Wake County, North Carolina Court Records

Wake County Court Records

Wake County court records are official records that document court cases and proceedings in Wake County, North Carolina. Wake County’s office of the Superior Court Clerk manages and disseminates these records when public record requests are made on these record. There are several types of court records, including:

Civil Court Records: These records document civil lawsuits, including divorces, claims of personal harm, and disagreements over contracts.
Criminal Court Records: These records provide information on misdemeanor and felony criminal cases. They may include information such as charges, court appearances, and judgments.
Traffic Court Records: These records document traffic violations, such as speeding tickets and DUIs.
Family Court Records: These records document family law cases, such as child custody disputes and adoption proceedings.
Probate Court Records: These records document the distribution of assets and settlement of debts after a person's death.
Juvenile Court Records: These records document cases involving minors, such as juvenile delinquency and child abuse cases.
Small Claims Court Records: These records document cases where the amount of money at issue is relatively small, such as disputes over unpaid bills or damages to property.

However, depending on the particular case and the level of confidentiality involved, public accessibility to court records may vary, per the North Carolina General Rules of Practice.

Are Court Records Public in Wake County?

The North Carolina public records law permits public access to certain records generated and maintained by the state and local government agencies, including court records. Hence, unless prohibited by law, interested persons can request and inspect Wake County court records by querying relevant courthouse clerk’s offices. Some records are considered confidential and, as such, are inaccessible to the public. Some examples of these confidential record includes and are not limited to:

Juvenile court records
Adoption records
Medical records
Personal identifying information
Law enforcement records

What Do Wake County Court Records Contain?

Wake County court records contain a variety of information regarding judicial proceedings that took place in the county. Depending on the type of case, these records may contain different specific information, which typically include:

Case information: This includes the names of the parties involved, the case number, and the nature of the case.
Court filings: This refers to any paperwork submitted to the court, including pleadings, motions, and other legal paperwork.
Court orders: Orders issued by the court, such as judgments, rulings, and other legal decisions, are included in this category.
Transcripts of hearings: This includes any transcripts of court proceedings related to the case.
Docket entries: This contains a timeline of all the case's activities, such as court appearances, filings, and other activities.
Court calendars: This offers information about forthcoming court dates and scheduled hearings.
Courtroom activities: This includes access to audio or video recordings of court activities (if available).
Arrest and search warrants: These are orders that a court issues to provide law enforcement permission to detain or search a person or property.
Indictments and criminal complaints: These are the formal accusations made against a defendant in a criminal case.
Jury lists and summonses: These include names of prospective jurors who might be chosen to serve on a jury for a particular case.
Appeals and appellate court records: Documents pertaining to appeals of lower court judgments, such as appellate briefs, court opinions, and other related papers, are included in appeals and appellate court records.

Where to Conduct a Wake County Case Lookup

Court records are created throughout a legal action and contain information about court cases. Therefore, individuals can look up cases in Wake County by using the North Carolina Court System’s online portal. In addition, interested parties can visit the Wake County Clerk of Court’s office in person to look up case information. However, there are options for using third-party websites and hiring an attorney to conduct a case look-up.

How to Conduct a Wake County Case Records Search

Interested persons can conduct a Wake County case search online or in person. Online requests can be made using the eCourts services portal on the North Carolina Court Website. Online requesters are required to create an account and provide basic information, such as the name of the party involved in the case, to conduct a search on the portal. There may be fees associated with looking up a case online. For example, the fee for accessing a civil case online is $0.25 per page, with a minimum charge of $1.00 per document.

On the other hand, interested persons can visit the Wake County Clerk of Court’s office in person to conduct a case search. The Wake County Clerk of Court's Office has public access terminals that can be used to search and view court records. These terminals are available during regular business hours and are free to use. To conduct an in-person search for court records, records seekers can visit the Wake County Clerk of Court's office at:

316 Fayetteville St.,
Raleigh, NC 27601,
Phone: (919) 792-4000

At the office, inquirers can request assistance from the available staff, who will guide them on how to use the terminals and conduct their search. For obtaining copies, the requester may need to pay a fee. Generally, the Wake County Clerk of Court's Office charges $0.25 per page for copies of court documents.

Alternatively, some third-party websites offer court case search services interested persons can opt to use to conduct court case record searches. Examples of these third-party websites include CourtExpress, CourtReference, and Court RecordsFinder. These websites may not have access to all court records and fees can vary depending on the service provider.

Wake County Civil Court Case Records

Wake County civil court case records refer to documents and information related to legal disputes between individuals or entities, such as:

Personal injury claims: These cases involve a person who has been injured due to the actions of another person or entity, such as in a car accident or a slip and fall.
Contractual disputes: In these cases, one or more parties have broken a contract.
Property disputes: These cases are concerned with disagreements regarding real estate ownership, usage, or boundaries.
Family law matters: Families are at the center of these cases. Family law cases typically involve divorce, child custody, and child support.
Debt collection: In these situations, a creditor tries to get a debtor to pay back overdue obligations.

Interested parties can obtain civil court records in Wake County online or in person at the county clerk's office. The North Carolina eCourts service provides information for civil case records in Wake County. Individuals can use the eCourts service to search for civil cases by name, case number, or file date.

Alternatively, interested persons can look up a civil court record at the Wake County Clerk's office. At the office, public access terminals are provided which interested individuals can use to search for and view court records.

Wake County Criminal Court Case Records

Wake County criminal court case records refer to a legal case filed involving criminal charges brought by the state or federal government against an individual accused of committing a crime such as:

Misdemeanors: These are less serious criminal violations that are punishable by up to one year in jail. Misdemeanor offenses include simple assault, petty drug charges, and traffic infractions.
Felony offenses: These are more serious offenses punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. Examples include serious drug offenses, rape, robbery, and murder.
Assault: This is an intentional act that causes another person to fear immediate bodily harm or injury. Depending on how severe the incident was, assault may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.
Drug offenses: These are crimes involving the possession, sale, or distribution of illicit narcotics, which are referred to as drugs. Drug crimes range from minor misdemeanor drug possession to serious felonies like large-scale drug trafficking.
White-collar crimes: These are non-violent offenses committed by individuals in positions of trust and power, such as embezzlement, fraud, and insider trading. These offenses are frequently perpetrated for financial gain and can cause victims to suffer large financial losses.

Record seekers can conduct a criminal case search in Wake County online or in person at the county clerk's office. Online requesters can view criminal case records through the eCourts service portal. Access to this search tool requires the user to register from an account. However, the record seekers can use the search Hearing portal to conduct a criminal case search by party name, case number, and attorney name. Note that users must also create a user account when using this feature. Also, individuals may request criminal case records from the Wake County Clerk of Court’s office by filling out a Criminal Record Search and submitting it to the clerk's office.

Alternatively, record seekers can search for criminal case records in person by visiting the Wake County Clerk of Court's office at the Wake County Justice Center. The Wake County Clerk of Court's office is located on the first floor of the Justice Center. To request a certified copy of a criminal record costs $25 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Meanwhile, non-certified copies cost $0.25 per page. The Wake County Clerk of Court's office can also be contacted directly for the most recent fees and to verify their open hours, by calling the office at (919) 792-4000.

How to Get Court Records Online for Free

While many websites provide free access to court records online, it's crucial to exercise caution when using such services. To access particular records or services, inquirers may need to register for an account or make a payment on some websites. However, there are some legitimate ways to access court records online for free, such as:

Consult with the specific court or government agency where the matter was filed: Public court records are typically accessible online on the websites of many courts. While Some may require inquirers to create an account or pay a fee for specific documents, many basic case details may be available for free.
For federal court records, interested persons can use online services like PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). PACER provides access to case information, docket sheets, and documents filed in federal court cases. Many fundamental case details could be available for free, even though some services might be subject to a charge.
Use online third-party public record search engines such as CourtListener, Justia, or Google Scholar.

It's crucial to remember that even though some court records might be accessible online for free, there might be limitations on what information is available or how it can be used. Furthermore, not all courts provide online access to public records; some may require record seekers to visit in person or request records by mail.