Orange County, North Carolina State Court Records

In Orange County, North Carolina, court records are government files that contain information about legal proceedings. Such records reveal information about the case parties, case identifiers, transcripts, and judgments. Some court documents may also include public records filed during court cases. For example, concerned parties may find warrants, vital records, and arrest reports in criminal case files.

Orange County court records are under the purview of the superior court clerk's office. As the record custodian, the court clerk maintains and releases records upon receiving requests from interested parties.

Are Orange County Court Records Public?

Yes, court records in Orange County are accessible to the public. The N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-109(a) allows the public to obtain copies of court documents from designated record custodians. Furthermore, the law requires record custodians to release copies of court documents to record seekers.

Note that specific court records are not publicly accessible under North Carolina laws. The state laws generally exempt records whose disclosure is not in the public interest. For instance, the public is unable to access court documents that are sealed or expunged. Other non-public court records include the following:

Court data that is protected under attorney-client privilege.
Adoption court records.
Information on grand jury proceedings.
Court documents in the custody of a probation officer.
Mental health case proceedings.
Information about security-vulnerable parties, such as crime victims, juries, and witnesses.

What Information is Available in Orange County Court Records?

Orange County court records may reveal these details:

Personal information of case parties.
Case identifying data, including case number, status, and hearing dates.
Dockets.
Filed documents, such as exhibits, petitions, and vital records.
Court judgments.

Orange County Court Records Search

Record seekers can search court records in Orange County via these options:

Online Access

The North Carolina Judicial Branch hosts an online searchable platform for case files in Orange County. Record seekers may look up records on the platform by providing the case party name and number.

In-Person Access

The Orange County Superior Court Clerk's Office is the official custodian of court records. Record seekers may view the records in person by using self-service terminals at the clerk's office. In addition, they may obtain paper copies of records by visiting the customer lobby section in the clerk's office. The clerk processes in-person requests between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at this address:

Chapel Hill Courthouse

179 East Franklin Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Orange County Courthouse

106 East Margaret Lane

Hillsborough, NC 27278

Mail and Phone Requests

There is no information on mail-in requests for court records in Orange County. However, record seekers may submit mail-in requests to the clerk's office. The request must include these details:

A written request that includes case specifics and the requester's contact information.
Copy of a valid ID.
The required fees.

Fees for Court Records in Orange County

In Orange County, record seekers must pay specific fees to retrieve copies of court records. The fees may vary based on the document type, number of copies, and request option. Record seekers must pay $0.025 per page of copied documents. In contrast, it costs $5 for the first page of certified records and $2 per additional page.

The superior court clerk's office may charge additional fees for mail-in requests.

Orange County Courthouse Locations

In Orange County, the trial court system consists of the Superior Court and the District Court. The public may find the courts at these locations:

Superior Courts in Orange County

Orange County Superior Court

104 East King Street

Hillsborough, NC 27278

Phone: (919) 644-4747

Fax: (919) 644-4501

Orange County Superior Court

179 East Franklin Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Phone: (919) 967-4523

Fax: (919) 644-4501

All mail should be sent to the main Courthouse address: 106 East Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC 27278

Orange County Superior Court - Main Courthouse

106 East Margaret Lane

Hillsborough, NC 27278

Phone: (919) 644-4500

Fax: (919) 644-4501

District Courts in Orange County

Orange County District Court

179 East Franklin Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Phone: (919) 967-4523

Fax: (919) 644-4501

Orange County District Court

106 East Margaret Lane

Hillsborough, NC 27278

Phone: (919) 644-4500

Fax: (919) 644-4501

Orange County District Court

104 East King Street

Hillsborough, NC 27278

Phone: (919) 644-4747

Fax: (919) 644-4501

Criminal Records Access in Orange County

Record seekers may access criminal records by submitting a request to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations at:

NC State Bureau of Investigation

Criminal Information and Identification Section

Attn: Civilian Services Unit-Right to Review

PO Box 29500

Raleigh, NC 27626-0500.

The state-level agency allows mail-in requests for criminal history records. The request must include the following:

A written request that contains information about the record subject and the requester's contact information.
A completed fingerprint card. Record seekers may get fingerprinted at the county sheriff's office or other local police departments.
Copy of a valid ID.
A $14 money order or check made payable to the NC State Bureau of Investigation.

The Orange County Superior Court Clerk's Office is also a custodian of criminal history records. Record seekers must submit an in-person or mail-in request to obtain such records from the agency.

Note: Local case records are not the same as criminal history records. The former reveal documents were filed and generated during criminal case proceedings. Record seekers may obtain criminal case records from the clerk of the superior court. The clerk's office accepts in-person or mail-in requests for criminal case files.

Orange County Probate Records

Probate records in Orange County are official files regarding probate cases heard in the superior or district courts. The courts hear probate issues, including name changes, appointment of guardians, and the administration of wills.

Orange County probate records are mostly accessible to the public. The public may view basic case information, transcripts, and judgments in public probate records. However, personal details of minors and beneficiaries are exempt from public access. The superior court clerk may only release confidential records to legally eligible parties, such as the will beneficiaries and executors.

Orange County Family Court Records

Orange County family court records reveal information about family law cases, including child custody, divorce, and adoption. Record seekers may find such records in the custody of the superior court clerk's office. The clerk accepts mail-in or in-person requests for court records at this address:

Chapel Hill Courthouse

179 East Franklin Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Orange County Courthouse

106 East Margaret Lane

Hillsborough, NC 27278

Note: The clerk's office charges $5 for the first page of a certified court document and $2 per additional page.

Federal Court Records in Orange County

Federal cases in Orange County are under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The court hears federal cases like civil rights violations, drug trafficking, and patent or copyright disputes.

Record seekers may obtain copies of federal records by using resources and options provided by the federal court. For example, the federal court's PACER system allows online searches for federal records. Record seekers may view records on the system by creating an account and providing relevant search data.

Alternatively, they can obtain paper copies of federal records by visiting the court at this address:

323 East Chapel Hill Street

Unit 223

Durham, NC 27701

Phone: (336) 332-6000