Haywood County
Haywood County, North Carolina, was created in 1808 from Buncombe County and named after the North Carolina State Treasurer, John Haywood. It has a land area of 554 square miles and, according to the 2020 US census, a population of 82,089. Waynesville is its largest city and county seat.
The Haywood County court system comprises Superior and District Courts. The Haywood County Superior Court is the highest court in the county, and it handles all felonies, some misdemeanors, and civil cases with claims exceeding $25,000. It also has jurisdiction over probate cases, such as managing estates and trusts, admitting wills, and appointing guardianships.
The Haywood County District Court has jurisdiction over most misdemeanors, traffic violations, and violations of municipal ordinances. It also handles preliminary felony hearings and civil matters with claims under $25,000. In addition, the District Court hears domestic relations and juvenile issues, including legal separation, adoption, divorce, juvenile delinquency, paternity, child support, termination of parental rights, and emancipation.
Public court records in Haywood County are official documents, files, and exhibits generated in the county courts and are accessible to the public. They consist of court schedules, court filings, dockets, writs, transcripts, motions, depositions, warrants, judgments, and other court information. These records may be in audio, video, or text forms. The Haywood County Clerk of Court maintains records from the Superior and District Courts. The clerk's office produces, arranges, presents, indexes, stores, and preserves in compliance with state and county laws.
Unless sealed by court orders, the following types of public court records are typically available in Haywood County:
- Criminal records
- Traffic records
- Probate records
- Civil records
- Family Law records
The North Carolina Judiciary's eCourts Portal can be used to access public court records from Haywood County. Record seekers can search by party name, attorney, or case number. They can also access the county's nonconfidential court records by visiting the Haywood County Clerk of Court at:
Haywood County Clerk of Courts
Haywood County Justice Center
285 North Main Street
Suite 1500
Waynesville, NC 28786
Phone: (828) 454-6501
There are self-service terminals in the clerk's premises that can be used to search for cases.
