Duplin County Court Records

Duplin County Court Records refers to all information about court actions or court proceedings. These records include information required for adjudicating cases (pleadings, affidavits filed with the court, motions, evidence admitted into court, notices, orders) and those necessary for the administration of the courts (court calendars, juror lists, proposed and completed budgets, receipts, timesheets, telephone logs). Each court document is created by individual court officials, including the county clerk, in connection with judicial activities in the county.

Duplin court records provide a basic building block for the county's judicial system. Without these records, the court cannot administer justice or appropriately ensure a lower court's effectiveness. They also allow individuals to exercise their legal rights, such as appealing judgments or conducting legal research in the county.

Are Court Records Public in Duplin County?

Yes. Under North Carolina's public records law, Chapter 132 of the General Statutes, all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, electronic data-processing records, or other documentary material under the custody of officials are accessible to the public (G.S. § 132-1). The law also states that people may obtain copies of Duplin County Public Records and information for free or at minimal cost unless otherwise specifically provided by law.

All court records may be open and available unless exempted from public disclosure by an order of a court of jurisdiction or any other statute. The following court information is public records and may be withheld only when sealed by court order (G.S. § 132-1.4):

• Information that will jeopardize the right of the state to prosecute a defendant or the right of a defendant to receive a fair trial or will undermine an ongoing or future investigation
• The name or address of a complaining witness if the release of the information will pose a threat to the mental health, physical health, or personal safety of the witness
• Settlement documents in cases involving medical malpractice actions against public hospital facilities (G.S. § 132-1.3)
• Identifying information such as social security numbers or taxpayer-identification numbers, passport numbers, checking or savings account numbers
• Arrest and search warrants before they have been returned by law enforcement agencies, indictments, criminal summons, and nontestimonial identification orders
• Juvenile case records in the clerk's office
• Records of investigations of alleged child abuse.

Duplin County Court Records Search

Individuals can search for Duplin County court records at any of the offices and sources below:

• The clerk of the court where the case is filed
• The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) remote public access program
• The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
• Third-party Court Records Search websites.

Duplin County Courts

The Duplin County trial court system consists of Superior Courts and District Courts. The following are the addresses and contact information of each court in the county jurisdiction:

Duplin County Superior Court
112 Duplin Street
P.O. Box 189
Kenansville, NC 28349
Phone: (910) 275-7000
Fax: (910) 275-7001.

Duplin County District Court
112 Duplin Street
P.O. Box 189
Kenansville, NC 28349
Phone: (910) 275-7000
Fax: (910) 275-7001.

Duplin County Criminal Records

Criminal cases in Duplin County include minor infractions, which may result in the person paying a monetary fine, and felonies, which may result in a person serving a prison sentence of one year or more. According to North Carolina's public records laws, criminal records are accessible to citizens of the state.

The Duplin County Clerk of Superior Court office is responsible for the criminal court cases in the county. Individuals can view, search, or email criminal background records in the county using the public access computers available in the clerk's office at any courthouse. The terminal allows people to search for cases by defendant name, case number, or victim or witness name.

Interested persons may also visit the clerk's office to request a certified criminal record search by name or for others in the county. Fill out and print Form AOC-CR-314 and submit it to the clerk's office with the fee of $25 in person or via mail:

Duplin County Superior Court Clerk's Office
112 Duplin Street
P.O. Box 189
Kenansville, NC 28349
Phone: (910) 275-7000
Fax: (910) 275-7001.

The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) offers access to criminal court data in Duplin County through its Remote Public Access Program (RPA). This allows individuals to conduct real-time and statewide criminal background checks. Real-time access through the NCAOC ensures that the data obtained accurately reflects the data from the county clerk's office. Note that NCAOC Remote Public Access is currently transitioning from the RPA Legacy system to a new RPA Cloud-based system, also called Odyssey.

To access criminal back information through any of the two systems, inquirers will need a nonrefundable one-time connection fee of $450, two user I.D's, and two admin I.D's. The access fee per transaction of $0.21 and the connection fee can be sent through the PayIt online payment system before any service can begin.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation also allows interested individuals to conduct a non-certified statewide fingerprint-based criminal history background check known as a "Right to Review". Requesters will be required to submit a request for access to the criminal history record form, fingerprint card, and a fee of $14. All requests are sent only by U.S. Mail, as in-person direct delivery is not allowed:

N.C. State Bureau of Investigation Criminal
Information and Identification Section
Applicant Unit — Right to Review
3320 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27610.

Get Duplin County Civil Court Records

In Duplin County, a case is a civil action when a person petitions the court to protect a private civil right or to obtain a civil remedy. In civil cases, one party files a lawsuit against another, asking for money or a court order against the other party. Common civil case records in the county are on family issues, contract disputes, and personal injury claims. Individuals can access civil court Information through the public, self-service terminals in the Duplin County Clerk of Court's office. The staff may provide copies of civil court files for a fee.

Duplin County Superior Court Clerk's Office
112 Duplin Street
P.O. Box 189
Kenansville, NC 28349
Phone: (910) 275-7000
Fax: (910) 275-7001.

Alternatively, the Remote Public Access Program provides access to civil court data in the county.

Duplin County Marriage Records

Duplin County's vital records include all official files on events of citizens in the county, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce. North Carolina law does not restrict access to vital records within 25 years, which usually limits public access.

The Duplin County Register of Deeds serves as the county's custodian and manager of marriage records and issues marriage licenses to interested persons. The office may require proof of age, such as a government-issued I.D. or birth certificate. Applicants can provide either a Social Security number or a notarized statement that the applicant is ineligible to receive a Social Security number. Both parties must be present when purchasing the license. According to N.C. law, the current cost of a marriage license is $60.00.

Dublin County Register of Deeds
Duplin County Courthouse Annex, Room #106
118 Duplin Street
Kenansville, NC 28349
P.O. Box 970
Fax: (910) 296-2344

The Register of Deeds also provides an online search tool that allows individuals to find Duplin County marriage records. Online users will need to provide information such as full names, dates, and party types.

Alternatively, requesters can also submit an online application for a Duplin County marriage license using information such as both applicants' full names, parent's names, birth details, race, and county.

The North Carolina Office of Vital Records provides copies of certified and uncertified Duplin County marriage certificates from 1962 to the present. Using the Order a Certificate page, individuals can order marriage certificates in person, online, by mail, or by phone. The search fee for a marriage certificate is $24, nonrefundable per three-year period, which includes one copy of the certificate if a record is found.

NC Vital Records Contact Address
Cooper Memorial Health Building
225 N. McDowell St.
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
General Inquiries: (919) 733-3000
Fax: (919) 733-1511

Duplin County Divorce Records

The Duplin County Courthouse handles divorce in the county. Interested persons can get a copy of an absolute divorce judgment from the County Clerk of the court's office where the divorce was granted in person.

Duplin County Court Clerk's Office
112 Duplin Street
P.O. Box 189
Kenansville, NC 28349
Phone: (910) 275-7000
Fax: (910) 275-7001.

Alternatively, the North Carolina Office of Vital Records can get copies of Duplin County divorce certificates from 1958 to the present. Individuals can order divorce certificates in person, online, by mail, or by phone using the Order a Certificate page. The search fee for a marriage certificate is $24, nonrefundable per three-year period, which includes one copy of the certificate if a record is found.

Duplin County Birth and Death Records

A birth certificate is a legal proof of identity required for important transactions like passport applications, bank account registration, and enrollment in institutions. Without a birth certificate, children cannot get routine vaccines and other healthcare services and may be open to violence and abuse. On the other hand, death certificates serve as proof for legal purposes such as access to pension benefits, life insurance claims, and estate settlements. Law officials may need a death certificate to review the cause of death during investigations. Birth and death records are public records in North Carolina.

The Register of Deeds issues certified copies of Duplin County birth and death certificates to interested persons in person or via mail. However, North Carolina Law only issues certified birth and death certificates to the subject, spouse (currently married), brother, sister, child or stepchild, grandchild, parent, grandparents, authorized agent, or legal representative of the person whose certificate is being requested. When it comes to eligible persons for death certificates, the spouse should be legally married to the subject at the time of death.

The office requires that anyone who wants to obtain a certified copy of a birth or death certificate either in person or by mail should provide a valid government-issued picture I.D. A certified copy is $10.00 while an uncertified copy is $0.25. The written request, I.D., and fee can be sent to the Duplin County Register of Deeds, Post Office Box 970, Kenansville, NC 28349.

The Register of Deeds also allows individuals to search online birth and death indexes to find Duplin County birth and death records using full names, dates, and party types.

Alternatively, the North Carolina Office of Vital Records provides copies of Duplin County birth certificates from 1913 to the present. All death certificates are dated from 1930 to the present. For death certificates available before 1930, contact the North Carolina State Archives. To order birth and death certificates in person, online, by mail, or by phone, use the Order a Certificate page. The search fee for a marriage certificate is $24 nonrefundable per three-year period, which includes one copy of the certificate if a record is found.

NC Vital Records Contact Address
Cooper Memorial Health Building
225 N. McDowell St.
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
General Inquiries: (919) 733-3000
Fax: (919) 733-1511

Duplin County Probate Court Records

The role of probate is to distribute a person's assets after death. Probate court records in Duplin County include wills, bonds, petitions, guardianships, and estate assets related to a deceased person. The Duplin County Superior Court Clerk is the probate judge in charge of all probate cases within the county. Interested persons can access probate court information in person at the County Clerk of Court's office.

Duplin County Court Clerk's Office
112 Duplin Street
P.O. Box 189
Kenansville, NC 28349
Phone: (910) 275-7000
Fax: (910) 275-7001.

Duplin County Property Records

The Duplin County Register of Deeds serves as the custodian and manager for real estate-related documents. The office has records of court proceedings affecting real estate, including foreclosures, evictions, partitions, and condemnations, as well as estates, divorces, judgments, and liens on real property. In Duplin County, once a document is recorded in the real property books, it becomes a public record and can be accessible to anyone. Individuals can search for property records in person to identify the property owner or any possible liens against the property.

Dublin County Register of Deeds
Duplin County Courthouse Annex, Room #106
118 Duplin Street
Kenansville, NC 28349
P.O. Box 970
Fax: (910) 296-2344

The office provides an online real property records search tool that allows individuals to find Duplin County property records using the full name of the record holder, relevant dates, and document types.

Duplin County Court Records Online

The North Carolina General Assembly has authorized the NCAOC to enter an exclusive agreement with third parties to ensure remote electronic access to court records in the county (G.S. 7A-109(d)). For example, third-party online sites like NorthCarolinacourtrecords.us may provide convenient access to Duplin court records. The court records that the NCAOC offers to the companies are accurate data from the clerk of court's database. Still, the NCAOC cannot guarantee that the information these sites provide their customers is current or accurate. These third-party websites also make it easy for individuals who cannot personally visit the courthouse to access court information from anywhere without wasting time and effort.