| Clerk of Superior Court | Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Mecklenburg County Courthouse, 832 East Fourth St, Charlotte, NC 28202 (mail: PO Box 37971, Charlotte, NC 28237-7971) |
| Phone | (704) 686-0400 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 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)) |
Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) is North Carolina's largest county and its busiest single clerk's office. As in every North Carolina county, one office — the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court — keeps the records for Superior Court, District Court, and estates and special proceedings; there is no separate county clerk. The clerk's office is inside the Mecklenburg County Courthouse and is open to the public 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Mecklenburg converted to the eCourts Portal system on October 9, giving the public a free search of current case information, court dates, and, for many filings, document copies. For criminal, civil, or estate/special-proceedings records filed before that conversion date that Portal does not show, the clerk's office directs requesters to email the relevant division (criminal, civil, or estate/special proceedings) with the record type, party names, and file number if known, rather than mailing a request.
Weddings performed by the clerk's magistrates are by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m., booked online — a detail worth knowing if your reason for visiting the courthouse is a civil marriage ceremony rather than a records request.
Search Mecklenburg County court records online
Clerk of Superior Court
Mecklenburg 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 Mecklenburg 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) — Mecklenburg County
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Statewide eCourts case search; Mecklenburg converted on October 9, 2023
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Cases and documents filed before the county's conversion date may not be fully indexed; contact the clerk's records email for older files.
What is available online
Portal covers case information and, for many filings, documents from October 9, 2023 forward. For older criminal, civil, or estate and special-proceedings documents that do not appear on Portal, the clerk's office asks requesters to email the specific division (criminal, civil, or estate special proceedings) with the record type, party names, and file number if known, instead of visiting or mailing a request.
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
Mecklenburg County clerk offices
Mecklenburg County Courthouse, 832 East Fourth St, Charlotte, NC 28202 (mail: PO Box 37971, Charlotte, NC 28237-7971)
Phone: (704) 686-0400
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Records available on Portal. Search by name, case number, or citation at the statewide Portal link above; many recent filings can be viewed or downloaded without visiting the courthouse.
Older records. For criminal, civil, or estate/special-proceedings files predating the county's eCourts conversion, email the matching Clerk of Superior Court division listed on the county's contact directory page with the case type, party names, and file number if known, rather than mailing a request.
In person. Visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office inside the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, 832 East Fourth St, Charlotte, during the posted 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. hours. Copies and certifications are paid at the counter.
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 Mecklenburg County court records online?
Use Portal, the statewide eCourts case search, free and open to the public without an account. It covers case information from the county's October 9, 2023 conversion date forward; older cases may require a records request to the clerk.
Who keeps probate and civil records in Mecklenburg County?
The same office that keeps criminal and family records: the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court. North Carolina does not have a separate county clerk for estates or civil filings.
How do I request an older Mecklenburg County court document that isn't on Portal?
Email the clerk's criminal, civil, or estate/special-proceedings division (addresses are listed on the county's contact directory page) with the record type, party names, and file number if you have it. This applies to files predating the county's eCourts conversion.
What are the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court's hours?
The office is open to the public 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, 832 East Fourth St, Charlotte.
Sources
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Mecklenburg County — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/mecklenburg-county
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Mecklenburg County Contact Directory — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/mecklenburg-county/contact-directory
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Mecklenburg County Courthouse — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/mecklenburg-county/mecklenburg-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.