Franklin County Court Records

Franklin County court records include motions, affidavits, pleadings, notices, and orders filed with or maintained by the court. These documents are usually available to the public and contain information like case summaries, case parties' names, case events, offense date, time, statute and degree, dispositions, and hearing dates and times. Access to court records helps case parties know their case status and understand case histories. Case parties can also use these records to track the case's progress and prepare for hearings.

Are Court Records Public in Franklin County?

Yes. North Carolina Public Records Law authorizes public access to court records. Therefore, anyone can inspect or obtain copies of court records during regular business hours at the courthouse. However, the Franklin County Courts limit access to some of their records for privacy reasons. Typically, records about adoption, juvenile, grand jury proceedings, and trial preparation materials are unavailable to the public. Also, the public cannot access unreturned arrest and search warrants and settlement documents of medical malpractice actions against public hospital facilities.

Franklin County Court Records Search

Inquirers may find court records in Franklin County through any of the following ways:

• Online through the eCourts portal
• In-person using the public access computers
• In-person over the counter

Franklin County Courts

Franklin County has only two courts: Superior and District Courts. These courts are located at the same location, and the address is below:

Franklin County Courthouse
102 S Main St.
Louisburg, NC 27549
Phone: (919) 497-4200

Franklin County Criminal Records

Individuals can request certified copies of Franklin County criminal records by name at the Clerk of Superior Court Office. They can mail a completed Form AOC-CR-314 to the office or appear in person during business hours. Copies of criminal records cost $25, payable by money order or certified check for mail requests. In-person customers can pay by money order, credit card, cash, or certified check. Uncertified copies of criminal records can be printed in person from the public access computers available in the clerk's office for free.

Businesses can obtain copies of criminal records through the N.C. Administrative office of the Courts' (NCAOC) Remote Public Access program (R.P.A.). They can use the Online access (real-time) or Extracts (bulk data) to access the desired record for a fee.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) allows members of the public to obtain copies of criminal records by mail. They would have to mail a completed Application Form, fingerprint card, and a $14 fee in certified check or money order to:

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

Applicants can obtain sets of their fingerprints in person at the Franklin County Sheriff's Office on an FD-258 Applicant Fingerprint Card. This service costs $10 for one set and $5 for extra sets taken on the same day. Customers can choose electronic fingerprint submissions or inked fingerprint cards. Individuals needing Franklin County arrest records can also submit their requests at the Sheriff's Office during business hours. Copies of these records cost a small fee. Requests can be made at:

Franklin County Sheriff's Office
285 T Kemp Road
Louisburg, NC 27549
Phone: (919) 496-2186
Fax: (919) 340-0172

Get Franklin County Civil Court Records

Two courts in Frankin County handle all civil cases. The Franklin County Superior Court hears civil cases over $25,000, and the District Court handles civil cases like child support, divorce, child custody, and cases involving less than $25,000. These records are available to the public online and in person. Follow the steps below to find civil court records online:

• Go to the eCourts portal
• Click the Smart Search tool
• Click the "Advanced Filtering Options" link
• Go to the 'General Options" area and select "Franklin County" from the "Filter by Location" dropdown.
• Scroll down to the "Case Search Criteria" and select all the civil options from the "Filter by Case Type" dropdown.
• Scroll back up to the "Filter by Search Type" area and select a search option (smart search, attorney bar number, attorney name, business name, case cross-reference number, case number, citation number, nickname, or party name)

In-person customers can use the public, self-service terminal located at the courthouse to view civil information. A name or case number is required to find the appropriate records. The staff can also assist with obtaining copies of civil court records for a fee.

Franklin County Marriage Records

The Franklin County Register of Deeds Office issues marriage certificates dating back to 1869 and has a bond book with marriage information dating back to 1779. Certified copies of these records are only available to couples, immediate family members, attorneys, authorized agents, and legal representatives. Anyone wishing to obtain copies of Franklin County marriage records is required to provide identification. The Register of Deeds partners with a third-party vendor to make copies of marriage certificates available to its customers online. The standard fee for certified copies of marriage records is $10, but the vendor charges extra convenience and credit card fees. Individuals can also obtain certified copies of Franklin County marriage certificates at the office during business hours. The office has a Vital Index database containing indexed marriage data. This service is free, and a search can be made using a first name, last name, or date range.

Franklin County Divorce Records

Individuals can order copies of divorce records from the Franklin County District Court. Inquirers may begin their search for divorce information at the eCourts portal. Click the Smart Search tool and search by name or number. To narrow the search, click the "Advanced Filtering Options" link, select the right location, and "Family" as the case type. Divorce records unavailable on the portal can be viewed or copied at the courthouse from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Requesters can use the public access terminals in the courthouse to find records by name or case number or seek the assistance of a staff to retrieve copies of the documents. Viewing records through the terminals is free, but printing copies from them costs a small fee.

Franklin County Birth and Death Records

All birth and death records in Franklin County can be searched online and at the Register of Deeds Office. These records date back to 1913, and certified copies cost $10 per copy. According to law, certified copies of birth and death records are not included in Franklin County public records. As a result, they are only issued to the subject of records (Franklin County birth certificates) or immediate family members upon showing their identification.

Certified copies of Franklin County vital records can be ordered online through a third-party vendor. This service attracts an extra convenient fee and applicable credit card fees. Individuals can also use the Vital Index database to view and print unofficial copies of birth or death images. The search parameters are first name, last name, or date range. Another way to get certified copies of birth and death certificates is in person at the Register of Deeds Office from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Applicants must appear at the office with proper identification and the necessary fees. They would have to complete an application form to assist in locating the records. The office is located at:

Franklin County Register of Deeds
113 S. Main St.
Louisburg, NC 27549

Franklin County Probate Court Records

The Franklin County Clerk of Court's Office has public self-service terminals where members of the public can access probate information. Users would need a name or case number to view such information for free. They can also print copies of probate court records from the terminals for a small fee. The court staff can also provide copies of probate documents in court files for a fee. Record seekers can also search the eCourts portal for probate information by name or number. They can click the "Advanced Filtering Options" link to select options that would help narrow the search.

Franklin County Property Records

The Franklin County Register of Deeds is the custodian of property documents dating back to 1776. These documents include assumed names, deeds, maps, deeds of trust, and powers of attorney. Certified copies of property records cost $5 on the first page and $2 each for each additional page, and noncertified copies cost 25 cents per page. Copies of maps cost $1 per page. These copies can be obtained in person at the office from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Unofficial property records can be viewed on the Index Search portal. Users can click the Consolidated Index, Old Index Books, or View Images table and conduct a search by name, date range, book type, description, document number, book, or page.

Individuals can also find property tax records online or in person at the Franklin County Tax Department. They can use the Tax Property Search, Tax Payment Bill Search, and G.I.S. Parcel Map Search portals to find property information online. Users can search by owner, address, parcel number, P.I.N., bill number, or account number. In-person requests can be made at the office during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). The office is located at:

Franklin County Tax Department
127 S. Bickett Blvd.
Louisburg, NC 27549
Phone: (919) 496-2172

Franklin County Court Records Online

Several reliable third-party platforms like northcarolinacourtrecords.us aggregate court records and provide them to the public when a search is conducted by name, case number, or jurisdiction. These sites charge fees for complete court reports or access to specific case records. However, some platforms may provide limited information for free. Before using third-party services, check Franklin County Local Court Rules regarding the accessibility and privacy of court records.