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North Carolina

Whether you live in Raleigh or New York City, you can request public records held in the state of North Carolina.

The state has an open policy, but it is essential to understand the system if you are trying to request documents of any kind.

As you might expect, any type of record can be difficult. Records are held at different agencies. Some require a request form; others are searchable online.

Navigating the state’s world of public records requires some direction.

Those needing to access records have a right to submit a request through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Every state has different processes, so it’s essential to know the state’s law before requesting any documents.

Table of Contents

What does the North Carolina public records law say?

North Carolina’s Public Records Law can be defined as expansive but without any actual form of enforcement.

Agencies cannot ask a requester why they are searching for specific records. A separate office negotiates fees based on requests to maintain minimal costs.

There is no time limit on when requests must be completed, and there is currently no formal appeal system process, so requesters must deal with good faith agencies that have the support of the law on their side.

Under the public records law in North Carolina, individuals are entitled to public inspection of records held by all public agencies.

The term public agency is defined as an agency of the North Carolina government or any of its subdivisions, including every public officer and public office, board, commission, institution, bureau, department, council, unit, or authority of the state government or a subdivision of government.

More information can be found on the state website, NorthCarolina.gov.

How can I access public records in North Carolina?

In some cases, accessing public records in North Carolina requires a physical form to request the document. In other cases, online databases can provide 24/7 access to information; no form is required.

If a physical form is required, it can be sent by mail, email, or phone to the corresponding department.

Note that state agencies and employees are not required to create and compile a government record if one does not currently exist.

With each department different, expect slight variations to the rules if accessing records from multiple locations.

In general, a public records request should include:

  • Your name
  • Contact information
  • The name of the document
  • Details about the document
  • A time frame that you would like to receive the materials by
  • Document delivery method, mail or email

North Carolina Criminal Records

The criminal records within North Carolina are classified as official documents that detail all criminal activities committed in the state.

These documents are prepared and maintained by law enforcement agencies, courts, agencies, detention, and correctional facilities.

Criminal records describe felonies and misdemeanors of alleged and convicted criminals and records of arrest, indictment, and conviction.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety maintains criminal records in the state.

What’s on a North Carolina criminal record?

A criminal record provides a detailed record of a person’s history with law enforcement. These records are taken from various sources and include a person’s arrest records, prior convictions, and incarcerations within the state’s prisons.

More specifically, a criminal record or a background check will provide the following information:

  • Date of birth
  • Photograph/mugshot
  • Fingerprints
  • Current and past addresses
  • Former arrest records
  • Current and past warrants
  • Sex offender status

Where can I find North Carolina criminal records?

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety works with the state’s court system to provide criminal background checks.

How expansive criminal records are in North Carolina varies? You can contact the local government law enforcement agency for localized criminal record requests.

You will use the North Carolina Court System to request fingerprint-based background checks, also known within the state of North Carolina as the ‘Right to Review’ record.

The processing fee for requests for criminal records is $14.

North Carolina Inmate Records

The state of North Carolina has approximately 31,000 inmates within its corrections system. Inmate records can provide information on current inmates housed within any correctional facility within the state.

North Carolina Department Of Public Safety Offender Public Information maintains inmate records in the state.

What’s on a North Carolina inmate record?

The information on inmate records varies from state to state; in North Carolina, the records usually contain personal information and specific details about a person’s incarceration situation.

Public access to inmate records can provide the following information when accessed:

  • Name and aliases
  • Date of Birth
  • Social security number
  • Height and weight
  • DOC ID
  • Booking photo
  • Assigned location
  • Sentence summary

Where can a person find North Carolina inmate records?

North Carolina Department Of Public Safety Offender Public Information search will provide you with the inmate record you are accessing.

You will need to provide specific details:

  • Inmate’s full name
  • Gender
  • Race
  • Date of birth
  • Incarceration identification number

The same system can provide information on parolees. The search function allows you to search for active inmates or active parolees.

North Carolina Court Records

North Carolina citizens have the authority to search for, obtain, and utilize public records held by the state government, county government, municipality, or city.

Under the Freedom of Information Law, requesters have the tools necessary to acquire records easily and more efficiently.

What’s on a North Carolina court record?

In most cases, court records are quite extensive and come with various documents. Most people find these documents to be the most helpful:

  • Court minutes
  • Case files
  • Court orders
  • Dockets
  • Orders of the court
  • Judgment documentation
  • Jury records and files
  • Witness documentation

Where can I find North Carolina court records?

In order to access court records, a request can be made at a clerk’s court office in any county.

To find a case, you can use the court terminals to search using the defendant’s name, case number, and/or victim/witness name.

Copies of any paper documents can be processed for a nominal fee.

An individual can access information about civil, estate cases, or special proceedings in the North Carolina state court system on self-service public terminals located in the Clerk of Court’s office in any county.

View the user’s manual for the system where the information is stored. Paper copies can be prepared by staff for a small fee.

You can use the North Carolina Judicial Branch website to find the court that maintains the record you are attempting to access.

North Carolina Vital Records

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services maintains vital records in North Carolina.

When requesting a North Carolina Vital Record, you will need to contact the Register of Deeds in the jurisdiction where the event happened.

North Carolina’s vital records include:

  • Birth Certificates
  • Death Certificates
  • Marriage Licenses
  • Divorce Decrees

Public record requests for vital records in North Carolina will vary depending on the document you access and the Register of Deeds Office request form.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
NC Department of Health and Human Services
2001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2001

Customer Service Center: 1-800-662-7030

What information do I need to request a North Carolina birth certificate?

The North Carolina birth certificate request application will ask for specific information.

  • Full name on the birth record
  • Date of birth
  • Parents’ full name before marriage

Where can I find a North Carolina birth certificate?

You can request a certified copy of a North Carolina birth record by completing the birth record request form and submitting it by mail or in person with the Register of Deeds.

Example – Person County Register of Deeds
Vital Records Request Form
Tonya R Wilson – Registrar
P.O. Box 209
Roxboro, North Carolina  27573

The cost of a certified birth certificate in North Carolina is $10. You can purchase a non-certified copy for $1.

What information do I need for a death certificate in North Carolina?

The North death record request form will ask for specific details when ordering a death record.

  • Full name on the death record
  • Date of death
  • Gender
  • Full name of parents

Where can I find a North Carolina death record?

You can request a certified copy of a North Carolina death record by completing the death record request form and submitting it by mail or in person.

Example – Wake County Register of Deeds
Application for Wake County Birth Certificate
Wake County Register of Deeds
Attention: Vital Records
P. O. Box 1897
Raleigh, NC 27602-1897

The cost of a certified death record is $10 in North Carolina. You can purchase a non-certified copy for $1.

What information do I need to request a marriage certificate in North Carolina?

The North Carolina death record request form will ask for specific details when ordering a death record.

  • Full name of both spouses
  • Date of death

Where can I find an existing North Carolina marriage record?

You can request a certified copy of a North Carolina marriage record by completing the marriage certificate request form and submitting it by mail or in person.

Example – New Hanover County
New Hanover County Application for Vital Records
320 Chestnut Street
Suite 120
Wilmington N.C. 28401

The cost of a certified death record is $10 in North Carolina. You can purchase a non-certified copy for $1.

What information do I need to request a divorce certificate in North Carolina?

The Clerk of Court maintains divorce records in North Carolina.

Every Clerk’s Office will have different procedures when accessing county records.

Where can I find a North Carolina divorce record?

You will need to contact the Clerk of Court’s Office that granted the divorce to ask about forms, fees, and office hours.

North Carolina Property Records

The North Carolina Secretary of State maintains property records in North Carolina.

The property records you can access include:

  • Liens
  • Land records
  • Titles
  • Property deeds
  • Mortgages
  • Property tax assessment records
  • Zoning information
  • Probate

For data, parcel, and tax maps, you will need to contact the Geographic Information System(GIS) to ask about public access.

What information do I need to request property records in North Carolina?

You will need basic information to access a public property record.

Where can I find a North Carolina property record?

You will use the Secretary of State Land Records search to do a public records search.

FAQs

Can a request be submitted by non-residents of North Carolina?

Anyone can request and receive records that pertain to public business.

Is there a records custodian in North Carolina?

North Carolina public records policy does not list a records custodian. Records are available with each state department.

What exemptions exist for public records requests in North Carolina?

According to North Carolina General Statutes agency of North Carolina government may refuse to disclose requested records if one or more of the following exemptions apply:

  • Communication between attorneys and government clients made within the scope of the attorney-client relationship
  • Local and state tax information
  • Some Supreme Court, Superior Court, and Court of Appeals rulings
  • Public enterprise billing information
  • Confidential information
  • Personally identifiable admissions information for North Carolina public universities
  • Trade secrets
  • Specific government lawsuit settlements
  • Criminal investigation records
  • Criminal intelligence information records
  • Information obtained via a 911 database
  • Emergency response plans
  • Photographs and recordings of autopsies

This is an abbreviated list as numerous other exceptions can be applied under the state’s public records law.

How long does North Carolina have to respond to a public records request?

North Carolina does not specify a response time for public records.

Is there an appeals process in place for public records request in North Carolina?

There is no official appeals process in North Carolina, so if a request is denied for any reason, you can ask for a reason for the denial.

Non-exempt portions of the record can be released, or the exempt portions can be redacted.

You can contact the North Carolina Attorney General to report violations of the Freedom of Information Act.

Are estate records available in North Carolina?

North Carolina considers all real estate records public.

What fees are associated with requesting public records in North Carolina?

Agencies in the state of North Carolina only have the power to be able to charge for copies unless an ‘extensive amount of labor’ is involved in providing the public records.

In some instances, the State Chief Information Office can mediate fees by a requester.

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