Scotland County
Scotland County, which was formed from Richmond County in 1899, lies in Southern North Carolina. It was named after the Scottish settlers who were the county's early occupants in the 1700s. Laurinburg, its county seat, is also its largest municipality. About 34,376 people are Scotland County residents.
The trial court structure of Scotland County consists of a superior court and a district court. The Scotland County Superior Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, including suits beyond the District Court's jurisdiction. Its criminal jurisdiction covers felony cases, lesser offenses, specific misdemeanors, and infractions. It has civil jurisdiction over general civil claims above $25,000 and cases without financial caps, including declaratory relief requests, adoptions, eminent domain, constitutional rights, complicated business matters, and administrative agency appeals. The Superior Court also exercises exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters, including certain guardianship cases, over which it has original jurisdiction.
The District Court has limited civil and criminal jurisdiction over cases, including initial felony hearings, misdemeanors, infractions, and violations of municipal ordinances. Other district Court cases include general civil claims for up to $25,000, domestic violence protection suits, involuntary health commitments, civil no-contact orders, and county game commission appeals. Small claims cases for up to $10,000, personal property recovery, and evictions also fall within the jurisdiction of the District Courts. Additionally, the District Court's jurisdiction also covers domestic relations cases, such as child custody and paternity, and juvenile matters, including child abuse and foster care.
Court records in Scotland County refer to any recorded legal information about case trials. They are crucial for establishing transparency in judicial processes and deepening residents' confidence. Typically, court records include documents, such as calendars, case transcripts, disposition sheets, affidavits, and docket sheets. The following court records are routinely generated in Scotland County courts:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Probate records
- Family law records
The Scotland County Clerk of the Superior Court is the court record custodian for the Superior and District Courts. Under the state's public record law, Chapter 132 of the North Carolina General Statutes, court records are classified as open records and can be publicly examined and/or copied upon request. Requesters can use the following channels to access Scotland County non-exempt court records:
- Electronically via the eCourt portal: This option offers record seekers online searches for case information and other court documents by name, case number, and attorney name, among others
- Public Self-service Terminals at the Superior Clerk's Office: For criminal records access only
- In-person courthouse visits: For paper copies of court records at the Office of the Superior Court Clerk
