| Clerk of Superior Court | Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Gaston County Courthouse, 325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Suite 1004, Gastonia, NC 28052 |
| Phone | (704) 852-3100 |
| 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)) |
Gaston County's trial courts sit in the Gaston County Courthouse in Gastonia. As in every North Carolina county, one office — the Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court — keeps the records for Superior Court, District Court, and estates; there is no separate county clerk.
Gaston was part of the final group of 13 counties that completed North Carolina's statewide eCourts conversion, bringing every one of the state's 100 counties onto the Portal case-search system.
As elsewhere in the state, expect the best online document coverage for cases filed at or after the county's eCourts conversion date; older civil, criminal, or estate files may still need a request directly to the clerk's office.
Gaston County sits just west of Mecklenburg County in the Charlotte metro area, and its clerk's office fields a steady volume of cases connected to the region's growth — evictions, small claims, and family matters chief among them. Because Gaston converted to eCourts later than some neighboring counties, it is worth double-checking a case's filing date against the county's conversion window before assuming Portal has no record of it.
Search Gaston County court records online
Clerk of Superior Court
Gaston 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 Gaston 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) — Gaston County
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Statewide eCourts case search; Gaston was part of the final group of 13 counties that completed the statewide rollout on 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 Gaston County. Document images are strongest for filings made 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
Gaston County clerk offices
Gaston County Courthouse, 325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Suite 1004, Gastonia, NC 28052
Phone: (704) 852-3100
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
In person. Visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office at the Gaston County Courthouse, 325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Suite 1004, Gastonia, during posted hours.
By mail. Write to the clerk's office at the courthouse address with the case number, the documents needed, and whether a certified copy is required; call ahead to confirm the fee and accepted payment methods.
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 Gaston 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.
When did Gaston County get eCourts?
Gaston County was part of the final group of 13 counties added when North Carolina completed its statewide eCourts rollout on October 13, 2025.
Who keeps probate and estate records in Gaston County?
The Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court, the same office that handles civil, criminal, and family cases. There is no separate county clerk.
What are the Gaston County Clerk's office hours?
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Gaston County Courthouse, 325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Gastonia.
Sources
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Gaston County — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/gaston-county
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Gaston County Contact Directory — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/gaston-county/contact-directory
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Gaston County Courthouse — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/gaston-county/gaston-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.