| Clerk of Superior Court | Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Forsyth County Courthouse, 175 N. Chestnut Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (mail: PO Box 20099, Winston-Salem, NC 27120) |
| Phone | (336) 779-6300 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 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)) |
Forsyth County's trial courts sit in a newer Winston-Salem courthouse, and, as in every North Carolina county, one office — the Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court — keeps the records for Superior Court, District Court, and estates. There is no separate county clerk.
Forsyth is part of the statewide eCourts Portal system, so most case lookups and many document requests can be handled online without a trip downtown. The clerk's office itself is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.
As with other North Carolina counties, expect Portal's document coverage to be strongest for cases filed after the county's eCourts conversion; older civil, criminal, or estate files may still require a written or in-person request to the clerk.
Winston-Salem's courthouse serves both the city and the surrounding towns of Forsyth County (Kernersville, Clemmons, Lewisville), and all of their cases run through the same single clerk's office and the same Portal search — there is no separate municipal court records system for county-level civil, criminal, or family matters, though city police tickets for municipal ordinance violations are handled separately by municipal court.
Search Forsyth County court records online
Clerk of Superior Court
Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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) — Forsyth County
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Statewide eCourts case search, live in Forsyth County as part of the statewide rollout completed October 13, 2025
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Search by party name, case number, or citation.
What is available online
Portal covers civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic case information for Forsyth County. Document images are most complete for filings after the county's eCourts conversion; older files may require a request directly to the clerk's office.
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
Forsyth County clerk offices
Forsyth County Courthouse, 175 N. Chestnut Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (mail: PO Box 20099, Winston-Salem, NC 27120)
Phone: (336) 779-6300
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
In person. Visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office at the Forsyth County Courthouse, 175 N. Chestnut Street, Winston-Salem, during posted hours.
By mail. Write to the Forsyth County Courthouse, PO Box 20099, Winston-Salem, NC 27120, with the case number, the documents needed, and whether a certified copy is required.
Online. Search Portal for case information and, where available, document copies before visiting 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 Forsyth County court records?
Use Portal, the free statewide eCourts search, by party name, case number, or citation. It requires no account for a basic search.
Who keeps Forsyth County probate and estate records?
The Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court, the same office that handles civil, criminal, and family cases. There is no separate county clerk.
What are the Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court's hours?
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Forsyth County Courthouse, 175 N. Chestnut Street, Winston-Salem.
Can I get certified copies of Forsyth County court documents by mail?
Yes. Write to the clerk at the courthouse mailing address with the case number, the documents you need, whether you need certification, and payment or a request for a fee quote.
Sources
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Forsyth County — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/forsyth-county
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Forsyth County Contact Directory — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/forsyth-county/contact-directory
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Forsyth County Courthouse — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/forsyth-county/forsyth-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.