Rowan County
Created from Anson County's northern section in 1753, Rowan County is located in North Carolina. It was named for Matthew Rowan, the state's acting governor from 1753 to 1754. It is populated with over 151,661 residents, and Salisbury is its county seat.
Rowan County's trial court system comprises a superior court and a district court. The Superior Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, provided they are beyond the District Court's jurisdiction. Superior Court judges adjudicate felonies, misdemeanors, lesser offenses, infractions, and civil claims for monetary sums exceeding $25,000, excluding interest and costs. Cases without any financial caps, including certain categories of injunctions and declaratory relief requests, constitutional rights, adoptions, complicated business matters, and eminent domain, also fall within the Superior Court's jurisdiction. The Rowan Superior Court also exercises exclusive jurisdiction over probate proceedings and estate administrations, along with original jurisdiction over guardianships.
The Rowan County District Court exercises limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, including misdemeanors and infractions, preliminary hearings, civil claims for up to $25,000, and municipal ordinance violations. It also presides over cases involving protection against domestic violence, civil no-contact orders, mental involuntary admissions, and appeals of county game commission decisions. Through its Small Claims Court division, the District Court handles general civil claims for up to $10,000 and other claims for money and personal property recovery, and evictions. Furthermore, it hears juvenile cases such as juvenile dependency child neglect, and domestic relations suits, including divorce and paternity.
Rowan County court records refer to documentation of court trials and other case proceedings in the Superior and District Courts. It generally includes proceeding transcriptions, disposition sheets, indices, docket entries, court orders, and judgments. These records, which are generally open to public disclosure, educate the public about the judicial process, showcase the transparency of the judiciary, and guarantee the delivery of justice. The following are common examples of Rowan County court records:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Domestic relations records
- Juvenile records
The Clerk of the Superior Court manages the court records repository for the Superior Court and the District Court. Requesters can view case information for free using the public self-service terminals at the Clerk of Court's Office. In addition, they can also visit the Superior Clerk's Office in person to examine and/or obtain court record copies. Note, however, that requests for record copies attract copying fees and require requesters to submit formal record requests at:
210 N Main Street
Salisbury, NC 28144
Phone: (704) 797-3001
