How North Carolina's Unified Court System Is Organized

North Carolina runs a single, state-funded court system. Unlike states where cities operate their own municipal courts, every trial court here belongs to one statewide judicial branch. Chapter 7A of the General Statutes creates the General Court of Justice, which has an appellate division, a Superior Court division, and a District Court division. The Administrative Office of the Courts in Raleigh provides staff support, technology, and budget services, while the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court leads the branch. In practice, the same procedures, forms, and cost schedules apply whether you file in a mountain county or a coastal one.

That uniformity helps, but geography still decides where you go. Each of the state's 100 counties has a courthouse, and your case is usually heard in the county where the event happened or where a party lives. This page points you to the court listings in our database and explains what each kind of court does, so you can make one trip instead of three.

Which Court Handles Your Matter

Most residents deal with District Court. It hears traffic infractions, misdemeanors, child custody and support, divorce, juvenile cases, and civil claims up to $25,000. District Court cases are decided by a judge, not a jury. Superior Court takes felonies and larger civil cases, and it is where jury trials happen. This quick guide matches common situations to the right place:

Small claims deserve a closer look. Magistrates hear civil disputes such as unpaid rent, a disputed repair bill, or a security deposit. The process is informal, and you do not need a lawyer. If you lose, you can appeal to District Court for a new hearing, but you must give notice within ten days of the judgment, so do not wait.

The Clerk of Superior Court Is Your First Stop

Every county elects a Clerk of Superior Court to a four-year term. The clerk's office is the public counter of the courthouse. Staff accept filings, collect fines and costs, maintain records, and schedule hearings. The clerk also acts as judge of probate, so wills, estates, guardianships, and many name changes begin there. Clerks and deputy clerks cannot give legal advice, but they can explain procedure and tell you which form applies.

Bring a government-issued photo ID, your case or citation number, and any notice you received. Ask which forms of payment are accepted before you travel, since smaller offices may not take every card. Hours are generally weekday business hours, often 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but confirm by phone because holidays and local orders can change them.

Clerks also keep the public record. You can ask to see a case file at the counter, and many counties now offer online case lookups as the statewide eCourts system rolls out county by county. Older files may be stored off-site, so ask ahead if you need one.

Metro Courthouses and Rural Courthouses Work Differently

Courts in the larger cities handle heavy volume and often separate their dockets. Raleigh Traffic Court at 316 Fayetteville Street (919-792-4300) serves Wake County drivers. New Hanover County Traffic Court at 316 Princess Street in Wilmington (910-341-1301) does the same on the coast. Expect security screening, limited parking, and long mornings on busy traffic days. The New Hanover County page lists the other court records for that area.

Mid-sized counties fall in between. Cabarrus County Court at 77 Union Street South in Concord (704-786-4137) serves a fast-growing county near Charlotte. Buncombe County Court at 60 Court Plaza in Asheville (828-259-3402) anchors the western part of the state. Details for Cabarrus County offices are on their own page.

Rural courthouses work on a smaller scale. Sampson District Court at 101 East Main Street in Clinton (910-592-7419), Vance District Court at 156 Church Street in Henderson (252-738-9110), and Mitchell District Court at 328 Long View Drive in Bakersville (828-688-2161) handle lighter dockets. In smaller counties, certain types of sessions may be held only on set days of the week. Call before you go, and see the Sampson County page for its local listings.

Check Phone Numbers Before You Drive

Directory data is only as good as its sources, and a few listings share numbers. Pamlico County Court in Bayboro and Carteret County Court in Beaufort both show 252-639-9012. Watauga District Court in Boone and Yancey District Court in Burnsville both show 828-733-2395. Randolph County Court at 176 East Salisbury Street in Asheboro has no number on file. Treat these as starting points, and confirm with the clerk's office in the county where your case is filed.

Coast, Piedmont, and Mountains: Regional Differences That Affect You

On the coast, storms shape the court calendar. Hurricanes have closed courthouses and postponed hearings in coastal counties, and the Chief Justice can issue emergency orders that change schedules and extend deadlines. Brunswick County Court sits at 310 Government Center Drive Northeast in Bolivia (910-253-8246), and Camden County Court is at 117 Highway 343 in the state's northeastern corner. If a storm is forecast near your hearing date, check Judicial Branch announcements and call the clerk.

The Piedmont has some of the busier dockets. Guilford County holds court in both Greensboro and High Point, so confirm which location your notice names. Rowan County Court at 210 North Main Street in Salisbury (704-797-3001) and Orange County Alternate Court I at 104 East King Street in Hillsborough (919-967-4523) are examples where downtown parking and early arrival matter. The Orange County page covers all four of its court records.

In the mountains, distance and weather matter more than parking. Swain County Court in Bryson City (101 Mitchell Street, 828-488-2288), Transylvania District Court in Brevard (12 East Main Street, 828-694-4225), and Watauga District Court in Boone (842 West King Street) serve wide rural areas. Winter storms can close roads, and Hurricane Helene in 2024 disrupted services across the western counties. If you must travel far, call ahead and ask whether your session is still on.

Preparing for Your Court Date in North Carolina

A few habits prevent most problems. Read the notice and write down the courtroom, time, and county. Arrive at least thirty minutes early for security screening. Leave weapons at home, and expect to empty your pockets and remove your belt. Dress neatly. Phone rules inside courtrooms vary by courthouse, so ask at the door if you are unsure.

Do not skip a hearing. Missing a criminal or traffic date can lead to an order for arrest, and a failure to appear on a traffic charge can lead the DMV to revoke your driver's license. If you cannot attend, contact the clerk or your attorney before the date. For some minor traffic offenses you may be able to pay in advance, but fines come with court costs, so ask for the full amount.

If English is not your first language, ask the clerk about interpreter services early. If you are charged with a crime and cannot afford a lawyer, ask the judge about court-appointed counsel at your first appearance.

Courts in North Carolina operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The North Carolina Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 108 cities across North Carolina. They are spread across 100 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Clinton, Wilmington, Lumberton, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of North Carolina should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of North Carolina who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across North Carolina to find the nearest location.

Finding Central and Eastern North Carolina Court Offices by County

The county is the key to every court search in this state, because each county has its own clerk, its own calendar, and its own courthouse address. Start with the county printed on your notice, then match it to a listing. Orange County has four court records in our database, including Orange County Alternate Court I at 104 East King Street in Hillsborough, reachable at 919-967-4523. In the southeast, Pender County is served by Pender County Court at 100 South Wright Street in Burgaw (910-259-1229). Robeson County is served by Robeson County Court at 500 North Elm Street in Lumberton (910-671-3355).

Other listings include Stanly District Court at 201 South 2nd Street in Albemarle (704-982-2161), Iredell County Alternate Court at 610 North Center Street in Statesville (704-664-1118), Columbus County Alternate Court at 112 West Smith Street in Whiteville (910-641-3000), and Lee County Traffic Court at 1400 South Horner Boulevard in Sanford (919-708-4400). Some names include terms such as Alternate Court or Traffic Court. Treat those labels as hints about the location rather than a guarantee of which hearings it holds.

Before you drive, call the number shown and ask three things: which courtroom your case is in, what time the session starts, and whether the clerk's counter is open for payments that day. That short call prevents most wasted trips.

Common Questions About Courts in North Carolina

Your citation lists the county and the court date. Traffic cases go to District Court in the county where the ticket was issued. In Raleigh, that means Raleigh Traffic Court at 316 Fayetteville Street. In Wilmington, it means New Hanover County Traffic Court at 316 Princess Street. Some minor offenses can be resolved by paying before the court date, while others require you to appear. Ask the clerk whether your charge can be paid in advance, bring the citation, and expect court costs to be added to any fine.

Small claims court, run by magistrates, handles civil disputes up to $10,000. You file at the Clerk of Superior Court's office in a county connected to the parties, and the sheriff normally delivers the papers to the other side. The filing fee is set by statute, so ask the clerk for the current amount. Either side can appeal to District Court for a new hearing, but notice must be given within ten days of the judgment. You do not need a lawyer, though you may bring one.

Clerks can explain procedures, tell you which form applies, and accept your filing, but they cannot give legal advice or tell you what to say. The state Judicial Branch publishes standard forms that work in every county. For guidance on your rights, contact Legal Aid of North Carolina, the LawHelpNC resource, or your county bar's lawyer referral service. In criminal cases, ask the judge about appointed counsel at your first appearance if you cannot afford an attorney.

You file with the Clerk of Superior Court in a county where you live, where the other person lives, or where the abuse happened. There is no filing fee. A judge can issue a temporary order the same day, and a full hearing is usually set within about ten days. When courts are closed, a magistrate can issue an emergency order. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 first, then go to the courthouse. Local advocates can help with the paperwork.

The Chief Justice and local court officials can order closures and extend deadlines during emergencies. Coastal counties such as Pender, New Hanover, and Brunswick have seen this after major storms, and western counties faced it after Hurricane Helene in 2024. Do not assume your case was cancelled just because the weather is bad. Check the Judicial Branch announcements and call the clerk's office. Ask for the new date, and write down the name of the person you spoke with.

Both start with the Clerk of Superior Court, who serves as judge of probate. For an estate, go to the clerk in the county where the person lived, and bring the death certificate and the original will if there is one. Name change petitions are filed with the clerk in the county where you live. Marriage licenses are different: they come from the county Register of Deeds, not the court. Call the clerk first to confirm the current forms and fees.