Records Access
eCourts Portal
You may search online for case information and court records by name, case number, attorney, and more. Individuals performing background checks should use the county clerk's office for doing so, not Portal.
Judgment Records
Information about Judgment cases in the North Carolina court system can be accessed on the public, self-service terminals in the clerk of court’s office in any county. View a user’s manual for the system in which the information is stored. The file for a court case can be viewed by visiting the clerk of court’s office in the county where the case is located. Staff can provide copies of documents in court files for a fee. Also, see the Remote Public Access Program to learn more about licensing for data access and extracts.
Divorce Judgements: For a fee, you can get a copy of a divorce judgment from the Durham County clerk’s office if your Divorce was in Durham County.
Case Records
Information about civil cases in the North Carolina court system can be accessed on the public, self-service terminals in the clerk of court’s office in any county. View a user’s manual for the system in which the information is stored. The file for a court case can be viewed by visiting the clerk of court’s office in the county where the case is located. Staff can provide copies of documents in court files for a fee.
Official Transcripts
An official transcript is a typed version of the word-for-word recording of a court proceeding prepared by an official court reporter or transcriptionist on this list.
A transcript is prepared at the request of a party and requires the payment of fees to the transcriptionist or court reporter to prepare the typed version. Typically, transcripts are prepared for appeals. If you are entitled to a court-appointed attorney on appeal, transcript fees will usually be advanced on your behalf for an appeal. Under some circumstances, however, you may be ordered to reimburse the court for such transcript fees.
All Court proceedings are not recorded. For example, criminal district court proceedings (other than pleas in H and I felonies) are not recorded unless ordered by a judge. Appeals from criminal district court go to the superior court for a new trial (rather than a review of the record of what happened in district court), so a transcript is unnecessary for that purpose.
Ordering a Transcript
If you have an attorney, talk with your attorney about this process. You may be entitled to a transcript without paying costs in advance if you are entitled to a court-appointed attorney on appeal.
If you are not eligible for a court-appointed attorney on appeal and need a transcript for an appeal, you should consult with an attorney. The Rules of Appellate Procedure contain several requirements, including deadlines associated with transcripts on appeal. These requirements differ by case type (e.g., juvenile, civil, criminal).
Copies of Audio Recordings
You may request a copy of the audio recording from the clerk’s office in the county where the case is filed. In a case type that is not confidential, you may make the request on Form AOC-G-114. You will be charged for the actual cost of a CD if the recording is available. Some court proceedings are confidential, like juvenile cases and involuntary hospitalization cases. In confidential cases, you must request permission from the court for a copy of the recording on Form AOC-G-115.