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Brunswick County, North Carolina Court Records

Brunswick County court records are broadly defined as all official documents, files, dockets, or indexes maintained regarding legal cases filed or heard in the county. These records include civil actions, special proceedings, estates, criminal actions, juvenile actions, minutes of the court, judgments, liens, lis pendens, and other records required by the law to be maintained (NCGS 7A-109(a)). The Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court, as the custodian of the county's court records, is responsible for creating and maintaining these records in accordance with applicable law.

Although court records are separate from other records maintained in Brunswick County, they sometimes connect to and expand on other records, such as arrest and vital records. For example, criminal court records typically include arrest information, along with case information such as charging documents and disposition (not found in arrest records).

Are Brunswick County Court Records Public?

Yes. Brunswick County court records are public under the North Carolina Public Records Law (N.C. Gen. Stat. Ch. 132), which establishes the right of the people to access all records created or received by government agencies in connection with the transaction of public business. Pursuant to this law, interested persons may inspect, examine, or obtain copies of court records as public property in Brunswick County.

However, not all court records are available to the public. Records that are restricted or exempted under the law, or sealed by court order, are not disclosed. Examples of such records include:

  • Juvenile delinquency case records
  • Adoption records
  • Grand jury proceedings
  • Domestic abuse records
  • Involuntary commitment records

What Information is Available in Brunswick County Court Records?

The contents of a court record vary depending on the type of case. However, the following are commonly available in Brunswick County court records:

  • Case information (e.g., involved parties, case number, case type, filing dates, hearing dates)
  • Docket entries
  • Court transcripts (if prepared)
  • Filed petitions, motions, or pleadings
  • Court orders
  • Final decrees or judgments
  • Filed evidence/exhibits
  • Indictments, criminal charges, or citations (in criminal court records)
  • Warrants (if issued in the case)
  • Subpoenas or summonses (if issued)
  • Notices of appeal (where applicable)
  • Will filings, final estate settlements, letters of administration (probate records)

Brunswick County Court Records Search

Individuals interested in searching Brunswick County court records may do so using the following.

Online Access

Provided through the North Carolina Judicial Branch's eCourts Portal (Odyssey). The portal serves the entire state and allows any member of the public to search online for the case information of any criminal, civil, estate, or special proceeding case filed or heard in Brunswick County (in the superior or district court). It offers a "smart search" for court records and case information; a "hearings search" for court dates/hearings by name, county, and date range; and a "judgment search" for an index of judgments in accordance with NCGS 7A-109(b)(6). For Brunswick County court records, select "Brunswick County" as the location. Search criteria include name or case number, with additional filters to narrow results. Note that online access may vary by case type.

In-Person Access

Available through visits to the Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court's Office. This option allows individuals to use the public, self-service terminal at the clerk's office to search for case records. It also allows individuals to view paper files for Brunswick County court cases or obtain copies of documents in court files. Visits to the clerk's office should be made during business hours, Monday through Friday.

Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court

310 Government Center Drive Northeast

Bolivia, NC 28422

Phone: (910) 253-3900

Mail and Phone Requests

To obtain copies of documents in court files without visiting the clerk's office, individuals can send a written request (including the case party name or case number and the specific documents required) by mail to:

Brunswick County Courthouse

310 Government Center Drive NE

Unit 1

Bolivia, NC 28422

One can also contact the clerk's office at (910) 253-3900 to submit a request or inquire about the availability of a document of interest. Note that mail requests for court records from the Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court may take 3 to 10 business days to be processed after the clerk receives the application. Money orders and certified checks are the acceptable mail-in payment methods for requested copies of case documents. Payment should be made payable to the Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court.

Fees for Court Records in Brunswick County

Per NCGS § 132-1(b), people may obtain copies of court records at minimal cost, with "minimal cost" defined as the actual cost of reproducing the public record. Accordingly, the cost of obtaining physical copies of court records from the Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court is as follows:

  • $2.00 for the first page of each document copied and $.25 for each additional page (N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-308(a)(12))
  • $3.00 for each certified copy (N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-308(a)(9))
  • $10.00 for exemplification of documents (N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-308(a)(10))

The fees above apply only when copies of documents in court files are requested. There is no fee to search for court records using the public, self-service terminal at the clerk's office or to search case records online via the eCourts Odyssey portal.

Brunswick County Courthouse Locations

There are two (2) courts in Brunswick County, both located in the same courthouse. They are:

Brunswick County Superior Court

310 Government Center Drive NE, Unit 1

Bolivia, NC 28422

Phone: (910) 253-3900

Brunswick County District Court

310 Government Center Drive NE, Unit 1

Bolivia, NC 28422

Phone: (910) 253-3900

Criminal Records Access in Brunswick County

Individuals can obtain criminal records for themselves or others in Brunswick County through a certified background check. The search, which is by name, only checks the court records in Brunswick County. It is not a statewide records search. To request a certified criminal record (background check) for yourself or others in Brunswick County, fill out and print Form AOC-CR-314, then submit it to the Clerk of Superior Court Office with the $25 fee via mail (money order or certified check) or in person (credit card, cash, money order, or certified check).

For a self-service, non-certified background check for yourself or others, use the public access computers in the clerk's office at the Brunswick County courthouse. The computers allow users to search for and view criminal records for themselves or others. However, while the check is not certified and therefore free, printing records may incur charges.

Individuals seeking state-level criminal history records should search or request them through the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the state's custodian and central source for criminal history information.

Brunswick County Probate Records

Brunswick County probate records are official court documents from decedent estate cases. These records also include documents from trust, guardianship, and conservatorship matters handled in the county. Probate records are generally accessible under the North Carolina Public Records Law; however, records involving minors or containing sensitive or private information are restricted from disclosure.

Interested parties can search Brunswick County probate records, including more recent filings, online through theeCourts Portal. The search criterion is by party name or case number. Select "Brunswick County" as the location to search for Brunswick County probate records. Alternatively, those seeking these records can use the public, self-service terminal at the clerk of superior court office to search for and view them or visit the clerk's office to view paper files or obtain copies of these records for a fee.

Brunswick County Family Court Records

Brunswick County family court records are official court files and case documents maintained by the clerk of superior court regarding family law cases, such as divorce, custody, adoption, and support. Family court records may be viewed in person at the clerk's office or searched using the public, self-service terminal there. They can also be searched online through the eCourts Portal.

To obtain certified copies of Brunswick County family court records, interested persons should either visit the clerk's office or submit a written request by mail to:

Brunswick County Courthouse

310 Government Center Drive NE

Unit 1

Bolivia, NC 28422

Note that both copy and certification fees apply. Also, certain family law cases, such as adoption proceedings, are not public records.

Federal Court Records in Brunswick County

Federal court records in Brunswick County refer to all files, documents, and dockets maintained regarding federal cases. These cases, which include bankruptcy matters, diversity jurisdiction cases, tax evasion, and mail or wire fraud cases, are handled in federal courts (hence, federal court records).

As public records, federal court records in Brunswick County are available through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), an electronic portal that allows interested members of the public to search for, view, and obtain copies of federal court records across the US for a fee (i.e., $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00/document). They can also be accessed through the clerk's office of the federal court where the case was filed or heard.

Brunswick County Court