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Wake County, North Carolina State Court Records

Wake County court records are documents, filings, and recordings that the Clerk of Superior Court (the sole records custodian) maintains as part of an official case file. A case file generally begins with a complaint, petition, or indictment, moves into motions, affidavits, exhibits, and hearings, and concludes with judgments, orders, and other dispositions.

As court cases arise from civil disputes, family matters, estate disputes, and alleged criminal conduct, court records often incorporate information from other public records systems, such as arrest files, vital records, and land records.

Are Wake County Court Records Public?

Yes. Wake County court records are designated as open records by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-109, which obligates the Clerk of Court to make records available for public inspection. To fulfill this mandate, North Carolina's unified judiciary maintains an online court records system that anyone may access for free. County-level court clerks also provide inspection and copy services at the respective courthouses.

Only court case information that intersects with records sealed by other laws is hidden from public view. Sealed records include adoption records, juvenile cases, safekeeping wills, and involuntary commitment proceedings.

What Information is Available in Wake County Court Records?

Individuals who search a Wake County court record or case file will find some combination of these details, depending on the case type:

  • Case number and filing date
  • Party names and roles (plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent)
  • Charges
  • Assigned judge or division
  • Docket history or register of actions
  • Past and upcoming hearing or court dates
  • Case disposition (verdict, judgment, dismissal, plea, etc.)
  • Sentence, fines, or judgment amount
  • Appeals, if any

Wake County Court Records Search

A single custodian, this being the Clerk of Superior Court, maintains Wake County court records. Further, all online North Carolina Judicial Branch court records are available in a centralized database. Record seekers thus need only explore one source for online records and one general clerk's office for physical inquiries and mail requests.

Online Access

Digital versions of Superior Court and District Court case records are available through the North Carolina Judicial Branch's eCourts portal. Users can customize the portal to show only Wake County results by deselecting "All Locations" and ticking "Wake County." The primary search options are name search and case number search. Popular filters to apply include case type, booking number, and date of birth.

Through eCourts, users can view a comprehensive event log that captures everything that happened during a case's lifecycle. This includes hearings, financial information, and dispositions in closed cases. People can print publicly available information on this portal without registering or paying a fee.

In-Person Access

While the online option can display public case information, access to case files generally requires direct contact with the Clerk of the Superior Court's office. People seeking civil records, excluding marriage, may visit the Wake County Courthouse at 316 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. Conversely, criminal and marriage records inquiries are available at the Wake County Justice Center, 300 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601.

Here are examples of where to physically go for some common court records:

  • Civil claims record: Courthouse, Clerk's Civil Division, First Floor. Phone: (919) 792-4000
  • Divorce record: Courthouse, Divisional Family Clerk, 11th Floor. Phone: (919) 792-4875
  • Probate record: Courthouse, Estate & Wills Office, 12th Floor. Phone: (919) 792-4450
  • Criminal felony record: Justice Center, Clerk's Criminal Division, First Floor. Phone: (919) 792-4450

Both locations also have public access terminals that visitors can use to query cases by defendant, case number, or victim/witness name.

Mail Requests

Record seekers can submit Form AOC-CR-314 to the Clerk to request a certified copy of a criminal record. For other types of records, a formal written request is required, as there are no standardized forms for probate, family, or civil records.

All requests by postal mail should include the appropriate payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The letter should specify which record is needed and provide essential details of the case.

Clerk of the Superior Court

PO Box 351

Raleigh, NC 27602

Calling the general Clerk's office main line at (919) 792-4000 to inquire about records availability, expected waiting times, and fees is worthwhile.

Fees for Court Records in Wake County

The Clerk's fees in North Carolina's court system are set by statute, specifically N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-308. In addition to the schedule below, people can print uncertified case information for free through eCourts.

  • $2 for the first page of a document and 25 cents for every page thereafter
  • $3 to certify a document
  • $10 to exemplify a document
  • $25 for a court-based criminal record search

Wake County Courthouse Locations

Wake County consolidates all its judicial operations at two courthouses. Below are their addresses and phone numbers.

Wake County Courthouse

316 Fayetteville Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

Phone: (919) 792-4000

Wake County Justice Center

300 South Salisbury Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

Phone: (919) 792-4300

Criminal Records Access in Wake County

Criminal records in Wake County comprise data gathered by county- and state-level law enforcement authorities, criminal courts, and detention centers. The Criminal Information and Identification Section compiles all of an individual's criminal activity and events in one place. The State Bureau of Investigation operates that division in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-902.

The SBI's criminal background check uses a fingerprint system and is available only to the subject of the record and to agencies or organizations authorized by statute. One can request a personal background check for $14 or $18. The lower figure covers only the statewide database, while the higher amount is for a nationwide FBI check.

Given that the SBI does not allow the general public to access another person's full criminal history, the next best option is a certified background check from the judicial branch. Unlike the SBI version, this check only covers criminal cases instituted in a specific county's superior court. Interested persons can submit Form AOC-CR-314 by mail or in person. The $25 fee is payable by credit card, cash, money order, or certified check.

Finally, the eCourts portal allows people to print case information and designated documents in public criminal cases for free. The various public safety agencies in Wake County may also provide arrest reports on request.

Wake County Probate Records

Probate matters in Wake County are under the jurisdiction of the Estates and Wills Office, which is a division of the Clerk of Superior Court's office. Rather than conducting actual court proceedings before a judge, the Clerk acts in a quasi-judicial capacity in probate matters.

Naturally, the Clerk also keeps records generated during these special proceedings, including those involving wills and general estate administration, appointment of guardians for minors or incapacitated adults, and establishment of trusts.

North Carolina's legal system allows people to view case information and most filings in probate proceedings. For example, a will can be openly copied after the testator's passing, inventories and accountings are open for public inspection, and letters of appointment can be read by anyone.

These records can be viewed or duplicated on the 12th Floor of the Wake County Courthouse, where the Estates & Wills Office is located, requested by mail, or printed electronically via the eCourts portal.

Wake County Family Court Records

Divorce, child custody/support, paternity, distribution of marital property, alimony, and domestic violence records are among the family case files managed by the Clerk of Superior Court. They generally involve matters between spouses, partners, and children. People can request family law records in person, by mail, or through the judicial branch's main court records access system, where available.

Much like other civil court data, access to domestic relations records is, for the most part, public. Exceptions revolve around the affairs of children or people going through the mental health process.

  • Adoption records are sealed under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 48-9-102
  • Juvenile records (abuse, neglect, dependency, delinquency) are publicly inaccessible under N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 7B-2901, 7B-3000.
  • Involuntary commitment proceedings are confidential pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-52.

Federal Court Records in Wake County

Wake County residents and others who wish to review or copy records in federal civil, criminal, and bankruptcy cases may use PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). It is a nationwide database featuring dockets, case information, and documents in court cases administered by the various districts of the U.S. federal court system. Most documents and reports cost 10 cents a page.

The court having jurisdiction over Wake County federal cases is the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This court sits in several locations, with the Fayetteville division being the closest, although the Clerk's office there is unstaffed.

People unable to find a Wake County court record on PACER may visit the Terry Sanford Federal Building at 310 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27601 to speak with a clerk. Fees include $34 for a name or item search, 50 cents per page for an uncertified document, $12 to certify an instrument, and $24 for exemplification.

Wake County Court