New Hanover County
New Hanover County is located on North Carolina's southeastern coast. Its county seat and most populous city is Wilmington. With a land area of 192.3 square miles and a population of over 228,134, the county is one of the state's smallest but densely populated regions. It is known for its coastal location, historical sites, and cultural heritage.
New Hanover County's court system includes both Superior and District courts. The Superior Court handles general civil claims exceeding $25,000, exclusive of interest, and cases without financial thresholds such as injunctions, requests for declaratory relief, most administrative agency decisions, and complex commercial issues. It also deals with felony criminal cases, some misdemeanors, infractions, and probate proceedings. The District Court, on the other hand, manages most misdemeanors, and municipal ordinance violations. It also conducts preliminary hearings for all categories of criminal proceedings and accepts guilty pleas in some felony cases. Civil cases handled by the court include general civil claims not exceeding $25,000, small claims, recovery of personal property, and family law matters such as divorce, annulment, domestic violence protection orders, and child custody.
Court records in New Hanover County are generated through court proceedings and other judicial activities within the county. They provide information on plea details, motions, court orders, transcripts, docket information, and court judgments. The New Hanover County Clerk is responsible for filing, indexing, and managing these records. Court records are public, following the North Carolina General Statutes, which allow access to the following:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Probate Records
- Traffic Records
- Family Records
However, sensitive documents such as juvenile, mental health, and adoption cases are confidential.
Publicly available court records and dockets can be accessed online through the North Carolina eCourts Portal free of charge or by visiting the Clerk of Superior Court's Office at:
320 Chestnut Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 341-1300
Note that viewing and obtaining physical court documents may attract certain charges.
