Johnston County Court Records

Johnston County court records are a compilation of reports, filings, transcripts, dockets, and other documents generated during legal proceedings and case arbitrations. They may be in paper files or electronic data such as audio/video recordings, photographs, and microfilms.

Generally, persons who obtain North Carolina court records can expect to find case information like the parties’ names, a description of the issue or offense, filing dates, court hearing schedules, judgments, attorneys’ names, and case/docket numbers. Court records are considered important documents because of their scholastic and administrative values. They serve as referential materials, and their availability helps promote transparency and accountability in the justice system.

Are Court Records Public in Johnston County?

Yes. Under the North Carolina Freedom of Information Law (G.S 132-1), members of the general public are allowed to access Johnston County court records. Interested persons may request to inspect and copy court records for a minimal cost.

The right of the public to inspect court records in Johnston County is, however, not exclusive. Certain exemptions prescribed by law to the access of court records exist. Examples of court records that are exempted from public access and only available to court-authorized persons include:

• Records of criminal investigations and intelligence information produced by law enforcement agencies
• Sensitive information that may affect public security
• Materials created in preparation for a legal proceeding or trial that has commenced
• Social Security information and other personal identifying information like license number, taxpayer identification, passport, or account information
• Juvenile and sex abuse victims’ information.

Johnston County Court Records Search

A Johnston County court record search may be conducted at:

• The office of the Johnston County Clerk of Courts
• The Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court’s office
• A courthouse where the case was filed or heard
• The case management system of the North Carolina judicial branch (eCourts Portal)
• Websites maintained by Independent service providers.

Johnston County Court Records Search by Name

Persons intending to perform a Johnston County court record search by name must supply a case party name, business name, or attorney name. An in-person or mail request containing the name to be researched may be sent to the Clerk of Courts or the Superior Court clerk’s office. The record custodian may require a nominal fee for reproducing the desired record.

Besides, the North Carolina Judicial Branch eCourts Portal may also be effective in searching Johnston County court records by name. On the portal, interested persons may:

• Perform a smart search using a party name, nickname, business name, or attorney name
• Search court dates and hearings by entering a judicial officer's name, a business name, a party name, and an attorney name
• Conduct a Judgement search by party last name.

Providing additional search criteria like the case number, attorney bar number, citation number, or filing date range may facilitate the search and narrow down search results.

Johnston County Courts

The North Carolina court system comprises an Appellate and Trial Division. The Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal make up the appellate division while the trial division includes the superior, district, business, and small claims courts. Johnston County has only one courthouse for the Superior and District courts located at:

Johnston County Superior & District Court
207 East Johnston Street
P.O. Box 297
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 209-5400
Fax: (919) 209-5401

Johnston County Superior Court Case Search

The Johnston County Superior Court is a trial court that decides criminal cases, felonies, and civil cases with claims above $25,000. The Superior Court Clerk’s office provides public access to court records stored in both paper and electronic data. Researchers may obtain these records physically or remotely.

The clerk’s office allows members of the public to self-serve by providing the public with public access service centers. Members of the public may freely inspect court records at the clerk's office using these service terminals. Concerned persons may also submit written requests or fill out the provided request forms to the clerk’s office in person or via mail. The request forms/letters are to contain descriptions of the desired record and search criteria like a name, case number, or filing date range. Filled-out forms and the specified research/copy fees may be submitted using the following information:

Johnston County Superior Court Clerk’s Office
Johnston County Courthouse
207 East Johnston Street
P.O. Box 297
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 209-540.

Interested persons may also search for superior court records remotely on the eCourts portal managed by the state’s judicial branch. An attorney name, party/business name, judgment date, and citation number are some of the required search parameters.

Johnston County District Court Records

The District Court in Johnston County is authorized to handle magistrate cases like small claims ($10,000 or less), landlord eviction, and property disputes. The District Court also hears civil, criminal, and juvenile matters. The Prosecutorial District 13 has jurisdiction in Johnston County.

Residents of Johnston County in need of district court records may visit the courthouse in person or submit electronic requests. They may be required to pay certain fees covering research and copy costs. The eCourts Portal is another alternative for obtaining district court records in Johnston County. A party name or case number is typically required to access information from the online portal.

Johnston County Criminal Records

Per North Carolina laws, Johnston County criminal records are open to the public and maintained by the Clerk of the Superior Court. The clerk’s office provides members of the public with countywide background checks and criminal history records. Persons desiring to review criminal records or perform background checks may freely use the self-service option available at the public service centers in the clerk’s office. The records retrieved from the public access devices are not certified and fees may apply to copying such records.

To request certified Johnson County criminal records, interested persons may opt to send a completed criminal record search request form and the required fee of $25 to the clerk’s office physically or electronically. The required fee for mail requests may be paid by money order or certified checks. For in-person requests, the acceptable payment means are credit card, money order, cash, or certified checks.

In addition, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) grants record subjects and authorized persons access to non-certified criminal records at the state level. To conduct a personal background check with the SBI, send a completed Right to Review form, fingerprints, and a processing fee of $14 to:

NC State Bureau of Investigation
3320 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
Phone: (919) 662-4500

Authorized agencies and employing entities may use the address below:

Access Integrity Unit - CIIS
NC State Bureau of Investigation
3320 Garner Road
P.O. Box 29500
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
Email: AIUhelp@ncsbi.gov.

NB: Residents may also be able to obtain public Johnston County arrest records from local govt agencies.

Johnston County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Members of the public may perform a Johnston County criminal court case lookup using the self-service option available at the clerk of court's office. The public access terminals allow citizens of the county to search for criminal case records by defendant name, case number, and victim/witness name.

One may also submit written requests to the clerk’s office via mail or in person. It may be important to note that while one may inspect case records for free on the terminals, obtaining copies may require a fee. Interested persons may also search the eCourts portal for case information and criminal court records by entering an attorney’s name, a judgment, a party name, or a case number.

Get Johnston County Civil Court Records

Johnston County civil court records may be obtained from the clerk of the superior or district court in Johnston County. Concerned persons may also search for court records related to child custody/support, divorce, small claims, property disputes, and land/tenant issues at the Clerk of Court’s office.

The self-service centers at the clerk's office may be used to access civil case information for free. Written requests can also be sent to the clerk’s office in person or through mail. A civil case search by name, citation number, or case number may be conducted on the state’s judicial branch online portal. While it may be possible to inspect civil case records free of charge, duplicating the records typically have charges attached.

Johnston County Family Court Records

In Johnston County, the district court handles family law matters such as divorce, child custody, domestic violence, separation, and annulment. Persons who wish to retrieve court records about family law matters may query the clerk of the district court or search online using the eCourts system. A case number, party name, or filing date is usually a requirement for searching.

Johnston County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Johnston County Dissolution of Marriage records primarily comprise divorce records and records of marriage annulment or legal separations. These records are classified as family court records and may be obtained from the Clerk of Court’s office or the district courthouse that handled the case. They may be requested by sending requests physically or electronically to the record custodian. These records are also available remotely on the judicial branch’s case management portal. The researcher will be required to provide a search criteria (like a name, case number, or date of filing) and pay the necessary fees.

Johnston County Marriage and Divorce Records

Johnston County Marriage records are maintained by the Register of Deeds. A Johnston County Marriage certificate may be obtained from the Register of Deeds’ office by submitting a completed Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record Form, a photocopy of a government ID, the full name of the couple, marriage date, and a certified copy fee of $10 to:

Johnston County Register of Deeds
Vital Records Unit
207 E. Johnston Street
Suite 209
P.O. Box 118
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 989-5161

The Johnston County Register of Deeds maintains a searchable online portal for retrieving marriage records. One may search this online portal by entering a name, recording date, or a document/book number.

Copies of Johnston County Divorce records, decrees, and judgments are available at the Clerk of Court’s office or the courthouse where the case was heard. One may search the public access terminal provided by the courts using a divorcee's name, date/place of divorce, and a case number.

Alternatively, interested persons may order copies of a marriage or divorce certificate from the North Carolina Division of Public Health (NCDPH) for a non-refundable fee of $24. The Office of Vital Records processes requests for marriage and divorce records sent to the NCDPH.

Johnston County Birth and Death Records

Johnston County birth and death records are maintained by the Register of Deeds. Certified copies of these records are available to record subjects and authorized persons only; however, members of the public may request non-certified or informational copies of the records. The Register’s office charges $.10 for non-certified copies and $10 for certified copies of Johnston County vital records.

To request copies of Johnston County birth certificates and death records, one may fill out the Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record Form and submit it by mail or in person to the Register of Deeds office. Persons requesting Johnston County birth records or death certificates must provide the name at birth/death, date of birth/death, and recording date. Mail requests must be signed and enclosed in a self-addressed stamped envelope alongside a copy of a valid driver's license.

Eligible persons may also obtain Johnston County birth and death certificates from the Vital Records unit of the North Carolina Division of Public Health at $24 per copy.

Johnston County Probate Court Records

Matters of probate and estates are classified under civil records in Johnston County. To request Johnston County probate court records, one may query the office of the Clerk of Courts or the clerk in the courthouse where the case was filed. The fees and processes necessary for requesting these records are similar to those described in the previous sections.

Johnston County Property Records

Johnston County Property records which include real estate records, maps, transaction documents, and appraisal information are maintained by the Register of Deeds office. Interested persons may send mail requests or search physically at the Register’s office. Members of the public may also search the online platform provided by the Register of Deeds. Property records and information may be searched by name, recording days, grantor/grantee, book type/number, and page/instrument number.

The Johnston County Tax Administration Office through its Real Property Department also maintains property records for the county. Requestors may submit requests to search property records in person or via mail to:

Johnston County Tax Administration Office
207 E. Johnston Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 989-5130
Fax: (919) 989-5614
Email: taxoffice@johnstonnc.com.

Mailing Address:
Johnston County Tax Administration Office
P.O. Box 368
Smithfield, NC 27577.

Another alternative for remotely accessing property records is the Tax Administration office's online repository. To search for property information, interested persons must enter the property owner’s name, property address, or parcel number.

Johnston County Court Records Online

In addition to government sources, Johnston County court records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These third-party websites are independent, non-government platforms that provide users with automatic tools for comprehensive searches. NorthCarolinacourtrecords.us provides online and easy access to Johnston County court records.

Record seekers may use these websites to remotely search for a specific record or multiple records within a short time. The usual requirements for searching these websites are the record subject's name, last known location (including the city, county, or state), and case number. Third-party websites are not maintained by government bodies hence record availability and consistency of search results may vary.