North Carolina Court Docket Search
A court docket is an official summary of court proceedings in a North Carolina Court. It is one of the many North Carolina court records maintained by the court clerk. When a legal action is filed in court, the court clerk assigns a docket number to the case files before including the case in the court's docket log. The docket lists the names of parties involved in a case, their attorneys, the case number, and scheduled court appearance dates. The state of North Carolina has made sufficient provisions for online public access to its court dockets.
Are Court Dockets Public Records in North Carolina
Yes, Court dockets are public records and can be accessed by members of the public per North Carolina Public Records Law.
In some scenarios, exceptions exist where some court records are sealed from public view by the court. For instance, cases involving minors or sexually abused persons who seek to maintain anonymity. Access to court dockets in sealed cases is limited to case parties and their attorneys.
Another exception to this is when a court record is expunged. That is to say, the previous records are entirely obliterated from public viewing and are only accessible to a Judge. For example, in cases like misdemeanors, felonies committed by minors, or dismissed charges when a party applies for expungement, such records are recalled from public access.
Where to Find a Court Docket in North Carolina
Court dockets in North Carolina can be obtained in person by contacting the clerk of court in the same court where the case was filed or where the case was heard.
Most courthouses in the county maintain an online self-service terminal from which court records, such as docket information, can be obtained.
The state also provides computer terminals dedicated to finding court dockets of either a civil or criminal nature from all 100 North Carolina counties. The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) is a valuable resource in finding these court dockets.
Also, court dockets such as motions, briefs, and pleadings are sometimes available for download from docket sheets made available on various third-party databases that may request a subscription.
How to Conduct a North Carolina Court Docket Search
The primary methods that can be employed in carrying out a docket search in North Carolina can be categorized in two thus:
- In-person search
- Online search
A search in person would mean the inquirer/researcher would have to visit the clerk of court's office where the case was handled and the docket record generated. For records generated in the supreme court, an inquirer would have to visit administrative office of the court at the address below:
2 E Morgan Street, Raleigh, NC
27601, United States
(919) 831-5700
For records generated in the appeal court, an inquirer would have to visit the court at the address below:
1 W Morgan Street, Raleigh, NC
27601, United States
(919) 831-3600
To conduct an in-person court docket search in North Carolina, an inquirer would need to possess at least one of the following information:
- The docket/citation number
- Case party names
- Attorneys name
- Case title
For searches carried out in person, a small fee may be required per every printed search page.
There is also provision for electronic or online search options, such as The North Carolina courts website page, which is built to have users capture an online connection of downloadable and retrievable court forms. Inquirers are required to fill the forms using keywords such as; case party names, docket number, attorneys name, and case title.
A free docket search can be done on E-filing sites like the NC Supreme Court E-filing site and the NC Court of appeals E-filing site. These sites only provide access to documents that have been electronically filed with either the North Carolina Supreme Court or the North Carolina appeal court. It usually does not have available access to documents filed in the North Carolina trial courts.
A key requirement to successfully carry out an electronic search on either of the listed sites would be at least one of the following; the last names of the parties involved, the name of the case attorneys, or the case title. When the required information is supplied, a list of cases matching the description will be provided. Researchers can look them up and select the exact one being sought for.
What is the Purpose of a Court Docket in North Carolina
The purpose and format of a court docket can vary by court. In North Carolina, a court docket as a judicial record serves the primary purpose of tracking the development of case proceedings. This is possible because they contain the summary of all court case materials from start to finish.
The court docket is used throughout the litigation process (i.e. from case filing to verdict and possibly appeal), so they capture and document motions, briefs, and pleadings too.
They are also effective in enabling easy tracking of multiple court cases. Usually, Interested parties are informed and reminded of court dates, court/hearing locations, decisions reached, fees, etc. Thus, they help prevent a schedule of conflicting dates and times.
Also note, because cases are chronologically registered and filed with a distinctive citation number, court dockets are useful for identifying those court filings.
Court dockets provide case parties, attorneys, and members of the public with helpful information about the history of a particular case. They provide a glimpse into why a certain verdict or appellate court ruling was given.
What Do Court Dockets Contain in North Carolina
The information contained in a court docket varies according to the courts. Below is a general overview of some information contained in dockets in North Carolina courts:
- Case/citation number
- The first and last names, emails, and addresses of the prosecuting and defense attorneys.
- Names of plaintiff and defendant
- Scheduled dates of a court appearance
- Case type: This tells the nature of the case whether it is a civil or criminal case)
- Summary of claims/charges
- Name(s) of presiding judge/juror
- Court location
- Filed documents with date of receipt
- Ruling and date of the ruling
- Docket fee
- Case Close: This signifies if a case is still ongoing or closed
- Close date: This is the date on which the case is closed
- File time: This signifies the first time the case is filed
- Docket date
- Motions and appeals
What is a Court Docket Number in North Carolina?
A docket number in North Carolina courts is simply the tracking number of a case. Docket sheets in North Carolina are appended with tracking numbers to monitor case proceedings. As soon as a docket number is assigned to a case, the same case number also becomes the new identity by which that case will be recognized until it is dismissed. Also, all papers related to the case subsequently begin to bear the docket number for ease of access and synchronization.
Ideally, a docket number comprises two digits which signifies the year and a case type signifying whether it is a criminal case(Cr.) or a civil case(Civ.), followed by a four or five-digit case number and then the judges' initials in parenthesis, all in that order.
Each docket is assigned a unique docket number, also called a case number. Researchers can use this to locate information such as the parties' names, a summary of the claims or charges, and so on.
How to Conduct a Court Docket Number Lookup in North Carolina
To conduct a docket number lookup, inquirers may have to contact the court clerk in the county where the case was heard.
There is an electronic alternative to conducting a docket number lookup through online databases. One such database is the NC Supreme Court E-filing site, where researchers can conduct a free docket number lookup. After clicking the link, select the option that signifies dockets. This would lead to a form which, in order to access, requires providing specific data such as; The last names of the parties involved, the name of the case attorneys or the case title. Providing the required information, for example, the name of a case party, would prompt a list of cases matching that description. Inquirers can look them up and select the exact one being sought for.
That is to say, though an inquirer may have access to the several databases designated for finding civil and criminal court dockets, it is mandatory to have knowledge of the last names of the parties involved or the name of the case attorneys or the presiding judge's name. It may pose a challenge to access court records or carry out a docket number look-up without the above key requirements.
