Common Questions About Wake County Court Records
How do I search Wake County court records online?
Use the North Carolina eCourts Portal. Choose Smart Search for case records and Search Hearings for court dates. You can search by name, case number, attorney, or citation number, then narrow to Wake County. The Portal needs JavaScript and cookies and adds a CAPTCHA every five minutes. If a search comes up empty, try fewer characters and spelling variations, since names can include suffixes, maiden names, or typos. For step-by-step help, see the Wake County court records page.
Which building handles civil cases?
The Wake County Courthouse at 316 Fayetteville St. Mall handles all civil matters except marriages. The main phone is (919) 792-4000, and public hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Civil contacts include divorce and custody at (919) 792-4125 and small claims at (919) 792-4175. The Superior and District Court page lists more offices.
Which building handles criminal cases?
The Wake County Justice Center at 300 S. Salisbury St. handles all criminal matters and marriages. The main phone is (919) 792-4000. Traffic tickets and misdemeanors and felonies are at (919) 792-4300, and the District Attorney is at (919) 792-5000. For booking and custody, see the inmate records page.
Are eCourts Portal records certified copies?
No. The Portal gives you case information and helps you find a case, but the Clerk of Superior Court issues the certified copies people need for legal, benefit, or immigration purposes. Find the case online first, then request the certified document. The Clerk of Superior Court page explains how to request one.
How do I find a Wake County court date?
Use the eCourts Portal Search Hearings tool. Wake court dates can be searched by name, citation number, and county, plus a date range. If a case is not found or the hearing is urgent, call the clerk line for that case type. The court dockets page walks through the process.
What is Administrative Traffic Court?
It is a fast calendar that disposes of infractions and minor traffic offenses. It runs from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in courtroom 101 at the Justice Center, and you may appear any time during those hours. It is not a trial court, and the officer is not present. To contest a ticket, you appear to set a trial date. See traffic court records.
How do I search for someone in the Wake County jail?
Use the Wake County Sheriff's inmate inquiry portal. Search by name and confirm with a date of birth or booking number. If the portal is down or the arrest is very recent, call detention directly. For state prison use the DAC search, and for federal custody use the BOP locator. The inmate records page has the details.
How do I get notified when someone is released?
Use VINELink to register for custody-status alerts. Check the Sheriff inmate inquiry for local jail status, the DAC search for state custody, and the BOP locator for federal release. For registered sex offenders, the SBI offers email alerts by distance from an address. An alert is a safety tool, not a full court-record database. The released inmates page covers each tool.
Are juvenile records public?
Generally no. An adjudication that a juvenile is delinquent or undisciplined is not a public record and may not be released without a court order under N.C.G.S. § 7B-3000. Juvenile expunction is handled separately from adult expunction. The arrest records page explains the confidentiality rules.
How do I expunge a Wake County criminal record?
File the correct expunction petition with the Wake Clerk in the county where you were charged or convicted. Eligibility depends on the statute, charge, age, prior record, and disposition. The general fee is $175, though some dismissed or not-guilty petitions have no fee. The process can take months. More is on the arrest records page.
Where do I get a Wake marriage license?
Marriage licenses come from the Wake County Register of Deeds, not the Clerk of Superior Court. The office is at 300 S. Salisbury St., Suite 1700, Raleigh, NC 27601, phone (919) 856-5460. The ceremony itself can take place at the Justice Center. See the marriage and divorce records page to apply.
Where do I get a divorce judgment?
Divorce cases are Wake court records. Search the eCourts Portal for case information, then ask the Wake Clerk for a certified copy. The divorce, custody, and pending cases line is (919) 792-4125. Do not contact the Register of Deeds for the divorce judgment; that office handles marriage licenses. The marriage and divorce records page has more.
Who handles probate in Wake County?
The Clerk of Superior Court handles probate as judge of probate, covering wills, estates, guardianship, adoptions, and other special proceedings. The Estates line is (919) 792-4450, and special proceedings is (919) 792-4600. Estate fees follow N.C.G.S. § 7A-307. Adoption records are confidential and will not appear in public results. The probate records page explains the process.
Is there an official active warrant search?
No official Wake active warrant list was confirmed. The Sheriff portal may show some data, and the eCourts Portal shows order-for-arrest activity in a case. Call the Wake criminal clerk lines and rely on official contacts. Do not pay unofficial warrant-search sites, which are not the court and cannot resolve anything. The warrant records page explains how to check and resolve one.
What public records law applies in North Carolina?
Chapter 132 of the General Statutes. N.C.G.S. § 132-1 defines public records broadly, § 132-6 governs inspection and copies, and § 132-6.2 governs fees. Court records also have court-specific rules and confidentiality statutes for juvenile, adoption, sealed, and expunged records. The public records page covers requests.
How do I find Wake land records?
Use the Wake Register of Deeds. The current Land Records application and the legacy CRPI system cover deeds, maps, powers of attorney, and recorded instruments back to 1785. Land records are not court records unless they are filed in a case. The public records page explains the difference between county and court records.
Can I search criminal background records for free?
Yes, for non-certified results. Public access computers at any courthouse let you search, view, or email criminal records for yourself or others, in any county or statewide, at no charge. The eCourts Portal does the same online. For an official certified background check used in employment or licensing, use the SBI or proper clerk process. The court records page covers both options.
What if I missed court in Wake County?
Search the Portal for your case and call the Wake criminal clerk line right away. Missing court can trigger a called-and-failed entry and an order for arrest, plus license consequences on a traffic case. Wake has a local form to recall an order for arrest and reset the case. An attorney can help file it. See the warrant records page.
What is the difference between a court record and a driver record?
A traffic court record is the case file for a citation in District Court. A state driver record is kept by the DMV and tracks license status, reported convictions, points, and suspensions. Resolving a court ticket can affect the DMV record, but the two are different files in different systems. The traffic court records page explains how they connect.
How do I know whether to call the Clerk, Sheriff, or Register of Deeds?
Call the Clerk for court cases, certified court copies, court dates, estates, and filings. Call the Sheriff for jail custody, visitation, and inmate accounts. Call the Register of Deeds for marriage licenses, vital records, and land records. Use the DAC for state prison, probation, and parole. The public records page maps records to the right office.
Can court clerks help me fill out forms?
Clerks can give you records, filing information, and forms, but court officials cannot give legal advice or tell you which form to file. Self-represented litigants follow the same rules as attorneys. Use the state Guide and File service, legal aid, lawyer referral, or a private attorney for advice. The Clerk of Superior Court page explains the no-advice rule.
Still Have Questions?
For the right office, see the Clerk of Superior Court. For broader access rules, see public records. For records by topic, browse court records, arrest records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or probate records.