Forsyth County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Formed from parts of Stokes County, Forsyth County encompasses a total area of 412.35 square miles within the boundaries of North Carolina. The county has an estimated population of 383,739. Its county seat is the City of Winston-Salem. As North Carolina's fourth-most populous county, Forsyth County has a robust court system to resolve legal disputes, including criminal and civil cases. The county's court structure comprises the Superior Court, District Court, and several specialized Divisions.

The Forsyth County Superior Court, located in Winston-Salem, is the county's trial court of general jurisdiction. The Court serves as the venue for all felony criminal cases and misdemeanor and infraction appeals from the lower court. It also handles civil cases in which the amount in dispute exceeds $25,000, such as contract breaches and torts. As Forsyth County's lower court, the District Court handles less serious criminal offenses, including infractions and misdemeanors. Juvenile matters involving minors under the age of 18, including delinquency issues, child abuse or neglect, and dependency cases, are also handled by the District Court. Likewise, the court hears domestic relations cases concerning divorces, child custody, adoptions, and other civil actions not exceeding $25,000. Additionally, Magistrates of the District Court handle small claims matters ($10,000 or less), evictions, and personal property recovery lawsuits. Magistrates can also issue arrest warrants, set bail, and accept guilty pleas for minor offenses.

The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office documented 1,827 total index crimes in 2022. According to North Carolina's Judiciary Branch's data and statistics, Forsyth County Superior Court's Civil Division handled a caseload that comprised 673 new filings and 654 case dispositions during the fiscal year 2023. Likewise, the Civil District Court processed 6,792 civil filings and 6,328 case dispositions. During the same year, 10,822 cases were filed at the Civil Magistrate Division, and 10,767 cases were resolved. The Forsyth Criminal Superior Court also handled new filings in 2023, including 1,719 felonies, 346 misdemeanors, and 265 traffic cases. This court concluded 2,675 criminal cases at the end of the fiscal year. Furthermore, the Criminal District Court handled 51,461 cases (pending cases and new filings) and resolved 36,998 cases. The Clerk of the Superior Court maintains court records in Forsyth County and provides public access to such information, excluding sealed or confidential information. Such records are available by visiting the public self-service terminal at the Clerk's Office.

In summary, Forsyth County's court system is essential to its governance, as it resolves legal disputes arising within the county with justice. The Superior Court and the District Court constitute the county's court system. Electronic access to public court records in Forsyth County is provided at the Clerk's Office.