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Craven County, North Carolina State Court Records

Craven County court records are official files created from cases that go through the local court system. This includes everything from criminal cases, civil lawsuits, divorces, probate matters, and traffic tickets to juvenile cases. The Craven County Clerk of Superior Court is the primary public agency responsible for maintaining, preserving, and providing access to criminal, civil, family (divorce/dissolution), probate, juvenile, and traffic case records heard in the county's District Court and Superior Court.

Court records often connect with other types of public records. For instance, an arrest by local police usually leads to a criminal court case, while final court decisions, like a divorce decree, name change, or adoption, are often linked to vital records (such as updated birth or marriage certificates) kept by the Register of Deeds or the state health department.

Are Craven County Court Records Public?

Under the North Carolina Public Records Law, most Craven County court records are public. This law, set forth in Chapter 132 of the North Carolina General Statutes, grants any member of the general public, regardless of citizenship or residency, the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records maintained by the courts and other public agencies in the state. Notwithstanding, this law also grants court clerks the right to withhold records in part (redaction or editing) or in full if the record or information in question is confidential or exempt from disclosure.

These exemptions maintain a healthy balance between the public's right to know and other legitimate security, safety, criminal justice, or privacy concerns. Common nonpublic court records include

  • Identifying information about minors
  • Certain pretrial materials
  • Social security numbers and other personal identifying information
  • Sealed or expunged records
  • Financial disclosures
  • Grand jury proceedings
  • Trade secrets
  • Confidential victims/witness information
  • Medical and mental health proceeding records
  • Attorney-client privileged information

What Information is Available in Craven County Court Records?

The following are public and are accessible to anyone:

  • Party information
  • Attorney information
  • Case history and timelines (trial dates, hearing dates, case events, etc.)
  • Court documents (complaints, answers, executed warrants, petitions, etc.)
  • Financial information (fines, costs, restitution, etc.)
  • Judgment and liens (civil judgments, tax liens, evictions, foreclosures, etc.)
  • Charges and dispositions

Craven County Court Records Search

Use any of the following methods to obtain Craven County court records (note that some options require a fee):

Online Access

The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides an online portal for case record searches. This website provides statewide record access and allows searches by name, county, date range, etc. For more specific results, make sure to specify Craven as the county where possible during the search. Users can also search an index of judgments. The online portal charges a fee for certain services. Accepted payment methods are Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit or debit cards.

In-Person Access

To access civil or criminal court records in person, visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office and use the public, self-service terminal for free searches. Actual document copies in a case file are available upon request from the clerk's office (for a fee). The clerk's office is located at

302 Broad Street

New Bern, NC 28560

Mail and Phone Requests

To request records from the clerk's office by phone or mail, contact the court clerk's office by phone or email for information about payment options, request forms, appropriate fees, and processing timeline.

P.O. Box 1187

New Bern, NC 28560

Phone: 252-639-3000

Fees for Court Records in Craven County

While access to court records is presumed free (for cases where no extra work or cost is required to retrieve or process requests), North Carolina law allows court clerks to assess a fee for copies. The following fees are applicable in Craven County:

  • $2.00 for the first copy and $0.25 for each additional page
  • $3.00 for certified copies
  • $25.00 for certified criminal record searches (background checks) at the clerk's office

Craven County Courthouse Locations

Craven County has two courts-the superior and district courts-which make up District 3B and are both located in the same courthouse and can be contacted at

Physical Address:

302 Broad Street

New Bern, NC 28560

Phone: (252) 639-3000

Fax: (252) 639-3030

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 1187

New Bern, NC 28563

Criminal Records Access in Craven County

Criminal case information can be obtained via self-service terminals at the Superior Court Clerk's Office. On the terminals, researchers can search for cases by defendant name, case number, or victim/witness name. For actual paper copies, contact clerk office staff. Copies cost a fee. Certified background checks are conducted by the court clerk's office for a $25.00 fee.

To do this, fill out and print Form AOC-CR-314 and submit by mail or in person. Payment methods are money order or certified check for mail-in requests and cash (for in-person requesters). The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) is the state's central repository for criminal records and conducts statewide criminal background checks for a $14.00 fee.

Craven County Probate Records

Probate cases, including estate administration, wills, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships, are handled by the Craven County Clerk of the Superior Court, who functions as the probate judge. The clerk's office is also responsible for all records that arise there from. Craven County probate records are public (with certain exceptions, e.g., unfiled wills and guardianship of minors) and can be obtained from the clerk's office for a fee. Online access is also available for probate and estate records via the statewide court record search portal.

Craven County Family Court Records

Family law matters are handled in the Craven County District Court and include cases like divorce, child support, child custody, and adoption. Although assumed public, significant restrictions limit access to records pertaining to certain cases, such as adoption and child custody records. The Craven County Clerk of Superior Court is the primary custodian of these records and is responsible for providing them to requesters for a fee.

The statewide court record portal provides online access to records. However, it is important to note that certain family law materials are governed by juvenile confidentiality rules and are not available online. For such records, restricted records, and certified copies, contact the court clerk in person.

Federal Court Records in Craven County

Federal court cases in Craven County are heard in the United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina. Cases heard in this court include drug trafficking across international borders, bank robbery, immigration offenses, human trafficking, bankruptcy cases, and mail/wire fraud. Records created by this court are referred to as "federal records" and are managed using Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER).

This resource also serves as a public access tool for record searches. This service costs $0.10 per page, with the cost of accessing any single document capped at $3.00. If the sought record isn't available online, use the PACER Case Locator to find the case number and the courthouse where a case was filed. The case locator is searchable by party name.

Craven County Court