Columbus County
Columbus County is located in the southeastern region of North Carolina and is populated by 50,121 people as of 2023. Its racial makeup is 63.4% White, 29.9% Black or African American, 3.7% American Indian, and 0.6% Asian. The county was named for Christopher Columbus, and Whiteville is its county seat.
The Columbus Superior Court is the state's general jurisdiction trial court with the authority to hear a wide spectrum of cases, such as civil disputes with an amount in controversy exceeding $25,000, felony cases, misdemeanors, and infractions appealed from the District Court.
Equally, the Columbus District Court handles a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal, juvenile, and magistrate matters. It has original jurisdiction over civil lawsuits with an amount in controversy under $25,000, divorce cases, small claims cases, and child support cases. This court also holds hearings for misdemeanors, juvenile matters, and infractions. Additionally, the District Court is authorized to determine lawsuits for the recovery of motor vehicle mechanics' liens and eviction cases.
The Columbus County Clerk of the Superior Court is responsible for clerical and record-keeping functions of both the Superior and District Courts as mandated by G.S. 7A-109(a). The records maintained by the Clerk are open for public scrutiny, except for certain records exempted to protect the personal information of individuals involved. Examples of confidential records excluded from public access include most adoption records, grand jury records, and juvenile dependency records.
Currently, the only way to access publicly available court records, including criminal, civil, and probate cases, is by using the public self-service terminals located at the Columbus County Superior Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Starting February 3, 2025, Columbus County residents can search for court cases by name, case number, or attorney information through North Carolina's eCourts Portal.
