Sampson County Court Records

Sampson County court records are official materials documenting proceedings, decisions, and actions during a hearing or trial. These include motions, pleadings, orders, exhibits, transcripts, judgments, and other related filings. Court records come in various forms, such as letters, documents, papers, maps, books, photographs, films, magnetic or electronic tapes, artifacts, sound recordings, or other documentary materials (North Carolina Public Records Law (N.C.G.S. Chapter 132).

Court records document the substantive and procedural history of a law case. They are crucial for tracking the progress of a proceeding, the actions of the case parties, and the decisions taken by the jury or judge. Furthermore, these records are important for maintaining transparency during the judicial process and can be quoted in future appeals or legal proceedings.

The details found in Sampson County court records include docket information, trial exhibits, pleadings, indictments, summonses, orders, motions, and other legal cases filed by case participants. Notably, these records also constitute North Carolina court records.

Are Court Records Public in Sampson County?

Yes. Court records are considered among public records, as the law states that these are the "property of the people". Therefore, researchers may submit a request form to the court clerk's office to acquire these records. The law also demands that government agencies responsible for holding, collating, and disbursing records disseminate certain types of court records to interested members of the public. However, certain records are expunged, restricted, or sealed from access to the public. According to the N.C.G.S § 132-1.49(k), these records include:

• Juvenile dependency or delinquency records
• Arrest records about an individual found factually non-guilty.
• Subpoenaed records
• Arrest records that have been returned by indictments, law enforcement bodies, criminal nontestimonial identification orders, and summons.
• Records pertaining to the social security number of an individual.

Sampson County Court Records Search

Interested individuals may perform a Sampson County court records search at the following places:

• A local court clerk's office.
• A reputable third-party search portal.
• The courthouse where the case was filed.
• The North Carolina Judicial Branch online search tool.

Sampson County Courts

The trial court system in Sampson County comprises three types of courts: Superior Courts, District Courts, and Business Courts. Each has its unique functionalities.

Below is the county's courthouse directory.

Sampson County Superior Court
Main Office
#101 East Main Str.,
Clinton, NC 28328
Phone: (910) 596-6600
Fax: (910) 596-6601

Sampson County Superior Court
Annex Office
#119 West Main Str.,
Clinton, NC 28328
Phone: (910) 592-3923

Sampson County Superior Court
Extension Office
#201 East Main Str.,
Clinton, NC 28328
Phone: (910) 596-6600
Fax: (910) 596-6601

Sampson County District Court
Main Office
#101 East Main Str.,
Clinton, NC 28328
Phone: (910) 596-6600
Fax: (910) 596-6601

Sampson County District Court
Extension Office
#201 East Main Str.,
Clinton, NC 28328
Phone: (910) 596-6600
Fax: (910) 596-6601

Sampson County District Court
Annex Office
#119 West Main Str.,
Clinton, NC 28328
Phone: (910) 592-3923

Sampson County Criminal Records

Under the North Carolina Public Records Law, members of the public can access and inspect certain criminal records upon request from the agency maintaining them. However, Article 5 § 15A-145 of the State's Public Records Law permits some details to be expunged from criminal records and outlines comprehensive information on the expungement of records.

In Sampson County, the Superior Court handles different types of cases, including criminal lawsuits. The types of criminal cases handled by the Sampson County Superior Court include all felony cases and misdemeanor and infraction appeals from the District Court.

Thus, interested members of the public may visit the Superior Court office to request records in person at any of the Superior Court locations (main, extension, or annex) above. Researchers should call the office beforehand to verify the record's availability.

The Sampson County Sheriff's Department also holds certain records of arrested individuals held (whether past or present) in their detention facilities. One may visit the Sheriff's office to obtain records in person, carrying along a valid I.D. card at the following location:

Sampson County Sheriff's Department
#112 Fontana Street,
Clinton, NC 28328

Researchers can also mail the Sheriff's Department at sheriff@sampsoncountync.gov.

Alternatively, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (S.B.I.) handles and provides inquirers access to criminal records across the state.

Furthermore, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction provides an online search portal for requesters to locate criminal records of individuals within the state. To obtain records in this platform:

• Visit the N.C.S.B.I. website.
• Under "Services", click on "Background Checks"
• Click on "Background Checks on Others"
• Tap on the link for "Public Offender Search"
• Provide the full name, offender number, gender, race, ethnic group, birthdate range, and age range.
• Click on the Search button.
• Provide the $14/copy fee for processing the request.

Get Sampson County Civil Court Records

Civil cases include non-criminal court cases like probate, family law, lawsuits, disputes, divorces, and small claims, among many other matters. Interested researchers may visit the originating courthouse where the court case was filed to acquire a Sampson County civil court record. However, requesters must contact the court to confirm the records' availability. At the location, the individual may use the computers at the kiosk by the office or request staff assistance, also carrying along the processing fees, a valid I.D., and the details of the case in search.

Furthermore, requesters may query the Sampson County Superior Court to obtain civil records in person at the location (given above) during regular business hours from Monday through Friday. The court handles various cases, including civil cases involving over $25,000, and is the primary agency responsible for maintaining civil court records at the county level. Researchers must ensure that they carry along the details of the case party (case number, names, and date of filing) in search, a valid I.D. card, and the fees for access and duplication.

Sampson County Marriage Records

The Sampson County Register of Deeds is responsible for collating and maintaining access to marriage records within the county. Marriage records typically document marriages in Sampson County, North Carolina.

Interested members of the public may access marriage by visiting the office of the Register of Deeds at the following address:

Sampson County Courthouse
126-A West Elizabeth Street,
Clinton, NC 28328

Requesters may also fill out an Application for a Marriage Certificate form and mail it to the office, together with the fees for accessing copies ($10/copy for certified, $2.5/copy for uncertified copies). Queries can also be done by calling the office at (910) 592-8026

Sampson County Divorce Records

In Sampson County, records of dissolution of marriage (or divorce) are maintained by different government agencies, depending on the type of record. Divorce decrees (which comprise the legal information of divorce, such as alimony, property division, and custody decision) are maintained by the Sampson County Clerk of Superior Court. Thus, requesters may visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office to access a copy of a divorce decree in person at the following location:

Sampson County Courthouse
126-A West Elizabeth St.
Clinton, NC 28328.

On the other hand, divorce certificates (proof of the occurrence of a divorce) are held by the Office of the North Carolina Vital Records, which is responsible for holding divorce certificates across the state. One may query the office to obtain the divorce records in person at the address below:

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

Note: All in-person requests must be made during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) from Monday through Friday. Researchers must also contact the offices to confirm the validity of records and book an appointment with the office in question.

Sampson County Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records in Sampson County, North Carolina, are collated and held by the County's Register of Deeds Department. The court records office provides crucial details about births and deaths in the county; thus, they are classified as Vital Records in the county and the state.

Thus, researchers can acquire birth and death records from the Register of Deeds' office at its physical address below:

Sampson County Courthouse
126-A West Elizabeth St.
Clinton, NC 28328.

One may also fill out a Birth Certificate Request form, a nominal fee ($10/copy for certified copies or $2.5/copy for uncertified copies), and their details. Mail requests for death certificates comprise filling out a Death Certificate Request form, a nominal fee (the same for birth certificates), a proof of relationship to the deceased, and the requester's details.

Online access to Vital Records from the Sampson County Register of Deeds Office can be done by:

• Visiting the Sampson County Register of Deeds website
• Select "I am requesting a certified Birth Certificate"
• Select whether the search is done for self or for someone else.
• If searching for someone else, select the relationship with the case party.
• Select whether to obtain Certified or Uncertified copies and proceed to the next page.
• Provide details of the search (name, information about the birth, parents' details)
• Provide the requestor's details
• Provide requestor verification information, current address, driver's license details, and contact information.

Sampson County Probate Court Records

The Clerk of Superior Court's office handles Sampson County probate court records, which handles a wide array of court cases within the county. Probate records are legal documentation of procedures for administering a deceased individual's estate, such as appointing administrators or executors, distributing assets, and validating wills.

To request these records in person, one may visit the Superior Court Clerk's office at the physical address (main, annex, or extension).

Sampson County Property Records

Property records are official records that document real estate ownership, assessments, and transfers. Sampson County property records are maintained and held by both the Sampson County Tax Department and the Sampson County Register of Deeds offices, each with unique functions.

The Register of Deeds records and collates documents about real estate transactions, such as deeds of trusts, plats, cancellations, and deeds.

One may acquire property records at the Register of Deeds database by:

• Visiting the Sampson County Register of Deeds website.
• Scroll down and click on the "Acknowledge Disclaimer to Begin Searching Records" link
• Choose the database option to conduct property search (complete system, imaging system only, or scanned imaged index books)
• Provide the search option.
• Confirm the search and select the property type in search.

On the other hand, the Tax Department handles property assessment records, which comprise information on tax assessments and property ownership. Below are some steps to obtain tax assessment records:

• Visit the Sampson County Tax Department website.
• On the navigation menu, click on "My Property"
• On the next page, select "G.I.S. Maps & Property Records"
• Select "Property Tax Assessment Records"
• Choose the search option (Owner, Address, Parcel ID, or Advanced Search)
• Provide the details and click on search
• Provide the fees for the request and print the document.

Sampson County Court Records Online

Researchers can search for Sampson County court records online from government-owned or reliable third-party sites. Third-party platforms, such as Northcarolinacourtrecords.us, are maintained by private firms that collate public court records from many different repositories and provide them to the public.

One benefit of third-party firms is that researchers can quickly and conveniently obtain court records using mobile devices and remotely from their homes. These platforms are also comparably faster and offer other broader services to users. On the contrary, they tend to be more prone to error or may be outdated. Also, these platforms are generally more expensive than government-owned platforms.