What are Wilmington Public Records?
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law of North Carolina, Wilmington public records include documents, papers, letters, maps, books, images, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data-processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material, notwithstanding their physical form or characteristics. These public records must be made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in relation to the carrying out of public business by any government agency or its subdivisions. The following documents do not fall under the subject of public records:
- Confidential information and communications
- Trade secrets
- Information that its release will lead to the violation of a person’s privacy
- Trial preparation materials
- Student records
- Criminal investigations and intelligence information records
- Law enforcement agency recordings
- Sensitive public security information
- Social security numbers and other personal identifying information
Wilmington Crime Statistics
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) provides annual reports of crime statistics for all cities and counties in the state. In 2017, Wilmington City reported a total number of 5,126 crimes, including 792 violent crimes and 4,334 property crimes. The violent crimes reported include 18 murders, 42 rapes, 195 robberies, and 537 aggravated assaults. The property crimes include 997 burglaries, 3,057 larcenies, and 280 motor vehicle thefts.
Wilmington City crime statistics in 2017 shows a significant decline in the total number of crimes reported over five years. Between 2013 and 2017, there was a decline in four out of seven major crimes. The rate of robbery, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft declined by 23%, 39%, 14%, and 16% respectively. There was, however, an increase in murder, rape, and aggravated assault rates 157%, 8%, and 38% respectively.
Are Wilmington Criminal Records Public?
Wilmington criminal records are open records that are available and accessible to interested persons upon request. They are mostly compilations of information and documents by the courts, law enforcement agencies, and correctional centers. Access to criminal records is made possible at the county and state levels. The New Hanover Clerk of Superior Court is the custodian of Wilmington criminal records. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety offers the public copies of criminal history records at $14.
How to Obtain Wilmington Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Wilmington Police Department is the central repository for Wilmington arrest records, accident reports, and police reports. Persons interested in obtaining copies of these records can make online, in-person, or mail requests. Online requests can be made for crime reports and accident reports. Interested persons can search crime reports for accidents, arrests, and incidents reports. It can be searched based on “when”, “who”, and “where”. For “when”, a requester will provide the date the event occurred and the date it was reported. To search “who”, provide the last, first, and middle name or business organization. As for “where”, the requester should provide the street number, street name, city, and search range (in feet or miles).
There is also the accident report search portal. Users can search it with information like first name, last name, driver’s license, driver’s license state, date occurred, accident number, and insurance policy number.
In-person and mail requests can also be made by either visiting the Police Department or sending a written request by mail to:
Wilmington Police Department
102 North Third Street
P.O. Box 1810
Wilmington, NC 28402-1810
(910) 343-3600
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Wilmington?
Under the North Carolina sex offender legislation, all convicted sex offenders are required to register at the county level. This information is sent to and compiled by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. This state department provides the public with information about the registered sex offenders online through the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry. Wilmington residents can search the registry for sex offenders by name, street address, zip code, latitude and longitude, and sex registration number.
How to Find Wilmington Inmate Records?
Wilmington inmates are detained in the New Hanover County Detention Facility. This facility is maintained by the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. It provides information about inmates currently detained in the facility online. Through the inmate inquiry portal, a list of inmates and information about them is available to the public. The information available includes the inmate’s name, primary charge, arrest date, and booking agency.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Wilmington Jail?
Family and friends can visit inmates incarcerated at the New Hanover County Detention Facility twice every week. Visitation happens every day at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Inmates are to schedule their own visits with any person they wish to see. To schedule a visit, the inmate needs the full name, address, and date of birth of the prospective visitor. A visitor must provide a valid picture I.D. before they will be allowed into the facility. The detention facility’s location and contact details are below:
New Hanover County Detention Facility
3950 Juvenile Center Road
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
Phone: (910) 798-4161
Fax: (910) 798-4163
Phone: (910) 798-4200
Fax: (910) 798-4212
Court Records
As the county seat of New Hanover County, Wilmington falls under the New Hanover Unified Court System. In New Hanover, there are two courts, namely: the Superior Court and the District Court. The Superior Court is part of North Carolina’s 2nd Superior Court Division while the District Court belongs to the 5th Judicial District. These courts handle cases like civil, criminal, traffic, family & domestic relations, infractions, estate, probate, small claims, and ordinance violations. These records from these cases are maintained by the New Hanover Clerk of Court. These court records are made available to interested persons upon request. Requesters must provide information about the case before the record of that case can be released. The information may include the case file number, the names of the parties involved and the filing date of the record.
Location of Courts in Wilmington
New Hanover County Superior Court
New Hanover County Superior Court
316 Princess Street
P.O. Box 2023
Wilmington, NC 28402
Phone: (910) 772-6600
New Hanover County District Court
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)
Are Wilmington Court Records Public?
North Carolina laws give the public the right to inspect and request Wilmington court records. This makes Wilmington court records generally public. There are however certain limitations to the right given. These limitations include:
- Where a law prohibits access to the court record
- Where the case/record is sealed by the court
- Cases on civil commitment
- Juvenile delinquency records
- Information from child abuse or neglect cases
- A court may deny access to records
- When, in the interest of proper and fair administration of justice and public policy, the openness of a court record will do more harm than good.
Can you look up a Wilmington Court Case Online?
Wilmington court cases are available online through the search tools of the North Carolina Judicial Branch. The first search tool is the Court Collections Case Lookup. This online portal provides information about civil, criminal, infraction, and appeal cases. To use it, select New Hanover County and provide the file number. The second search tool is the Citation Lookup. Users are simply required to provide the case’s citation number. In addition, requesters can use the public self-service terminals at the Clerk of Court’s office.
How to Obtain Wilmington Civil Court Case Records?
The New Hanover Clerk of the Court maintains all civil court case records in the county, including Wilmington civil court case records. These court records can be viewed by using the public self-service terminals located at the Office of the New Hanover County Clerk of the Court. The terminals can be used to search cases by case number or defendant, victim, or witness name. Requesters should take a look at the user’s manual for the system where the information is kept.
In-person requests for Wilmington civil court case records can be made by visiting the office of the Clerk of Courts. The Clerk will provide the requester with the applicable fees to be paid. Mail requests can also be sent for court records to the Clerk’s office. Requesters can contact the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office by telephone or email for additional information with the information below:
New Hanover County Clerk of Court
316 Princess Street
Wilmington, NC 28402
Phone: (910) 772-6600
How to Obtain Wilmington Criminal Court Records?
The New Hanover Clerk of the Court is the custodian of Wilmington criminal court records. To obtain copies of Wilmington criminal court records, interested individuals can use the public self-service terminals at the Office of the New Hanover County Clerk of Court. They can search these terminals by case number or defendant, victim, or witness name. Interested persons can also make in-person requests for Wilmington criminal court records by visiting the office of the Clerk of Courts. The Clerk will provide the requester with the applicable fees to be paid. To submit a mail request, fill out the Criminal Records Search form, include payment and a valid ID. Mail it to the address below. To make inquiries or get more information, contact the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office by telephone or email.
New Hanover County Clerk of Court
316 Princess Street
Wilmington, NC 28402
Phone: (910) 772-6600
newhanover.criminaldistrict@nccourts.org
What are Wilmington Vital Records?
Wilmington vital records are official documents that include information about certain vital events that happened within the city. These Wilmington vital records consist of birth, marriage, divorce, and death records. Wilmington vital records are maintained at county and state levels. The New Hanover Clerk of Superior Court maintains the divorce records. Other vital records are in the custody of the New Hanover County Register Of Deeds. At the state level, the North Carolina Department of Public Health is the primary repository for certified copies of vital records in North Carolina.
Where and How to Obtain Wilmington Divorce Records?
Interested persons can get copies of Wilmington divorce records from the Office of the New Hanover Clerk of the Court’s office for a fee. They can request divorce records by submitting a written request containing the following information:
- Full names of the divorced individuals
- The date of divorce
- The place of divorce
- The case number of the divorce
Requesters should submit the written request, along with payment, in person or via mail to:
New Hanover County Clerk of Court
316 Princess Street
Wilmington, NC 28402
Phone: (910) 772-6600
Interested persons can also request divorce records from the North Carolina Vital Records Office of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Copies of Wilmington divorce records in the custody of the department are from 1958 to date. Each copy of a divorce record costs $24. The fee is included as part of the charges for searching three years of records. To obtain a copy of a Wilmington divorce record, complete the Application for North Carolina Death, Marriage or Divorce Record. Requesters should attach payment, a state-approved form of ID, and evidence of relationship with the record owner or court order to the completed form. Send these documents by mail to:
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
Or submit them in person at the Vital Records Office between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at:
N.C. Vital Records
(Cooper Memorial Health Building)
225 North McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
Where and How to Get Public Wilmington Marriage Records?
The New Hanover County Register of Deeds provides copies of marriage certificates within the county, including Wilmington marriage certificates. A certified copy of a Wilmington marriage record costs $10, plus a $1 processing fee. Uncertified copies cost $1 each. Requests for marriage records can be made online, by mail, or in person. To make an online request, use the New Hanover VCVitals website. For mail and in-person requests, a requester should fill out the Request for Vital Records form. Include a valid ID and payment for the number of copies requested to the filled-out form. Submit them together in person or by mail to:
Main Office
320 Chestnut Street
Suite 120
Wilmington, NC 28401
Satellite Office
230 Government Center Drive
Suite 180
Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone: (910) 798-7711
Fax: (910) 798-7751
The offices are open on Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
The North Carolina Vital Records Office also has copies of Wilmington marriage records in its custody. The Wilmington marriage certificates available are from 1962 to the present. Each certified copy of a marriage record costs $24 per copy. Individuals interested in obtaining copies of marriage records can make walk-in or mail requests. To do this, they should complete the Application for North Carolina Death, Marriage or Divorce Record. Provide payment, a state-approved form of ID, and evidence of relationship with the record owner or court order to the completed form. Submit the request by mail to:
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
Requesters can also submit the request in person at the Vital Records Office between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at:
N.C. Vital Records
(Cooper Memorial Health Building)
225 North McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Wilmington?
All marriage records in Wilmington are considered public.
Where and How to Find Wilmington Birth Records?
The New Hanover County Register of Deeds is the primary custodian of birth records within the county. To obtain copies of Wilmington birth records, interested persons have to submit online, in-person or mail applications to the Office of the Register of Deeds. Applications for Wilmington birth records cost $10 per certified copy and a $1 processing fee. An uncertified copy costs $1 each. To make an online application for Wilmington birth records, use the county’s New Hanover VCVitals website. For in-person and mail applications, applicants should fill out the Request for Vital Records form. Include, with the filled-out form, payment and a copy of a valid ID. Submit these documents in person or by mail to any of the addresses below:
Main Office
320 Chestnut Street
Suite 120
Wilmington, NC 28401
Satellite Office
230 Government Center Drive
Suite 180
Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone: (910) 798-7711
Fax: (910) 798-7751
The offices are open to the public on Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Copies of Wilmington birth records are also available at the Vital Records Office of the North Carolina Department of Public Health. It has birth records from 1913 to date. It accepts in-person and mail requests to obtain copies of birth records. A certified copy of a birth record costs $24. When requesting for a birth record, a requester should complete the birth certificate application form. Mail the completed form, along with payment, a state-approved form of ID, and evidence of relationship with the record owner or court order to:
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
Alternatively, requesters can submit requests in person at the Vital Records between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., from Monday to Friday. The office is located at:
N.C. Vital Records
(Cooper Memorial Health Building)
225 North McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
Where and How to Find Wilmington Death Records?
The New Hanover County Register of Deeds maintains copies of Wilmington death records. It makes them available for interested persons upon online, in-person, or mail requests made. The Register of Deeds charges $10 for a certified copy of a death record plus a $1 processing fee. Where it is an uncertified copy that is requested, it costs $1 each. Requesters can order death records online through the New Hanover NCVitals website. They can also order Wilmington death records in person or by mail by completing the Request for Vital Records form. Requesters should attach a copy of a valid ID and payment and submit them in person or by mail to:
Main Office
320 Chestnut Street
Suite 120
Wilmington, NC 28401
Satellite Office
230 Government Center Drive
Suite 180
Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone: (910) 798-7711
Fax: (910) 798-7751
These offices are open from Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Wilmington death records are also at the Vital Records Office of the North Carolina Department of Public Health. The office has copies of death records certificates from 1930 to date. It charges requesters $24 for each certified copy of a death record. To get copies of death records, fill out the Application for North Carolina Death, Marriage or Divorce Record. Mail the filled-out form, as well as payment, a state-approved form of ID, and evidence of relationship with the record owner or court order to:
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
Or submit the request in person at the Vital Records Office between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at:
N.C. Vital Records
(Cooper Memorial Health Building)
225 North McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
