This page helps users handle a Court Records task in Onslow County, North Carolina by explaining the main online search options, courthouse record access, copy routes, and local contact points.

For online case information, the North Carolina Judicial Branch Portal is the main public tool. For paper files, certified searches, background-check purposes, and unclear records, the Onslow County Clerk of Superior Court is the practical next step.

North Carolina Judicial Branch Portal

Use the North Carolina Judicial Branch Portal to search for court records and case information. The Portal includes Smart Search for case information, Search Hearings for court dates and hearings, Make Payments for some probation, parole, criminal, and infraction cases, and NC Judgment Search.

  • Case information, party name, attorney, citation number, or other search details supported by the Portal
  • County selection when searching court dates or hearings
  • Date range when using hearing or court-date search options

The Portal requires JavaScript and cookies. It also uses a CAPTCHA challenge every ten minutes for anonymous, registered, and elevated access users.

Background-check note: users performing background checks should use the county clerk’s office, not Portal.

Courthouse record access

Criminal case information can be accessed at a public self-service terminal located at a clerk of court’s office in any county. Searches may be made by defendant name, case number, or victim or witness name.

Civil, special proceeding, and estates case information can also be accessed at public self-service terminals in clerk of court offices. Paper files are handled by the clerk’s office in the county where the case is located.

For Onslow County files, the courthouse route is the right path when you need to view the actual case file or request copies of court documents. Copies may require a fee.

Onslow County court dates and calendars

For hearing dates, start with the Portal’s court-date search. It can search by name, citation number, county, date range, and more.

You can also review Onslow County court calendar pages for scheduled civil and criminal matters:

If court was closed or a session was canceled due to inclement weather, the case will be rescheduled. New date notices are generally sent by mail, but users may contact the clerk of court once normal hours resume.

Criminal background checks

For a certified criminal record search in one county, request the search through the Clerk of Superior Court office at the courthouse. The search checks that county only and is not statewide.

The certified single-county search uses Form AOC-CR-314 and has a $25 fee. By mail, money order or certified check is accepted; personal checks are not accepted. In person, credit card, cash, money order, or certified check is accepted.

For a self-service, non-certified search, public access computers at clerk’s offices may be used to search, view, or email criminal records without charge. Printing charges may apply.

Divorce judgments are obtained from the clerk of court’s office in the county where the divorce was granted. Court files affecting real estate, such as foreclosures, evictions, partitions, condemnations, estates, divorces, judgments, and liens on real property, are handled through the clerk of court’s office.

The NC Judgment Search is available in the Portal as an index of judgments under NCGS 7A-109(b)(6). For broader criminal and civil court data access, businesses and approved users may review the Remote Public Access Program.

For transcripts, contact the court reporter who was present if one attended the proceeding. If the proceeding was recorded by the clerk or a digital recording technician, request the audio recording from the clerk’s office in the county where the case is filed.

Records handled by other offices

Not every public record connected to a court matter is held by the court. Birth, marriage, and death certificates are handled by the Register of Deeds in the county where the event took place, while divorce certificates may also be available through North Carolina Vital Records.

Marriage licenses and powers of attorney are also handled through the Register of Deeds. Police reports should be requested from the law enforcement agency that investigated or was involved in the case.

For Judicial Branch public record requests outside standard court-file access, use the Judicial Branch public records request page.

Onslow County court contact information

Use these contacts for Onslow County courthouse questions, case-specific help, court dates, paper files, copies, and clerk-handled record services.

Common questions

Where can I search Onslow County court records online?

Use the North Carolina Judicial Branch Portal for case information, court-date searches, hearing searches, payments for certain cases, and judgment searches.

Can I use Portal for a background check?

Portal may show case information, but background checks should be handled through the county clerk’s office. A certified single-county criminal record search is requested through the Clerk of Superior Court office.

Where can I view the actual court file?

Paper files are available through the clerk of court’s office in the county where the case is located. For Onslow County cases, contact or visit the Onslow County Clerk of Superior Court.

How do I get a copy of a divorce judgment?

Request the divorce judgment from the clerk of court’s office in the county where the divorce was granted. A fee may apply.

Who should I contact for Onslow County case information?

Contact the Onslow County Clerk of Superior Court at (910) 478-3600 or [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) for case-specific help.

Where are birth, marriage, and death records handled?

Birth, marriage, and death certificates are handled by the Register of Deeds in the county where the event took place. They are not standard court records.