Durham County
Durham County was formed in 1881 from parts of Wake and Orange counties. It is a county located in the northcentral parts of the State of North Carolina. The county covers 287.5 square miles of land area and is the home of over 320,000 residents. The City of Durham doubles as the county seat and the largest community in the county.
Two courts, namely a district court and a superior court, both located in the City of Durham, make up the court structure in the county. The district court is the lower of the two courts but still has jurisdiction covering specific types of criminal and civil cases. Criminal cases addressed by the district court are specific to infractions, violations of municipal ordinances, and nearly all misdemeanors. Preliminary hearings covering most criminal case varieties may be conducted in the district court. The court may also receive pleas of guilt regarding a percentage of felony cases. Civil cases that district courts manage are partially made of general civil cases worth as much as $5,000, excluding costs and interests. There is a division for small claims that exists in the district court that manages nearly every civil claim worth $10,000 and under. The jurisdiction of the district court also covers juvenile and most domestic cases.
The Durham County Superior Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal case types. The court hears civil claims where the amount in dispute is in excess of $25,000. It has exclusive jurisdiction over proceedings in probate and the administration of estates for decedents. Cases beyond the jurisdiction of the district courts are heard in the Durham County Superior Court.
The Superior Court clerk maintains court records for the district and superior court. The clerk files, processes, indexes, and maintains every piece of paper filed each year. The clerk of the superior court also provides public access to court records. If you want access to public court records in Durham County, use the self-service terminal in the clerk's office or contact the office of the clerk located at:
510 South Dillard St
Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 808-3000
For online access to court records, visit the eCourts Portal provided by the North Carolina Judicial Branch. The portal allows users to search court case information for Durham County court records using a case record number or party name.
