Court records of New Hanover County in the state of North Carolina are maintained by the Clerk of the District Court and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the court clerk's office. NewHanoverCourt.us will help you find publicly available information about the court records of this county. Additionally, you can use the Judicial Branch court records portal, visit the court clerk's office, or submit a public records request through the official request form.
New Hanover Court System Overview
New Hanover County is part of the 5th Judicial District of North Carolina, which exclusively serves this county. The court system consists of the Superior Court and the District Court, as well as the Magistrate Division. The Superior Court handles serious criminal cases and civil claims with large sums, while the District Court deals with less serious criminal cases, family law, and small claims. Magistrates perform initial judicial functions — issuing warrants, setting bail, and handling small claims cases.
New Hanover County Courthouse:
Detailed contact information, including phone numbers for individual departments, can be found on the New Hanover County page on the NC Judicial Branch website.
Courts Serving New Hanover
Residents of the county are served by several courts of different levels of jurisdiction:
Superior Court of New Hanover County
District Court of New Hanover County
Magistrate Division
Federal District Court — Eastern District of North Carolina
Federal Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of North Carolina
There are no municipal courts in North Carolina — all cases, including violations of city ordinances, are handled through the District Court system.
What Types of Cases New Hanover Courts Hear
New Hanover County courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations and infractions
- Civil claims of various scales, including small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, alimony, protective orders
- Probate, guardianship, and conservatorship cases
- Juvenile matters — offenses and child protection
- Adoption
The distribution between Superior Court and District Court depends on the severity of the crime or the amount of the claim.
District Court Cases in New Hanover
The District Court in New Hanover handles less serious criminal cases (misdemeanors), civil claims up to $25,000, and all family law cases. This is where divorce, child custody, and protective order cases are heard. A district court judge also presides over juvenile matters.
The Superior Court, on the other hand, has jurisdiction over felonies and civil claims over $25,000. Criminal cases are brought to the Superior Court after a preliminary hearing or a grand jury indictment. Appeals from District Court decisions are also filed with the Superior Court, where the case is heard anew (de novo trial).
Magistrate Court Cases in New Hanover
Magistrates in New Hanover County perform several key functions. They make decisions on setting bail, issue arrest and search warrants, and handle small claims cases.
- Small Claims: civil cases up to $10,000
- Initial Criminal Actions: determining grounds for detention, setting bail
- Warrants: issuing arrest and search warrants
- Marriage Ceremonies: magistrates have the authority to conduct civil marriage ceremonies
Magistrates work around the clock, seven days a week. Small claims cases are initiated by filing a complaint with the court clerk's office, after which a magistrate schedules a hearing. If either party is dissatisfied with the magistrate's decision, they may appeal to the District Court.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in New Hanover
Family Law. Divorce, custody, alimony, paternity, and protective order cases are handled by the District Court. To obtain a divorce certificate, you can contact the court clerk of the county where the claim was filed or NC Vital Records. Marriage and birth certificates are issued by the North Carolina Vital Records Office.
Probate Matters. The Clerk of the Superior Court in New Hanover serves as the probate judge. They handle wills, appoint executors and estate administrators, and cases of guardianship and conservatorship over incapacitated persons.
Juvenile Matters. These cases are confidential under North Carolina law. The District Court handles both juvenile delinquency cases and child protection cases. A separate regional juvenile detention center is located in Wilmington. To request juvenile records, you need to contact the Juvenile Justice NC DPS department. The county's social services department, which handles child protection cases, can be found at:
How Cases Move Through the New Hanover Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with a complaint or arrest warrant; a civil case begins with the filing of a complaint with the court clerk's office. Family and probate cases start with a petition.
- Assignment of Judge. After registration, the case is assigned to a specific judge according to the county's internal rules.
- Initial Hearings. In criminal cases, a first appearance or arraignment is held, where the defendant is informed of the charges. In civil cases, a scheduling conference is planned.
- Pre-Trial Phase. Parties file motions, exchange evidence (discovery), and negotiate plea deals or settlements.
- Case Resolution. The case concludes with a jury verdict, plea deal, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. In criminal cases, sentencing is carried out. In civil cases, the judgment is enforced. Either party may appeal within the established timeframes.
Court dates can be checked through the Court Dates portal on the NC Judicial Branch website.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in New Hanover
The Chief District Court Judge and the court administrator coordinate the work of the courts in the 5th Judicial District. Local court rules and administration contact information are available on the official New Hanover County page on the NC Judicial Branch website.
Public Access to Records. According to North Carolina law, most court records are public. However, some categories — juvenile cases, sealed records, grand jury materials — have restricted access. To view paper records, visit the court clerk's office, where computers are also available for free record searches.
Records that have been expunged are not available for public viewing.
Attending Hearings. Court hearings are generally open to the public. Some hearings may be held remotely — check the format with the court clerk's office of the specific department.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in New Hanover
- Online Court Records Search. The Court Records portal allows you to search criminal and civil cases by name or case number statewide.
- Criminal Background Check. Through the Criminal Background Check page, you can check records for free on public computers at any state court.
- Court Dates Calendar. The Court Dates schedule is available for search by name or case number.
- Public Records Request. The official public records request form can be submitted online, by mail, or in person.
- Offender and Inmate Search. The Offender Search by the NC Department of Adult Correction allows you to find information about inmates in state prisons, parolees, and registered sex offenders.
- New Hanover Correctional Center. The county is home to a correctional facility with one of the largest work release programs in the state.
- NC DPS Public Records Requests. For records related to the correctional system, use the NC DPS request form.
- State Legal Resources. General information about the legal system and resources for crime victims can be found on the Legal & Justice portal of the state of North Carolina.
- Vital Records. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by NC Vital Records — these documents are not free public records according to state law.
For a comprehensive search of New Hanover County court records, also visit NewHanoverCourt.us.