New Hanover County Court Records

Court records in New Hanover County include the documents, files, or papers captured and preserved during a legal proceeding. Court records may be generated by the courts or submitted to the court during a lawsuit. Usually maintained by the Clerk of Courts in most counties, court records serve as proof of what transpired in court, providing accuracy. Additionally, New Hanover court records are crucial to dispensing justice, as they ensure that legal proceedings are conducted equitably and unbiased.

North Carolina court records may contain details of a court case, including names of the parties (plaintiff and defendant), date of birth, filing date, case number, court address, case type, case status, and attorney particulars. Furthermore, court records in North Carolina contain official information such as docket entries, indices, pleadings, memoranda, charging documents, transcription of court proceedings, electronic recordings, orders, disposition sheets, decrees, and judgments.

Are Court Records Public in New Hanover County?

New Hanover County court records are public records. Per the North Carolina Public Records Act, all documents, papers, recordings, and public information made, received, or compiled by North Carolina government agencies are the people's property. The state law makes all transactions with public agencies open to the public for viewing, inspection, and copying.

However, not all records are open for public view. Per the Act, certain court records must remain confidential information restricted from public view. Such confidential information includes:

• Sensitive information containing public security plans
• All personal identifying information where its release would cause personal or financial harm to the record holder.
• Court records containing trade secrets
• Court documents containing file numbers, passwords, or any other information maintained by the Secretary of State
• Documents continuing matters related to the federal government’s process on closure and realignment of military installations
• The records are sealed by a court order.
• The court record contains details of criminal investigations conducted by law enforcement officers.

Consequently, adoption records, juvenile records, Social Security Numbers, financial information, medical records, tax information, emergency response plans, child custody records, family court proceedings, and grand jury records do not constitute New Hanover County public records.

New Hanover County Court Records Search

While the eCourts system for accessing court records online in North Carolina is live in some counties in the state, it is not available in New Hanover County. Therefore, to perform a New Hanover County court record search, record seekers must visit the Clerk of Courts Office to view or obtain copies of the records.

New Hanover County Court Records Search by Name

Persons seeking information on New Hanover County court records may visit the office of the Clerk of Courts to obtain the records. The office provides self-service terminals where record seekers can search for court records by name. New Hanover County court record search by name allows searchers to search for cases using the victim's, defendant's, or witness's names.

Viewing New Hanover County court records at the public terminals at the Clerk of Court Office is free. However, North Carolina law permits the Clerk of Courts to charge a fee to obtain copies of the court records. The amount charged to obtain the county’s court record varies. Typically, the amount charged is based on the number of copies requested. The court record custodian in Hanover County accepts cash, credit cards, debit cards, money orders, and certified checks to process the court records search request.

New Hanover County Courts

The Hanover County court system is limited to the Superior Court and the District Court of Hannover. These court’s addresses are listed below:

Superior Courts in New Hanover County

New Hanover County Superior Court
316 Princess Street, P.O. Box 2023,
Wilmington, NC 28402
Phone: (910) 772-6600

District Courts in New Hanover County

New Hanover County District Court
316 Princess Street, P.O. Box 2023,
Wilmington, NC 28402
Phone: (910) 772-6600
Phone: (910) 772-6612 (Family Court)

New Hanover County District Court Records

The District courts in New Hanover County have authority over some criminal and civil cases. The criminal cases heard by the county’s District Courts include most infractions, misdemeanors, low-level felonies, and municipal ordinance violations. The District courts are the entry-level trial courts but can conduct preliminary hearings for all criminal cases. New Hanover District courts also preside over civil cases with claims not exceeding $25,000. In addition, the courts handle domestic relations and juvenile cases such as domestic violence protection, child support, child custody, emancipation, child abuse, child neglect and paternity, divorce, annulment, spousal settlement agreements, and alimony cases.

New Hanover County District Court records are available at the public self-service terminals at the Clerk of Court’s Office. To locate a specific record, interested persons should have the defendant's name or case number to locate the file. In addition, record seekers may request the New Hanover District Court records by emailing a request for the records.

Requesting individuals can fill out the online Public Record Request Form, providing specific details about the desired court records. While the records are free for viewing purposes, persons who require copies of the county's District Court records must pay a fee and provide a government-issued identification card. The fees depend on the copied record and the number of copies requested.

New Hanover County Criminal Records

Criminal records detail individuals' encounters with law enforcement agencies. Criminal records detail the arrests, detections, criminal charges, indictments, dispositions, sentencing, and release information an individual faced with peace officers. Persons seeking New Hanover criminal records may contact the Clerk of the Superior Court. Persons seeking New Hanover County criminal records can visit the Clerk of Court’s office. The office provides a self-service terminal in its lobby where record seekers can search for criminal records originating from the county. Record seekers may also request criminal records search by mail. Interested persons must fill out the Request for Certified Criminal Record Search. Record seekers should have the full names of the individuals named on the record. The office charges $25 for background checks. Mail the completed application form and copy of valid government-issued identification to the Clerk of Superior Court in New Hanover County.

Criminal records include New Hanover County arrest records, which detail an individual's criminal history. It includes arrest searches, inquiries, warrants, arrests, and mugshots. Persons interested in New Hanover County arrest records can obtain them from the New Hanover Sheriff's Department.

New Hanover County Criminal Court Case Lookup

There are official online platforms to view criminal court case records in Hanover County. The Clerk of the Superior Court maintains all criminal court case records in the county and grants access to persons interested in obtaining the records. Record seekers may visit the Clerk of Superior Court office and use one of the public self-service terminals to look up criminal court case information. The Clerk of Courts does not charge a fee to view the criminal court case records. However, there are fees attached to copying the records. The fees depend on the amount of copies requested. Also, the Clerk of Court requires record seekers to tender valid government-issued identification cards before collecting copies of criminal court case records.

Get New Hanover County Civil Court Records

Hanover County civil court records are the official files, documents, and accounts of a civil court case proceeding tried in the county courts. Depending on the type of civil case, civil court case records consist of summons, restraining orders, recordings, transcripts, pleadings, motions, complaints, affidavits, evidence, settlements, memorandum of decision, and judgment.

Hanover County does not provide an online platform to access its civil court records. Therefore, persons seeking the records must visit the Clerk of Superior Courts Office to access the records at the public terminals located at the court office. Viewing civil court case records is free. However, persons looking to obtain copies of the record will pay a fee based on the number of copies required. In addition, persons requesting copies of Hanover County civil court records must provide valid government-issued identification to obtain the record.

New Hanover County Family Court Records

The New Hanover County District Court handles family court cases through its Family Court program, established in 2000. The family matters the court handles include cases of child custody, divorce, dependency, juvenile delinquency, foster care, guardianship, termination of parental rights, abuse and neglect, and domestic violence. In compliance with North Carolina laws, Family Court records in New Hanover County are public records unless classified as confidential according to law. For example, records of family court cases involving juveniles, such as neglect, abuse, and dependency, are restricted from public access. New Hanover Family court records can be obtained through the New Hanover County Clerk of Court at:

New Hanover County Clerk of Court
320 Chestnut Street, Suite 305
Wilmington, NC 28401.

New Hanover Dissolution of Marriage Records

New Hanover dissolution of marriage records include divorce decrees, court proceedings of the divorce, and divorce certificates. These records are by-products of a divorce or dissolution of marriage process. North Carolina Vital Records has divorce records dating back to 1958, while the New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court maintains divorce records older than 1958.

The North Carolina Vital Records office is at:

Cooper Memorial Health Building
225 North McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382

New Hanover County divorce records requests cannot be filed via an online request. However, interested persons should note that walk-in services at the North Carolina Vital Records are strictly by appointment. Divorce certificates are provided for a non-refundable fee of $24, which is inclusive of a standard certificate search fee and one copy of the certificate if the record is found.

New Hanover County Marriage and Divorce Records

New Hanover County marriage records, such as marriage certificates, can be obtained from the county's main or secondary office. The fee for certified copies of a New Hanover County Marriage Certificate is $10, while uncertified copies are $0.25. Divorce records and additional information for divorce proceedings for divorces processed in New Hanover County are available through the office of the Clerk of Superior Court’s office at:

New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court
316 Princess Street
Room 201
Wilmington, NC 28401

The Clerk of Superior Court’s office is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday,

New Hanover Birth and Death Records

Certified copies of New Hanover County birth certificates and death certificates are classified as part of New Hanover County Vital Records. These records can be obtained for a fee of $10 per copy at the New Hanover County main office at:

320 Chestnut Street
Suite 120
Wilmington, NC 28401

And also at the secondary office at:

230 Government Center Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone: (910) 798-4530

North Carolina operates a Statewide Birth Certificate Issuance Program that allows residents of the state to obtain certified copies of birth certificates for persons born anywhere in North Carolina. New Hanover participates in this program, and this permits the New Hanover Register of Deeds to issue birth certificates from the statewide database. This also allows individuals born in the county to get their New Hanover County birth records while now residing at another participating county in the state.

Note that for adopted individuals, New Hanover County birth certificates can only be issued by the North Carolina Vital Records office in Raleigh, North Carolina.

New Hanover County Probate Court Records

Probate Courts handle probate processes such as the administration of the estate of an individual after their passing. Property that passes through the administration process includes bank accounts, vehicles, stocks and bonds, and furniture. However, New Hanover County does not have a dedicated probate court. The New Hanover County Superior Court oversees matters related to the probate court, while probate-related matters are handled by the New Hanover County District Court, Probate Division.

Probate-related documents like wills are public records when filed with the Clerk of Court. Interested parties, such as the loved ones of a deceased, can view the record or make a request from the Clerk of Court maintaining the records.

New Hanover County Property Records

New Hanover County property records include owner information, deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, easements, covenants, restrictions, and maps. The records are public records and are available to persons who may require access to these records. The New Hanover County Register of Deeds maintains the county's property records. Interested persons can make all property record inquiries Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Register of Deeds office at:

Suite 102
Real Estate Recording - Main Office
320 Chestnut Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 798-4530

Interested parties can search property records on computers set up for this purpose in the Register of Deeds office or use the online public records search webpage.

New Hanover County Court Records Online

While the eCourts system for accessing court records online in North Carolina is live in some counties in the state, it is not available in New Hanover County. Therefore, to perform a New Hanover County court record search, record seekers must visit the Clerk of Courts Office to view or obtain copies of the records.

Some third-party sources like courtrecords.us may provide online access to New Hanover County court records, allowing users to get information such as the name, case, status, date, and more of case records, judgments, violations, warrants, and more at their convenience. Some of these resources offer services for free, while others charge a fee. Options for access include viewing the records online or having an option to order copies. However, the accuracy of such records may vary.