North Carolina Records Guide
Use this guide to locate official North Carolina court, vital, property, and business records, with the right state or county office to contact and the most useful search inputs.
On This Page:
Pick the path that matches your goal; most North Carolina records are held by a specific state office or by the county where the event occurred.
Look up a court case or docket
The AOC index helps locate cases by name; certified files, dockets, and judgments are maintained by the county Clerk of Superior Court.
Get a certified birth, death, or marriage certificate
Registers of Deeds issue local certified copies; the state office provides statewide copies and handles corrections or amendments.
Find property ownership, deeds, or liens
Real estate documents are recorded in the county; assessor systems provide parcel numbers, ownership, and assessed values.
Check a North Carolina criminal court record
Statewide search helps locate charges and dispositions; the county court is the source for file-stamped and certified records.
Verify a business or search UCC filings
Business entity registrations and UCC liens on personal property are filed with the Secretary of State.
| Source Or Office | Best For | Helpful Search Input | Access Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) | Statewide court case index; criminal and civil case lookup | Full name, date of birth, county, case number | Online index and in-person requests | Use to locate cases across counties; official certified copies come from the county Clerk of Superior Court. |
| County Clerk of Superior Court | Case files, dockets, judgments, divorce judgments | Case number, party name, filing date range | In person, some counties offer online indexes | Clerk is the keeper of record; request file-stamped or certified copies here. |
| County Register of Deeds | Deeds, mortgages, real estate liens; birth, death, marriage certificates | Grantor/grantee name, property address, parcel/PIN, book/page or instrument number; name and date for vital records | Online indexes in many counties, in person, and by mail | Official recording office for real property; local office issues certified vital records for events in the county. |
| County Tax Assessor / GIS | Parcel ownership, assessed value, maps, property address-to-PIN lookup | Property address, owner name, parcel/PIN | Online parcel search and GIS maps; in person | Use with Register of Deeds to match parcels to recorded deeds and legal descriptions. |
| North Carolina Vital Records (State Office) | Statewide certified copies of birth, death, and marriage; amendments/corrections | Full name, date and place of event, parent/spouse names | By mail, in person, and some online request options | Eligibility and ID requirements apply; processing times vary. |
| North Carolina Secretary of State | Business entities, trademarks, notaries, UCC filings | Entity name, SOS ID, registered agent; UCC debtor name | Online search and filings; mail/in person for certified copies | Central statewide repository for companies and personal-property liens. |
Civil, criminal, traffic, small claims, judgments, and case event history
Charges, dispositions, sentencing recorded in North Carolina courts
Birth, death, and marriage certificates for North Carolina events
Deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, plats, and real property liens
Company registrations, status, officers/agents, and UCC liens on personal property
Official North Carolina sources are best for certified copies, court files, deeds, and agency-held documents, and they remain the authority for corrections and updates. Background check services can help with broad, multi-jurisdiction name searches, but they often rely on secondary data and may miss recent filings or county-only records. For legal, licensing, or title work, verify results with the court, Register of Deeds, Secretary of State, or Vital Records.
Use the AOC statewide search by party name and date of birth, then contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the county shown to review the file and obtain copies.
Divorce judgments and case files are held by the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the case was filed. Marriage records are with the County Register of Deeds.
You can request a statewide name-based court search through the AOC. It reflects North Carolina court records only and may differ from fingerprint-based checks used by some agencies.
Search the county tax assessor or GIS for the parcel/PIN and owner name, then use the Register of Deeds to retrieve the deed, mortgages, and related documents by name or book/page.
For state prison and supervision information, use the North Carolina corrections/offender system. For recent arrests or jail custody, check the county sheriff or local detention facility.