McDowell County
McDowell County was formed in 1842 from parts of Burke and Rutherford Counties. It has an estimated population of 44,629 and a land area of about 440 square miles. The county seat is Marion.
The McDowell County Courts include a Superior Court and a District Court. The Superior Court has jurisdiction over felony cases, adoption proceedings, probate matters, and civil cases involving amounts exceeding $25,000. Additionally, the court addresses appeals related to misdemeanors and infractions from the District Court. The District Court handles misdemeanors, mental health, domestic relations, and civil cases where the amount in dispute ranges between $10,000 and $25,000. It has a Juvenile Division that handles juvenile delinquency and cases related to minors, such as child abuse, custody, neglect, dependency, and termination of parental rights. It also has a magistrate authorized to try small claims cases where the amount in disputes is less than $10,000.
McDowell County public court records include documents, briefs, pleadings, minutes, orders, exhibits, and judgments received or created during the judicial proceedings. The County Clerk of Court is responsible for creating and maintaining dockets and court records for both the Superior and District Courts. Common court records in the county include the following:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Traffic records
- Probate records
The North Carolina General Statutes, Section 7A-109, provides the public with the right to access court records in McDowell County. Individuals who wish to obtain these records may do so by visiting the clerk's office at:
McDowell County Courthouse
21 S Main Street
Marion, NC 28752
Phone: (828) 655-4100
Individuals also have the option to submit a request for court records using the Judicial Branch Public Records Request Form. Furthermore, anyone may obtain court records using the public access computer at the clerk's office. According to Section 7A-308 of the North Carolina General Statutes, certified copies cost $3 per page, while exemplifying records cost $10.
