

Register of Deeds,

P.O. Box 1210, Room 151, Shelby,
NC 28151.

To obtain Cleveland County divorce records

• Visit the Cleveland County Clerk of Court office at the Cleveland County Courthouse.

Also, applicants can visit the North Carolina Vital Records Order a Certificate Page:

• Select marriage or divorce from the drop menus
• Provide answers to the questions on subsequent drop menus
• Order for Cleveland County marriage or divorce records online (use the affiliate third-party website link), through phone calls, email, or visits (this requires an appointment) to:

NC Department of Health and Human Services
2001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,
NC 27699-2001.

Information seekers may need to pay applicable fees to obtain Cleveland County Vital Records.

Cleveland Birth and Death Records

Cleveland County birth and death records refer to official documents relating to the birth and death of persons within Cleveland County, NC. Per North Carolina laws, birth and death records are private documents accessible to immediate family members and legal representatives, government agencies with legitimate interests, and through judicial orders. Access to Cleveland County birth and death records may require proof of identity or legal authorization. However, per North Carolina laws, a Cleveland County birth or death record becomes public 100 years after the birth or 50 years after the death of the owner of the record.

Cleveland County birth and death records are crucial for government health policy formation. In addition, they are important documents for genealogical and epidemiological research.

In Cleveland, maintaining birth and death records is the responsibility of the Register of Deeds office. To access a Cleveland birth certificate or death decree, records seekers should:

• Visit the Cleveland County, NC Register of Deeds Vital Records Certificate Order Page:
  • Download a Vital Records Request Form and fill it out
  • Include a self-addressed envelope, a check/money order to cover applicable fees and copies of Identification documents,
  • Mail them to the Cleveland County Register of Deeds Office.
• Place an online order through the Register of Deeds Office Get Certificate Now page.
• Log in to the North Carolina Division of Health and Human Services Vital Records Order a Certificate Page and use online search tools to request Cleveland County birth or death records through phone calls, email, in-person visits appointments, or affiliate third-party.

Cleveland County Probate Court Records

Cleveland County probate court records are legal documents on the adjudication of cases on deceased persons' estates within the Cleveland County Superior Court. Typically, probate court records encompass but are not limited to trial documents and case files on

• Probate of Wills
• Estate Administration
• Guardianship
• Trust Administration
• Estate Disputes
• Conservatorship.

In Cleveland County, the Clerk of Court is the custodian of probate court records. For information on Cleveland County probate case records, interested public should call or visit the Cleveland County Clerk of Court Office at the Cleveland County Courthouse.

Cleveland County Property Records

Cleveland County property records are official documents on real estate within Cleveland County. A typical property records may contain the following property-related documents and information:

• Property Deed
• Parcel Number
• Liens and Encumbrances
• Property Sales History
• Property Tax Information
• Building Permits
• Plat Maps
• Zoning Information
• Mortgages (if applicable).

In Cleveland County, the Register of Deeds Office is the custodian agency for property records. To access Cleveland County property records, information seekers should

• Log in to the Cleveland County Register of Deeds Land Records Recording Search Portal and use a grantor or grantee's name, index, documents, and party types to research lane records.
• Call, fax, or visit the Cleveland County Register of Deeds Office at:

311 E. Marion St. Rm 151, Shelby,
NC 28150
Phone: (704) 484-4834
Fax: (704) 484-4909

Cleveland County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources are useful for accessing documents and information (Cleveland County court records). They provide easy and convenient access to documents on various topics. Third-party websites such as northcarolinacourtrecords.us gather documents from North Carolina courts and make them available to information seekers who may have difficulty obtaining them from government sources. In addition, some third-party online repositories provide access to different types of records at the same site, making it possible to access information on various topics at the same place and time.

However, information seekers should understand the potential risks of using third-party resources to source official documents. Documents and information sourced from non-government-approved vendors may contain inaccurate, incomplete, or missing information.