Craven County
Craven County was created in 1705 from a portion of Bath County. It has an estimated population of 101,098 and covers a land area of 706.6 square miles. The administrative center is located in New Bern.
The courts in Craven County include a Superior Court and a District Court. The Superior Court handles felony, probate, and civil cases with claims over $25,000. It hears misdemeanor and infraction appeals from the District Court. The District Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor, juvenile, domestic relations, small claims (less than $10,000), and civil cases where the amount in contention is less than $25,000.
Craven County public court records consist of paper and electronic documents, court filings, books, maps, photographs, films, judgments, orders, and dockets created or received during court sessions. In Craven County, the Clerk of Superior Court is responsible for maintaining and preserving the court records of both Superior and District Court, which include the following:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Traffic records
- Family law records
- Probate records
Under the North Carolina Freedom of Information Act, the public has access to court records in Craven County. To access these records, requests may be made by visiting the Superior Court clerk's office at:
Craven Superior Court
302 Broad Street
New Bern, NC 28560
Phone: (252) 639-3000
Fax: (252) 639-3030
Mailing address
P.O. Box 1187
New Bern, NC 28563
Additionally, to request criminal court records, interested persons may complete the Criminal Records Search form and submit it to the clerk's office. According to Chapter 7A, Article 28 of the North Carolina General Statutes, there is a $3 fee for certified copies and a $10 fee for exemplified records. The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides public access to court dockets for Craven County through the Court Dates portal. The public may also access court records through a public, self-service terminal in the clerk's office.
