Harnett County
Harnett County was established in 1855 from part of Cumberland County and is located in central North Carolina. It covers approximately 595.1 square miles and has a population of around 137,718 as of 2022. The county seat is Lillington, with other major towns including Dunn, Erwin, and Angier. The Cape Fear River runs through the county, contributing to its unique landscape. Harnett County's court system operates under the North Carolina Judicial Branch and consists of both Superior and District Courts.
The Superior Court has general jurisdiction over most criminal cases, including felonies and certain misdemeanor offenses. It also handles civil cases involving amounts exceeding $25,000, probate matters, and appeals from the District Court. Cases without financial thresholds, such as injunctions, requests for declaratory relief, most administrative agency decisions, and complex business litigation, can also be heard in the Superior Court. On the other hand, the District Court in Harnett County oversees certain criminal offenses, such as most misdemeanors, infractions, and municipal ordinance violations, and can accept guilty pleas in some felony cases. It also hears civil cases involving amounts not exceeding $25,000, juvenile matters including juvenile delinquency, child neglect, termination of parental rights and judicial consent for abortion, and family-related cases such as divorce, child custody, and domestic violence protection orders. It has a Small Claims Division, which deals with disputes over property or money that do not exceed $10,000.
Public court records in Harnett County are generated from court filings, judgments, minutes, writs, court orders, transcripts of hearings, and other related judicial activities within the county. These records include:
- Civil Records
- Probate Records
- Criminal Records
- Family Records
Court records and dockets are managed by the Harnett County Clerk of Court, who is responsible for filing, indexing, and granting access to these documents in accordance with North Carolina's Public Records Laws. Individuals can access these records through the North Carolina eCourt system or by visiting the Clerk of Court's office in person at:
301 W. Cornelius Harnett Blvd.
Suite 100
Lillington, NC 27546
Phone: (910) 814-4600
