Durham County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

With a population of over 325,100 people, Durham County is considered one of North Carolina's most populous counties. Formed in 1881, its government seat and only incorporated municipality is Durham City. The Durham County judicial system is part of District 16 of the North Carolina Judiciary, which consists of a Superior Court and a District Court.

The Superior Court is the highest trial court in Durham County. This court has jurisdiction over civil claims of more than $25,000, felonies, and misdemeanor cases. The Superior Court's Clerk serves as the county's Probate Judge and has authority over cases concerning wills, trusts, guardianships, administration of estates, adoptions, and name changes. Meanwhile, the authority of the District Court covers misdemeanors, municipal ordinance violations, infractions, and civil claims between $10,000 and $25,000. The District Court also runs a Family Court with authority over domestic matters such as divorce, child custody, and child support. Similarly, the District Court's Juvenile Division adjudicates cases involving minors, including delinquency and dependency cases. Additionally, the District Court has a magistrate who handles small claims of less than $10,000, eviction cases, warrant issuance, and criminal preliminary proceedings. All court proceedings in the county are conducted in the courthouse located in Durham City.

In 2022, Durham County recorded a crime rate of 3,844.2 crimes per 100,000 people, according to reports by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Also, the Statewide Judicial Statistics revealed that the courts in Durham County had 44,681 case dispositions in the 2022–2023 fiscal year. The Clerk of the Superior Court maintains and provides public access to nonconfidential court records in the county. Anyone can check out these records at the courthouse or by using public access terminals at the Clerk's Office. Durham County court records are also searchable online on the eCourts Portal. Note that juvenile records, involuntary hospitalization cases, and other confidential records are not public due to the sensitivity of information within. If access is needed sealed or confidential records, a court order or special permission is required. The County Clerk can assist with the navigation of that process.

In summary, the Superior Court and District Court serve as the primary adjudicatory bodies in Durham County. The courts are competent in handling a wide range of legal disputes and criminal matters. To ensure transparency in the court system, interested persons can check out case records and examine past court decisions.