Columbus County Court Records

Columbus County court records comprise filings, reports, and documents presented, filed, or generated from proceedings of civil, criminal, or other case types. The Clerk of Court preserves these records, providing the public with necessary information about cases the judicial system hears. Court records may also aid the public assessment of the administrative and judicial functions of the court system in the County.

Generally, North Carolina court records provide researchers basic case information like party names, case numbers, dockets, dispositions, infractions, and judgments. These records may be preserved and reproduced in paper or paperless formats, including audio/video tapes, discs, microfilms, photographs, and fax documents.

Are Court Records Public in Columbus County

Yes. Per the North Carolina Freedom of Information Law (G.S. 132-1), anyone may request access to review and reproduce copies of Columbus County court records. State laws mandate that record custodians provide access to documents in their custody to requestors at a nominal fee.

Under state laws, certain court records are prohibited from public access due to the nature of the information they contain or the legal implications of their disclosure. Generally, court records in relation to juveniles, sexual assault victims, and mental health conditions are not publicly available. Similarly, records that are sealed/expunged may hamper ongoing investigations, affect public peace, or infringe on a person's privacy rights and are exempt from public access. Some records that contain sensitive information and personal identifying information may not also be available for inspection and copying by members of the public.

Nonetheless, members of the public with a legitimate interest in and need for these sealed records may subpoena them or obtain authorization from a court of jurisdiction.

Columbus County Court Records Search

The judicial system of Columbus County has made several provisions through which interested persons may inspect and copy court records created within county limits. To conduct a Columbus County Court records search, one may:

• Visit the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court within regular hours
• Visit the courthouse where the case was originally decided
• Submit mail or electronic requests to the record custodian
• Search via the North Carolina judicial branch's case management system(eCourts)
• Use tools maintained by independent record providers.

Columbus County Courts

In Columbus County, the trial division of the judicial branch consists of the Superior and District Courts. The Superior Court hears criminal cases, including felonies and civil cases, with claims of amounts above $25,000. The District Court has jurisdiction over magistrate matters, juvenile cases, and other civil or criminal cases. To locate and contact any of the courthouses present in Columbus County, concerned persons may utilize the information provided below:

Columbus County Superior Court 1
100 Courthouse Circle
P.O. Box 1587
Whiteville, NC 28472
Phone: (910) 641-4400
Fax: (910) 641-4401

Columbus County Superior Court 2
112 West Smith Street
Whiteville, NC 28472
Phone: (910) 641-3000

Columbus County District Court 1
100 Courthouse Circle
P.O. Box 1587
Whiteville, NC 28472
Phone: (910) 641-4400
Fax: (910) 641-4401

Columbus County District Court 2
112 West Smith Street
Whiteville, NC 28472
Phone: (910) 641-3000

Columbus County Criminal Records

Columbus County criminal records are open to the public on request. Concerned persons may obtain Columbus County arrest records and other criminal records from the Clerk of the Superior Court's Office. The Clerk's office provides name-based criminal records checks and issues certified and uncertified copies of criminal records to requestors.

Certified copies may be obtained by submitting a completed AOC-CR-314 form via a walk-in visit or mail. Requestors will be required to provide a valid means of identification and a fee of $25 per certified record. For walk-in requests, one may make payments via cash, credit card, certified check, or money order. Mail requestors may only make payments via money orders and certified checks. However, uncertified copies are available for free online at public self-service terminals at courthouses or the Clerk's office. However, people who request uncertified copies may need to cover the cost of producing copies of the record.

In addition, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) performs fingerprint-based background checks for interested individuals and employers. Concerned persons may fill out a right-to-review form and submit it in person or via mail at:

North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
Criminal Information and Identification Section
Attn: Applicant Unit - Right to Review
P.O. Box 29500
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500.

The SBI charges $14 per request, payable by certified checks or money orders. Requestors are to attach a fingerprint card filled by an authorized law enforcement agent. To obtain an approved fingerprint card, residents of Columbus County may visit the County Sheriff's office and pay $10 per fingerprint. The Sheriff's office offers this service by appointment between 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Weekdays.

Get Columbus County Civil Court Records

Columbus County civil court records are available at the Clerk of the Superior Court's Office. One may also query the Clerk's office in the District Court or any other courthouse where the case was heard. Concerned persons may access civil case records such as small claims, adoptions, child/spousal support, divorce, and tenancy issues online via eCourts Portal. One may perform a Smart search on this portal by entering a case number/party name or Search hearings.

Alternatively, residents of Columbus County may utilize the public self-service terminals provided by the Clerk's office and the courthouses located in the County. Searching on public terminals may be free of charge, while making copies of the record may attract charges. A citation number, case number, party name, or attorney name is usually required to use the public service terminal.

Columbus County Marriage Records

Marriage records are considered to be part of Columbus County's vital records. The Office of the Register of Deeds maintains Columbus County marriage records. Requestors may submit written requests containing information about the marriage, such as the name of the married person and the date of marriage. The Register of Deeds office provides certified copies of Columbus County Marriage certificates at $10 per copy and $0.25 per copy for uncertified copies. Written requests, fees, and identification may be submitted in person or mailed to:

Columbus County Register of Deeds Office
125 Washington Street
Suite B
P.O. Box 1086
Whiteville, NC 28472
Phone: (910) 640-6625

Interested persons may also request Columbus County marriage records from the North Carolina Department of Public Health(NC-DPH). The DPH manages statewide marriage records created since 1962 and issues copies of such records to eligible applicants. To request a marriage record, interested persons may complete an application form and submit it in person alongside payment of $24, proof of relationship with the record bearer, and approved state identification to:

North Carolina Vital Records (Cooper Memorial Health Building)
225 North McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382.

Mail requests may be sent to:

North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900.

Columbus County Divorce Records

Columbus County Divorce records are preserved by the Clerk of the Superior Court's Office. To request a divorce record, interested persons may submit a handwritten request in person or via mail to the Clerk's office. The request must contain descriptive information about the record, including the names of the divorced parties, the case number of the suit, and the date of divorce.

Alternatively, one may request Columbus County divorce records filed between 1958 and the present from the NC-DPH by completing the approved application form and paying the non-refundable search fee of $24. When submitting requests to the DPH, a valid I.D., court order, and proof of relationship with record bearers should be attached to the duly filled application form.

Columbus County Birth and Death Records

Columbus County birth records and death records are maintained by the Register of Deeds Office. A certified copy of a Columbus County birth certificate, the same as death certificates, is issued at $10 per copy while plain copies of birth/death records cost $.25 each. Certified copies are reserved for legal purposes and issued only to eligible applicants while plain copies are informational and open to the public.

To request a birth/death record from the Register of Deeds office, complete a request form, attach a copy of photo identification, and submit it to Columbus County Register of Deeds, P.O. Box 1086, Whiteville, NC 28472. Mail requests should be enclosed in a stamped, self-addressed envelope containing money orders made payable to the Columbus County Register of Deeds. Additional information may be obtained by phoning the Register of Deeds office at (910) 640-6625.

Columbus County birth and death records are also available at the Vital Records unit of the North Carolina Department of Public Health. Interested applicants may submit a duly completed Birth or Death application form and search fees of $24 to the DPH. Additional copies of a birth or death certificate cost $15. Applicants will be required to provide a valid means of identification and proof of relationship with the bearer of the record.

Columbus County Probate Court Records

Columbus County probate and estate cases are considered under civil court records and maintained by the Clerk of the Superior Court's Office. Probate Court records are available at the Clerk's office via walk-in visits or mail requests. Interested persons may submit requests to the Clerk's office or use the public computer terminals provided at the Clerk's office.

Besides, the Superior and District Courts also furnish requestors with self-service kiosks at the courthouses. Interested persons may search for probate court records on these terminals or query the eCourts Portal.

Columbus County Property Records

The Office of the County Register of Deeds preserves Columbus County Property records. Property records such as plats, maps, deeds, ownership information, appraisal/tax information, and real/personal property records are publicly available at the Register's office. Members of the public may query the Register's office in person during regular hours or search for property records on the online search tool maintained by the Register's office. Requestors may retrieve property information from this online database by entering a name, book/page number, instrument number, recording date, or grantor/grantee.

Columbus County Court Records Online

Besides official sources, third-party online resources like NorthCarolinacourtrecords.us provide swift and easy access to Columbus County Court records. These third-party websites usually have a user-friendly interface that appeals to users and allows interested individuals to search for a record by entering relevant case information such as party name or case number. These sites allow users to simultaneously access case information from different jurisdictions and sources.

Third-party websites provide users with advantages such as speed, convenience, and a wide range of information. However, a downside to using third-party resources is the inability to use the information obtained from these sites for legal or official purposes. This is because these sites are not government-owned, and the information's accuracy, completeness, and consistency may vary.