Halifax County
Halifax County, carved out from Edgecombe County, was established in 1758. It is named after George Montague-Dunk, the 2nd Earl of Halifax and a British statesman. Halifax County covers approximately 723.7 square miles, with a population of about 48,772 people. The county seat is the town of Halifax, while Roanoke Rapids, the county's largest city, serves as the economic hub.
Halifax County operates under North Carolina's Unified Judicial System and comprises the Superior as well as the District Courts. The Superior Court is a general jurisdiction trial court handling serious criminal cases, including felonies, lesser-included offenses, and certain misdemeanors. It also oversees civil disputes involving amounts exceeding $25,000, probate matters, certain injunctions, requests for declaratory relief, and most Administrative Agencies' decisions. The District Court handles misdemeanors, any standard civil claims amounting to $25,000 or under, and traffic violations. It is also responsible for family law matters, such as child custody, orders of protection against domestic violence, and divorce as well as oversees juvenile cases. It conducts any preliminary hearing proceedings for each criminal case and can manage the different guilty pleas for select felonies.
Halifax County's public courts document court-related activities such as plea agreements, court orders, judgments, case docket information, and transcripts of proceedings. These records are governed by North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 132, making most judicial documents accessible to the public thereby ensuring legal transparency. Halifax County court records typically include:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Traffic Records
- Probate Records
Confidential records, such as those involving juvenile cases, mental health, or sealed files, are restricted. Access to these requires court authorization and valid government-issued identification. The Clerk of the Superior Court in Halifax manages these records. Members of the public can access them free of charge through the North Carolina eCourts Portal. The system allows online access to case information and court records by name, case number, and attorney.  They may also visit the public access terminals at the courthouse at:
357 Ferrell Lane Â
Halifax, NC 27839Â Â
Phone: (252) 593-3000
Alternatively, requesters can contact the Clerk of Court directly to request copies of specific records.
