Mecklenburg County Court Records

Mecklenburg County court records are the official files and documents of legal cases handled in the Mecklenburg County Superior and District Courts. These records are created during judicial proceedings and are maintained as official and permanent accounts of court activities and decisions. The Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court is the custodian of these records for the county's superior and district courts.

The North Carolina Public Records Law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132) governs the creation, retention, and public availability of court records. These records encompass all legal cases, including criminal, civil, family, probate, and juvenile matters. The typical content of a court record includes pleadings and motions, charges, dockets, transcripts, orders and rulings, exhibits and evidence, plea agreements, and judgments.

Are Mecklenburg County Court Records Public?

Yes. Mecklenburg County records are public under the North Carolina Public Records Act (codified in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132). This law establishes that most court records are public material and are open for inspection and copying. However, while most court records are public under the state's public records law, certain court records, files, or information are restricted, redacted, or exempt from public access for confidentiality and privacy. Examples include, but are not limited to, juvenile case files, records sealed by court order, domestic violence protective orders, grand jury proceedings, trade secrets or proprietary business information, adoption records, and documents related to protective orders, child abuse, and domestic violence.

What Information is Available in Mecklenburg County Court Records?

Mecklenburg County court records contain the following information across multiple case types:

• Civil Records: Files and information related to civil disputes (e.g., contract claims, property disputes, personal injury claims, business litigation), including complaints, motions, orders, docket entries, summons, and judgments.
• Criminal Case Records: Misdemeanor and felony case records, often containing indictments, arrest warrants, motions, pleadings, exhibits/evidence, orders, transcripts, sentencing information, etc.
• Family Law Records: These records encompass documents related to divorce, marriage, child support, custody, and adoption. Examples of record content include petitions for divorce, separation agreements, and orders for child custody or support.
• Specialized Records: These include records for other specialized proceedings handled in the superior or district court, like juvenile cases, protective orders, probate and estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes. Probate records, for example, often contain wills, estate inventories, creditor claims, distribution orders, and final decrees. Juvenile records are confidential.

Mecklenburg County Court Records Search

The public can search and access Mecklenburg County court records through the methods listed below.

Online Access

Individuals can use the eCourts Portal to search for and access case information and records, including retrieving copies of court documents and looking up court dates. The portal covers criminal, civil, family, probate, and other public court records. Users can search by party name, record number, citation number, attorney bar number, attorney name, business name, case cross-reference number, or nickname.

In-Person Access

Public terminals are available at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. Interested parties should visit the courthouse location between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, to use the public self-service terminal to locate case records by party names or case numbers. No payment is required to view records on-site via the terminal. However, a fee is required for copies of court documents.

Email Requests

To request electronic copies of criminal, civil, and probate court records not available online, email:

• Mecklenburg.Criminal@nccourts.org (for criminal cases)
• Mecklenburg.Civil@nccourts.org (for civil cases)
• Mecklenburg.ESP@nccourts.org (for probate and estate administration cases)

An email request for records must include the type of record being requested, party name(s), and the file number, if known.

Mail and Phone Requests: Mail requests may be submitted for copies of case files. Requests must include a self-addressed stamped envelope, payment by certified check, cashier's check, or money order made out to the "Clerk of Superior Court of Mecklenburg County," and the type of record request, party name(s), and the file number, if known. Phone requests are limited to inquiries about court records, copies, and fees.

Fees for Court Records in Mecklenburg County

Fees for court records in Mecklenburg County include $2.00 for the first page (of each document) and $0.25 for each additional page of copies requested in person or by mail, $10.00 for exemplification, and $3.00 for certified copies. Online access is typically free. Unless copies are requested, on-site inspection is also free. Vital records, including marriage certificates, birth certificates, and death certificates, are available through the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds Office for $10.00 each. Uncertified copies cost $1.00.

Mecklenburg County Courthouse Locations

Mecklenburg County Superior Court and Mecklenburg County District Court are both located in the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. While the superior court handles civil cases involving more than $25,000, all felony criminal cases, and misdemeanor and infraction appeals from the district court, the district court handles civil cases involving less than $25,000 in dispute; family law cases, including child support, divorce, and child custody; misdemeanor and criminal infraction cases; and juvenile matters. As is typical in the state, the Clerk of the Superior Court is a probate judge and has jurisdiction over guardianships, adoptions, and mental health.

The address and contact information of the Mecklenburg County superior and district courts are as follows:

Mecklenburg County Superior Court

Mecklenburg County District Court

Mailing address

Criminal Records Access in Mecklenburg County

The general public can request name-based criminal background checks in Mecklenburg County through the clerk of the Mecklenburg County Superior Court. To submit a request, fill out and forward the "Criminal Record Search" form alongside a $25 fee by mail or in person to the clerk's office. Note that this check only covers county-specific criminal records from the court.

For official statewide criminal background checks, the statutory responsibility lies with the North Carolina SBI, which offers fingerprint-based background checks to individuals reviewing their records, employers, and authorized agencies.

To conduct a personal background check, use the "Request for Access to Criminal History Record Information" form to submit a request to the SBI. The cost is $14. On the other hand, employers and licensing entities should contact the SBI's Access Integrity Unit or email them at AIUHelp@ncsbi.gov for registration and authorization to conduct statewide criminal history checks on individuals.

For local court case-specific information or records, Mecklenburg County provides access to criminal case records online through the eCourts Portal or via in-person searches at the Mecklenburg County courthouse using the public terminal.

Mecklenburg County Probate Records

Probate cases include estate administration matters, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust disputes. The Clerk of the Mecklenburg County Superior Court, who is a probate judge, handles these cases in the county. Anyone can view or request copies of probate records in the county. Confidential probate matters, information, or documents will typically be excluded from disclosure.

Most recent probate filings can be accessed online through the North Carolina Judicial Branch's eCourts Portal. Individuals can search the portal by party name, record number, citation number, attorney bar number, attorney name, case cross-reference number, or nickname and view or download case documents for free.

For older records, especially those filed before October 9, 2023, that are not available online, requests for electronic copies should be sent via email to Mecklenburg.ESP@nccourts.org.

Mecklenburg County Family Court Records

Interested individuals can access most family law records in Mecklenburg County, including divorce documents, online through the eCourts Portal, in person at the county courthouse location (via the public terminal), or via email to Mecklenburg.Civil@nccourts.org. There is no cost to search for and view these records online via the portal or in person via the public terminal. However, copies requested in person or by mail from the superior court clerk's office cost $2.00 for the first page (of each document) and $0.25 for each additional page. A copy of a divorce decree costs $10.00 plus extra charges for certification or exemplification.

In Mecklenburg, family law cases, such as divorce, child custody, and child support, are handled in the district court; however, adoption proceedings are handled in the probate division of the superior court.

Federal Court Records in Mecklenburg County

Federal cases include bankruptcy cases, criminal and civil matters that fall under federal law, and appeals. These cases, when arising in Mecklenburg County, fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division. Individuals can search for or obtain records of these cases through the federal court clerk's office or online through the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) portal. Pacer fees are set at $0.10 per page and capped at $3.00 per document.