Brunswick County
Brunswick County is located in the coastal plain region of the state. Formed in 1764 from parts of New Hanover and Bladen Counties, Brunswick County covers approximately 850.1 square miles, with a population of about 139,721 as of 2022. The county seat is Bolivia. Brunswick County's court system, including both Superior and District Courts, operates under the North Carolina Judicial Branch.
Brunswick County Superior Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases such as felonies, certain misdemeanor charges, most infractions, and lesser-included offenses, as well as civil proceedings involving sums over $25,000, exclusive of interest and costs. In addition, it handles issues involving minors, probate matters, requests for declaratory relief or injunctions, and appeals from the District Court. Cases involving complex business matters also fall under the jurisdiction of this court. The Brunswick County District Court handles less serious criminal offenses, such as most misdemeanors and infractions of local regulations. Civil cases involving amounts less than $25,000, divorce, child custody, protection orders against domestic abuse, juvenile delinquency, and other family law matters fall under its purview. The District Court also manages small claims disputes not exceeding $10,000 and recovery of money and property through its Small Claims Division. Moreover, it conducts preliminary hearings for all categories of criminal proceedings and can receive guilty pleas in some felony cases.
Brunswick public court records are generated through legal proceedings, including civil, criminal, and family court cases within the county. They include the following records:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Family Records
- Probate Records
The Court Clerk is responsible for maintaining, filing, indexing, and processing them, thereby granting public access per North Carolina Public Records Law. The clerk also oversees the administration of family estates, including appointing personal representatives.
Interested individuals can view these records through the North Carolina eCourt system, allowing for residents' engagement with the judicial process. This is done by checking the Clerk of Court's section on the website for case search options, such as information about accessing dockets and case details. In addition, record seekers can request access to court records or dockets in person by visiting the public self-service terminal located at the Court Clerk's office:
310 Government Center Drive
Suite 210
Bolivia
North Carolina, 28422
Phone: (910) 253-3900
