| Clerk of Superior Court | New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | New Hanover County Courthouse, 316 Princess St, Wilmington, NC 28401 (mail: PO Box 2023, Wilmington, NC 28402) |
| Phone | (910) 772-6600 |
| 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)) |
New Hanover County's trial courts sit in the New Hanover County Courthouse in downtown Wilmington. As in every North Carolina county, one office — the New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court — keeps the records for Superior Court, District Court, and estates; there is no separate county clerk.
New Hanover is part of the statewide eCourts Portal system, so most case lookups, court-date searches, and many document requests can be handled online without a trip to the courthouse.
The courthouse offers handicap parking and access at the rear of the building, a detail worth knowing before visiting in person for a records request or a court date.
New Hanover is North Carolina's smallest county by land area among the state's most populous, anchored by Wilmington and the surrounding beach communities, and its courthouse serves the whole county from one location. As with every North Carolina county, real estate closings and title searches near the coast do not go through the Clerk of Superior Court at all — those records sit with the Register of Deeds — but every civil, criminal, family, and estate case in the county runs through the same clerk's office covered here.
Search New Hanover County court records online
Clerk of Superior Court
New Hanover 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 New Hanover 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) — New Hanover County
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Statewide eCourts case search, live in New Hanover 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 New Hanover County. Document images are strongest 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
New Hanover County clerk offices
New Hanover County Courthouse, 316 Princess St, Wilmington, NC 28401 (mail: PO Box 2023, Wilmington, NC 28402)
Phone: (910) 772-6600
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
In person. Visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office at the New Hanover County Courthouse, 316 Princess St, Wilmington, during posted hours. Handicap parking and access are at the rear of the building.
By mail. Write to PO Box 2023, Wilmington, NC 28402, 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 New Hanover 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.
Who keeps probate and estate records in New Hanover County?
The New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court, the same office that handles civil, criminal, and family cases. There is no separate county clerk.
What are the New Hanover County Clerk's office hours?
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the New Hanover County Courthouse, 316 Princess St, Wilmington.
Is the New Hanover County Courthouse accessible?
Yes. Handicap parking and building access are available at the rear of the courthouse.
Sources
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — New Hanover County — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/new-hanover-county
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — New Hanover County Contact Directory — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/new-hanover-county/contact-directory
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — New Hanover County Courthouse — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/new-hanover-county/new-hanover-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.