Buncombe County
Buncombe County is located in western North Carolina and covers about 656.5 square miles. Established in 1791, it was formed from parts of Burke and Rutherford Counties. As of 2022, Buncombe County has a population of approximately 269,449, with Asheville as its county seat. The county operates under North Carolina's unified court system, comprising both Superior and District Courts.
Buncombe County Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction over serious criminal cases such as felonies, civil cases involving more than $25,000, and cases not handled by the District Court. The Superior Court also handles appeals from the District Court and administrative agencies, probate matters, and foreclosures. Jury trials are often conducted here for both criminal and civil cases, including class action lawsuits. In addition, the Superior Court also handles complex business disputes. Buncombe County District Court handles lesser criminal offenses like misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil cases involving amounts under $25,000. Domestic matters like divorce, child custody, and alimony are also under the jurisdiction of the District Court. In addition, it oversees small claims disputes not exceeding $10,000, juvenile delinquency, and landlord-tenant disputes. Preliminary hearings for felony cases are conducted in the District Court before being moved to Superior Court for trial, if necessary.
Buncombe County court records are created during legal proceedings, and they contain information on filings, motions, transcripts of hearings, judicial decisions, and orders for criminal and civil matters from the county. These records include:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Probate Records
- Family Records
- Traffic Records
The Buncombe County Clerk's Office manages public records and provides public access to court documents per North Carolina Public Records law, either in person or through the North Carolina eCourt portal. This system allows the public to view most court cases by conducting a name inquiry check. However, certified name inquiry attracts a fee of $25. Also, docket information can be obtained by conducting a judgment or docket date search on the portal. Nonetheless, certain court documents, such as juvenile and adoption records, are restricted and can only be viewed by authorized persons or court orders.
