| Clerk of Superior Court | Wake County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Wake County Courthouse (civil), 316 Fayetteville St. Mall, Raleigh, NC 27601 (mail: PO Box 351, Raleigh, NC 27602). Criminal matters and marriages: Wake County Justice Center. |
| Phone | (919) 792-4000 |
| 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)) |
Wake County (Raleigh) is North Carolina's second-most-populous county, and its trial-court records are split across two buildings rather than one. The Wake County Clerk of Superior Court keeps records for both Superior and District Court, but civil matters (other than marriages) are handled at the Wake County Courthouse on Fayetteville Street, while criminal matters and marriages are handled at the separate Wake County Justice Center. As in every North Carolina county, there is a single clerk's office, not a separate county clerk, for civil, criminal, family, and probate/estate records.
Wake County is part of North Carolina's statewide eCourts rollout, and the Portal case search works the same way here as anywhere else in the state: free, no account required for basic searches, covering case information and, for many filings, document copies.
A common point of confusion is which building to visit. If your business is a civil lawsuit, a small claim, probate, or an estate matter, go to the Wake County Courthouse; if it involves a criminal charge or a marriage license/ceremony, go to the Wake County Justice Center.
Search Wake County court records online
Clerk of Superior Court
Wake 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 Wake County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Civil filings (except marriages) are processed at the Wake County Courthouse; criminal matters and marriages are at the Wake County Justice Center.
Other courts
Portal (eCourts) — Wake County
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Statewide eCourts case search, live in Wake 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; document availability depends on when the case was filed.
What is available online
Portal covers civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic case information statewide as of the county's eCourts conversion. Document images are more complete for filings made after conversion; older estate, civil, or criminal files may require a request to the clerk's office in the appropriate building.
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
Wake County clerk offices
Wake County Courthouse (civil), 316 Fayetteville St. Mall, Raleigh, NC 27601 (mail: PO Box 351, Raleigh, NC 27602). Criminal matters and marriages: Wake County Justice Center.
Phone: (919) 792-4000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Civil, probate, and estate records. Visit or write to the Wake County Courthouse, 316 Fayetteville St. Mall, Raleigh (mail: PO Box 351, Raleigh, NC 27602). Include the case number if known, the documents needed, and whether a certified copy is required.
Criminal records. Visit the Wake County Justice Center, where criminal matters are processed separately from the civil courthouse.
Online. Search Portal first; many recent filings and documents are available without a courthouse visit.
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
Where do I go for a Wake County civil or probate record?
The Wake County Courthouse at 316 Fayetteville St. Mall in Raleigh. Criminal cases and marriages are handled at the separate Wake County Justice Center.
Is there a free online search for Wake County court cases?
Yes. Portal, the statewide eCourts search, is free and requires no account for basic searches, and covers Wake County as part of the statewide rollout completed in October 2025.
Who is the record keeper for Wake County District and Superior Court?
The Wake County Clerk of Superior Court, the same office for both trial divisions and for estates. Wake County does not have a separate county clerk.
What are the hours for the Wake County Courthouse?
The courthouse is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and closed weekends.
Sources
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Wake County — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/wake-county
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Wake County Contact Directory — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/wake-county/contact-directory
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Wake County Courthouse — https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/wake-county/wake-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.