| Clerk of Superior Court | Durham County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Durham County Courthouse, 510 South Dillard St, Durham, NC 27701 |
| Phone | (919) 808-3000 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $2.00 for the first page of a document copied, $0.25 for each additional page (G.S. 7A-308(a)(12)) |
| Certified copy fee | $2.00 first page / $0.25 each additional page for the copy, plus $3.00 for the certificate under seal (G.S. 7A-308(a)(9) and (a)(12)) |
Durham County's trial courts are in the Durham County Courthouse on South Dillard Street. As in every North Carolina county, one office — the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court — keeps the records for Superior Court, District Court, and estates; there is no separate county clerk.
Durham is part of the statewide eCourts Portal rollout and was also one of the counties that received self-service eCourts kiosks with scanners, printers, and payment stations for the public.
Language and sign-language interpreters are available at the courthouse on request, and the Trial Court Administration Office and Sheriff's Office can help with accessibility questions for visitors who need assistance reaching the clerk's office.
Durham's courthouse sits next to a parking deck with dedicated handicapped spaces and a handicap-accessible route into the building from the third parking level, which is worth knowing before a records visit if you need step-free access. As with the rest of the state, the clerk's office is the single point of contact for civil, criminal, family, probate, and estate matters — Durham County does not maintain a separate register of deeds-style office for court case records the way it does for real property.
Search Durham County court records online
Clerk of Superior Court
Durham County Clerk of Superior Court
- Cost
- Free to search in person or on Portal; fees apply for copies and certifications
- Coverage
- All Superior Court, District Court, and estate/special-proceedings records for Durham County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
One office covers every case type in the county; North Carolina has no separate county clerk.
Other courts
Portal (eCourts) — Durham County
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Statewide eCourts case search, live in Durham County as part of the statewide rollout completed October 13, 2025
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
The courthouse also has self-service eCourts kiosks with scanners, printers, and payment services.
What is available online
Portal covers civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic case information for Durham County, and self-service kiosks at the courthouse allow scanning, printing, and fee payment in person. Document coverage is strongest for cases filed after the county's eCourts conversion.
Which clerk has your record
In North Carolina, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the North Carolina page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court | Felony criminal cases; Civil cases over $25,000; Business Court cases (complex commercial disputes, by assignment) | Clerk of Superior Court of the county |
| District Court | Misdemeanors and infractions; All family-law matters (divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence); Civil cases between $10,000 and $25,000 | Clerk of Superior Court of the county |
| Magistrates (Small Claims) | Small claims and civil disputes up to $10,000; Evictions (summary ejectment); Worthless-check cases | Clerk of Superior Court of the county |
Request records in person or by mail
Durham County clerk offices
Durham County Courthouse, 510 South Dillard St, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 808-3000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
In person. Visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office at the Durham County Courthouse, 510 South Dillard St, Durham, during posted hours. Language and sign-language interpreters are available on request; contact the Trial Court Administration Office for accessibility assistance.
Online. Search Portal for case information and, where available, document copies before making a trip to the courthouse.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $2.00 for the first page of a document copied, $0.25 for each additional page (G.S. 7A-308(a)(12)) |
| Certified copy | $2.00 first page / $0.25 each additional page for the copy, plus $3.00 for the certificate under seal (G.S. 7A-308(a)(9) and (a)(12)) |
These are the statewide fees the Clerk of Superior Court charges under G.S. 7A-308; a certified, name-based criminal record search in a single county costs $25 under the same statute (a)(17). Clerks may also charge for a criminal record search or exemplification of records; confirm the exact total with the specific clerk's office before sending payment, since some offices restrict payment method (money order or certified check only) for certain requests.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
North Carolina court records are open to the public, but several categories are removed from public view or never appear in Portal:
The North Carolina guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search Durham County court records online?
Use Portal, the free statewide eCourts search, by party name, case number, or citation. No account is required for a basic search.
Are interpreters available at the Durham County Courthouse?
Yes, including sign-language interpreters, available on request for court proceedings and clerk's office visits.
Who keeps probate and estate records in Durham County?
The Durham County Clerk of Superior Court, the same office that handles civil, criminal, and family cases. There is no separate county clerk.
What are the Durham County Clerk's office hours?
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Durham County Courthouse, 510 South Dillard St.
Sources
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Durham County — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/durham-county
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Durham County Contact Directory — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/durham-county/contact-directory
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Durham County Courthouse — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/durham-county/durham-county-courthouse
- Portal (eCourts public case search) — https://portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Types of Courts — https://www.nccourts.gov/learn/types-of-courts
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Court Officials (Clerks of Superior Court) — https://www.nccourts.gov/learn/court-officials
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — eCourts — https://www.nccourts.gov/ecourts
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Criminal Background Check — https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/court-records/criminal-background-check
- N.C. State Bureau of Investigation — Personal Review (Right to Review) — https://www.ncsbi.gov/Services/Background-Checks/personal-review
- NC Appellate Courts eFiling Site — https://appellate.nccourts.org/
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Expunctions — https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/court-records/expunctions
- General Statutes, Chapter 15A, Article 5 — Expunction of Records — https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_15A/Article_5.html
- General Statutes, G.S. 7A-308 — Miscellaneous Fees and Commissions — https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_7A/GS_7A-308.html
See also: all North Carolina counties.