Wake County NC Court Records Search: eCourts Portal, Clerk, Court Dates, Copies, Appeals & PACER
Use this guide to search Wake County, North Carolina court records through the correct official route. eCourts Portal, the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court, courthouse public terminals, certified criminal record checks, estates, traffic court, appeals and federal PACER records each serve a different purpose.
Public-Court-Records.us is independent. This website is not the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court, the North Carolina Judicial Branch, NC eCourts, PACER, a court clerk, a government agency, a law firm or a Consumer Reporting Agency. This guide provides general public court-record access information only.
A matching name is not proof of identity. Several people can share the same name. A complaint, petition, charge, citation, arrest, indictment, lawsuit or traffic ticket does not prove guilt, liability or final outcome. Always verify the case number, court, case type, filing date, party role and disposition with the official custodian.
Wake County court records start with eCourts, but official copies still route through the clerk
Wake County is part of North Carolina’s statewide eCourts environment. Public users can use eCourts Portal to search available court information, case records, hearings, judgments and payments. However, an online case result is not always a certified court record, and some documents still require clerk assistance, a courthouse terminal, a copy request or a restricted-access process.
Wake was among the early counties in the eCourts rollout.
North Carolina eCourts is now statewide across all counties.
Main Wake County court and Clerk of Superior Court phone number.
Published fee for a single-county certified criminal record search.
Wake County court-record route finder
Select the kind of record you need. This tool runs in your browser and does not ask for a person’s name, case number, birth date, Social Security number, address, citation number, driver-license number or any private information.
Use Smart Search or the relevant Portal search option for available Wake County case information. Search by case number when possible and verify name matches carefully.
How to use NC eCourts Portal for Wake County court records
North Carolina’s eCourts Portal is the main online route for available Wake County court-record searching. The Portal training materials describe public access to court information online, including court records, court dates, fines and fees. Public anonymous searching is available for publicly available court information, while registered users and elevated-access users may have different access depending on role and authorization.
- Smart Search: detailed case summary / register of actions when available.
- Search Hearings: court-date and hearing searches by location and hearing type.
- Judgment Search: judgment search by party name or case number.
- Payments: fines and fees payment options when supported.
- Transcript Search: transcript-related searching where available.
- Use case number first when available.
- Use Advanced Filtering Options when searching by attorney name, business name, citation number or other special criteria.
- Clear browser cache or sign out and try again if Portal behaves unexpectedly.
- Do not rely on Portal alone for background screening.
- Contact the Wake County Clerk if an official copy or certification is needed.
Use the official Portal URL or the Search Court Records link from the North Carolina Judicial Branch website.
When a location filter is available, choose Wake County to avoid mixing results from other North Carolina counties.
A case number is usually the safest lookup key and helps avoid false matches on common names.
Compare party role, case type, court, filing date, hearing data and disposition before relying on a match.
NC Judicial Branch guidance says criminal, civil, special proceeding and estates case information can be accessed through public self-service terminals in clerk offices.
Portal information is not always an official certified record. Case documents may be certified by the clerk in the county where the case was filed.
Which Wake County court-record route should you use?
Wake County records may involve Superior Court, District Court, small claims, estates, special proceedings, family court, traffic court, appeals or federal courts. Use the case type first, then choose the official source.
| Need | Correct official route | Important search note |
|---|---|---|
| Civil lawsuit, judgment, lien, foreclosure, partition or condemnation | eCourts Portal and Wake County Clerk of Superior Court / civil courthouse route | Civil matters, except marriages, are conducted at Wake County Courthouse. The clerk’s office has court proceedings affecting real estate, judgments and liens. |
| Superior Court civil case over $25,000 or felony case | Superior Court / Clerk of Superior Court / eCourts Portal | North Carolina Superior Courts hear felony cases and civil cases over $25,000. Verify final disposition before relying on criminal results. |
| District Court civil, criminal, juvenile or magistrate matter | District Court / Clerk of Superior Court / eCourts Portal | District Courts hear civil, criminal, juvenile and magistrate matters. Juvenile records may be restricted. |
| Traffic ticket or misdemeanor | Wake County Justice Center, eCourts Portal and District Court traffic/criminal route | Traffic Tickets and Misdemeanors contact: 919-792-4300. Administrative Traffic Court is in courtroom 101 at the Justice Center. |
| Divorce, child custody or pending family case | Wake County Clerk / eCourts Portal / Family Court route | Contact directory lists Divorce, Child Custody, Pending Cases at 919-792-4125. Family records may have privacy limits. |
| Domestic violence or child support | Wake County Clerk / Domestic Violence and Child Support route | Contact directory lists Domestic Violence and Child Support at 919-792-4100. Protected-party information may be restricted. |
| Small claims | Small Claims / Magistrate / District Court route | North Carolina small-claims limits vary by county from $5,000 to $10,000. Wake Small Claims contact: 919-792-4175. |
| Estate, will or probate-style record | Wake Estates / Clerk of Superior Court | North Carolina uses the Clerk of Superior Court for estate administration. Wake Estates contact: 919-792-4450. |
| Adoption, guardianship, foreclosure, name change or special proceeding | Special Proceedings / Clerk of Superior Court | Contact directory lists Adoption, Guardianship, Foreclosure, Name Changes at 919-792-4600. Some special proceedings are confidential or restricted. |
| Single-county certified criminal record check | Clerk of Superior Court with AOC-CR-314 and fee | Published NC guidance lists a $25 fee for a certified criminal record search by name in one county through the clerk’s office. |
| State appeal | North Carolina Court of Appeals, Supreme Court, or appellate eFiling / Document Library | Appeals use separate appellate resources. Trial court case numbers and appellate case numbers may differ. |
| Federal civil, criminal or bankruptcy case | PACER, U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina, or U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of North Carolina | Federal records are not Wake County Clerk records. Wake County is within the Eastern District of North Carolina federal system. |
Wake County Clerk of Superior Court: official records, copies and certified records
The Clerk of Superior Court is the key local custodian for Wake County court case records. North Carolina Judicial Branch guidance states that NCAOC is not the custodian of court documents or case information; for copies of court documents, users should contact the clerk’s office in the county where the case was filed. Case documents may be certified by the clerk for that county.
- Case number, if known.
- Party names or case caption.
- Case type and approximate filing year.
- Exact document needed, such as judgment, order, divorce judgment, criminal disposition, estate order, foreclosure document or small-claims judgment.
- Copy type: plain, certified, exemplified, transcript or audio request.
- Delivery method and payment method.
- Clerk of Superior Court: 919-792-4000
- Traffic Tickets and Misdemeanors: 919-792-4300
- Felonies: 919-792-4300
- Record Checks / Expungements: 919-792-4325
- Judgments / Executions / Liens: 919-792-4200
- Small Claims: 919-792-4175
- Divorce / Custody / Pending Cases: 919-792-4125
- Estates: 919-792-4450
- Adoption / Guardianship / Foreclosure / Name Changes: 919-792-4600
Use eCourts Portal or a public terminal to identify the case number and docket details.
Ask for the specific judgment, order, decree, disposition, estate document, special proceeding file, hearing record or transcript need.
Use the contact directory number tied to traffic, criminal, estates, small claims, divorce, special proceedings or judgments.
Copy, certification, transcript, audio, search and payment-processing costs may differ. Ask before mailing or paying.
Do not remove seals, certification pages, covers, staples or clerk markings if the document must be used officially.
Wake County court-record fees and payment details to verify
Fees can depend on whether you need a certified criminal record check, a certified copy, a transcript, an audio copy, a plain copy, a traffic payment, a civil filing fee, an estate filing, a special proceeding or a federal PACER document. Always verify the current amount with the official court or clerk before paying.
| Item | Published detail | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Certified criminal record search, one county | $25 fee listed by NC Judicial Branch for a certified criminal record search by name through the Clerk of Superior Court. | Use this for a clerk-certified single-county search, not as a substitute for a statewide SBI or FCRA background-report process. |
| Portal search | Public users can search publicly available court information in eCourts Portal. | Portal information is useful for lookup, but official certified copies must come from the appropriate clerk. |
| Public self-service terminals | NC guidance says criminal, civil, special proceeding and estates case information can be accessed on public terminals in clerk offices. | Use terminal access when Portal does not show enough information or when the clerk directs you there. |
| NCAOC public-record request | NCAOC says it is not the custodian of court documents or case information. | For case copies, contact the clerk in the county where the case was filed instead of using a general NCAOC request for court documents. |
| Traffic and criminal payments by mail | NC court-cost guidance says certified/cashier’s checks or money orders should be made out to the Clerk of Superior Court of the county where payment is made. | Confirm Wake County payment instructions before mailing; do not mail cash. |
| Small claims amount limit | North Carolina small claims maximums vary by county from $5,000 to $10,000. | Check Wake County current small-claims instructions and forms before filing or assuming the limit. |
| PACER federal records | PACER pricing verified September 2, 2026: $0.10 per page, many single documents capped at $3, and quarterly bills of $30 or less are waived. | A temporary increase to $0.12 per page and a $40 quarterly waiver threshold is scheduled for January 1, 2027. |
Certified single-county criminal record check estimator
This estimator uses the published $25 fee for a certified criminal record search by name in one county. It is only a planning aid. The Clerk of Superior Court controls the actual fee and process.
Official Wake County court-record links and what to do after opening each one
These links are included with next-step instructions so this page is more useful than a generic directory or fake search box.
Use this for available public case information, court records, hearings, judgments and payments.
- Choose the relevant search tool, such as Smart Search or Search Hearings.
- Select Wake County when a location filter is available.
- Search by case number when possible.
- Use advanced filters for attorney, business, citation or other specific search types.
- Contact the Wake County Clerk for official copies or certification.
Use this to understand Smart Search, hearings, payments, judgment search and Portal behavior.
- Review the overview guide and FAQs.
- Use how-to videos for Smart Search and Search Hearings.
- Read basic search tips before broad name searching.
- Use the correct search type and filters.
- Clear browser cache if Portal returns unexpected errors.
Use this to reach the correct clerk department or court office.
- Use 919-792-4000 for the Clerk of Superior Court main number.
- Use 919-792-4300 for traffic, misdemeanors or felonies.
- Use 919-792-4325 for record checks and expungements.
- Use 919-792-4450 for estates.
- Use 919-792-4600 for adoption, guardianship, foreclosure and name changes.
Use this for civil courthouse address, hours and courthouse information.
- Use this location for civil matters except marriages.
- Confirm the address is 316 Fayetteville St. Mall, Raleigh.
- Check current hours before visiting.
- Use the building directory if you need the correct floor or office.
- For criminal matters or marriages, use the Justice Center page instead.
Use this for criminal matters, marriages, traffic and Justice Center location details.
- Confirm the address is 300 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh.
- Use this location for criminal matters and marriages.
- Check current hours before visiting.
- Use courtroom 101 information for Administrative Traffic Court when applicable.
- Call the clerk if you are not sure which building applies.
Use this to understand public terminals, criminal/civil case records, transcripts and copy routes.
- Review public terminal guidance.
- Use clerk assistance when online records are incomplete.
- Learn when transcripts require a court reporter route.
- Separate police reports from court records.
- Use the clerk in the county where the case was filed for copies.
Use this for single-county certified criminal record searches and statewide SBI options.
- Use the clerk route for a certified search in one county.
- Use the required AOC-CR-314 form when applicable.
- Submit the published fee to the clerk.
- Use the SBI route for statewide self-review when needed.
- Do not treat this article as a screening product.
Use this for Judicial Branch public records that are not case documents held by a county clerk.
- Read the warning that NCAOC is not the custodian of court documents.
- Use the Wake County Clerk for Wake case-document copies.
- Use Register of Deeds for birth, death, marriage and similar records.
- Use the proper court or agency for prison, law-enforcement or real-estate records.
- Do not ask NCAOC to create a record that does not exist.
Use this for Wake administrative traffic court appearance details.
- Confirm the court date through eCourts or official notice.
- Go to courtroom 101 at the Justice Center if required.
- Sign in with the clerk or follow posted courtroom instructions.
- Remember this setting is not a trial courtroom.
- If contesting a citation, follow the page’s instructions for setting a trial date.
Use this for North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals documents.
- Use the Document Library for public appellate documents.
- Search by appellate case number when available.
- Compare the trial court case number and parties.
- Create an eFiling account only if you intend to file documents.
- Contact appellate court staff for official appellate-copy questions.
Wake County court locations and record-related contact points
Wake County has two main downtown Raleigh court buildings for this guide. Civil matters route to Wake County Courthouse, while criminal matters and marriages route to Wake County Justice Center. Always confirm the correct building before visiting, especially when ordering copies or appearing for a hearing.
| Office or building | Address | Phone / hours / record note |
|---|---|---|
| Wake County Courthouse | 316 Fayetteville St. Mall, Raleigh, NC 27601 | 919-792-4000; Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; civil matters except marriages. |
| Wake County Courthouse mailing address | PO Box 351, Raleigh, NC 27602 | Use only after confirming the correct mailing instructions with the clerk. |
| Wake County Justice Center | 300 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601 | 919-792-4000; Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; criminal matters and marriages. |
| Administrative Traffic Court | Wake County Justice Center, Courtroom 101, 300 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601 | 919-792-4300; held from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the scheduled court date. |
| Record checks / expungements / disposed driver-license matters | Use Wake County Clerk contact route | 919-792-4325; use for single-county record checks and related clerk questions. |
| Estates | Use Wake County Clerk / civil courthouse route unless clerk instructs otherwise | 919-792-4450; estate administration and estate records route. |
| Special proceedings | Use Wake County Clerk route | 919-792-4600; adoption, guardianship, foreclosure and name-change route. Some records are confidential. |
Why some Wake County court records may be missing, restricted or redacted
Public court access is not the same as complete remote access to every document. Some Wake County court information may require a public terminal, clerk assistance, authorized access, a certified-copy request or a confidential-record process.
- Wrong county selected in eCourts Portal.
- Wrong case type or hearing search option.
- Name spelling, maiden name, business suffix or party-role mismatch.
- Case number entered without required format.
- New filing not yet fully visible.
- Older paper, microfilm or clerk file requiring direct assistance.
- Federal, appellate, Register of Deeds or law-enforcement record in a different system.
- Juvenile matters.
- Adoption records.
- Domestic violence and protected-party information.
- Child custody, support and sensitive family records.
- Incompetency, guardianship and some special proceedings.
- Sealed, expunged or confidential criminal records.
- Victim information, protected addresses and personal identifiers.
Wake County case-type notes that prevent wrong-system searches
North Carolina Superior Courts hear felony criminal cases and civil cases over $25,000. The clerk is responsible for recordkeeping functions.
District Courts hear civil, criminal, juvenile and magistrate matters. District Court is often the route for misdemeanors, traffic and many family matters.
North Carolina small-claims limits vary by county from $5,000 to $10,000 and small-claims matters are generally heard by magistrates.
North Carolina estate administration is handled through the Clerk of Superior Court. A will becomes a public record when filed after death with the clerk.
Wake Administrative Traffic Court is at the Justice Center. It is designed for many infractions and minor traffic offenses, not as a trial setting.
Foreclosures, adoptions, incompetency proceedings, guardianships and name changes may route through special proceedings, and some records can be confidential.
Wake County appeals: North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court
State appeals from Wake County trial courts do not always appear in the same place as the trial court docket. The North Carolina Court of Appeals is the state’s intermediate appellate court, and the Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state’s highest court on state-law matters. The North Carolina appellate eFiling site states that Supreme Court and Court of Appeals documents may be viewed without registering for an eFiling account, while an eFiling account is required if you intend to file.
Use this for the state intermediate appellate court overview and resources.
- Confirm the case is an appeal from a trial court or agency.
- Use the appellate case number when available.
- Compare trial court case number and party names.
- Review opinions, docket resources and document access.
- Contact appellate court staff for official appellate-copy questions.
Use this for the state’s highest court and final state-law appellate matters.
- Confirm the case is before the Supreme Court of North Carolina.
- Search by appellate case number or case title where available.
- Review opinions, orders and document-library access.
- Do not use this route for ordinary Wake trial-court copies.
- Use the appellate clerk route for official appellate documents.
Wake County federal and bankruptcy court records use PACER
Federal civil, criminal and bankruptcy records are not Wake County Clerk of Superior Court records. Wake County is in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina federal system. Bankruptcy records use the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina and PACER, including the Raleigh Division for many local matters.
Use this for federal civil and criminal court information.
- Confirm the case is federal, not Wake County state court.
- Use PACER for federal docket and document access.
- Check the county list or federal courthouse information when unsure.
- Contact the federal clerk for certified-copy or restricted-document questions.
Use this to verify Eastern District county coverage.
- Find Wake County in the county list.
- Confirm the correct federal district before searching.
- Use PACER Case Locator if the federal court is unknown.
- Do not search eCourts Portal for federal case files.
Use this for bankruptcy court location and division information.
- Confirm the bankruptcy case belongs to the Eastern District of North Carolina.
- Use PACER for bankruptcy dockets and documents.
- Check Raleigh Division details when relevant.
- Contact the bankruptcy clerk for certified or archived records.
PACER pricing verified: September 2, 2026.
- Review the current $0.10 per-page fee.
- Check which single documents are capped at $3.
- Remember search results and some reports may not have the same cap.
- Note that quarterly bills of $30 or less are currently waived.
- Recheck the January 1, 2027 temporary fee increase before publishing old PACER prices.
Wake County court records vs police, jail, vital, real estate and federal records
| Need | Correct source type | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Court case, docket, hearing, order or judgment | NC eCourts Portal and Wake County Clerk of Superior Court | This is the main court-record route for Wake County Superior and District Court case information. |
| Certified court document | Wake County Clerk of Superior Court | A portal screenshot or online search result is not the same as a certified copy. |
| Police report | Law-enforcement agency that investigated the incident | Police reports and court records are separate systems. |
| Current custody or jail booking | Wake County Sheriff or detention system | Jail custody is not the same as court disposition. |
| Birth, death, marriage or other vital record | Wake County Register of Deeds or vital records route | The Wake County page directs users to the Register of Deeds for birth, death, marriage and other public records. |
| Deed or recorded real estate document | Register of Deeds or real estate recording route | Recorded instruments are not the same as full court case files. |
| Federal civil, criminal or bankruptcy docket | PACER and federal court clerk | Federal cases are not stored in NC eCourts Portal as Wake County state cases. |
How to read a Wake County court docket responsibly
A docket or case summary is a chronological record of activity in the case. It is not a background report, jail booking, police report or proof that an allegation is true.
Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, appellant, appellee, creditor, debtor, decedent, guardian and ward mean different things. A party role does not automatically mean wrongdoing.
Complaint, petition, motion, notice, order, judgment, dismissal, hearing, plea, sentence, ticket, bond or payment entries should be read in sequence and verified with the actual document when needed.
Open, pending, disposed, dismissed, closed, appealed, sealed, expunged or restricted can describe procedural status. It may not answer every question about guilt, liability, collection, appeal or satisfaction.
Use Wake County court records responsibly
- Full name and spelling variations.
- Business legal name and suffix when relevant.
- Case number.
- Court and county.
- Filing date and case type.
- Party role.
- Attorney, judge, citation or hearing information when relevant.
- Final disposition or latest order.
- Certified copy when an official record is required.
- Harass, threaten, shame or retaliate against anyone.
- Publish unnecessary personal information.
- Bypass sealed, expunged, juvenile, adoption, confidential or restricted records.
- Make FCRA-regulated employment, housing, tenant, credit or insurance decisions.
- Claim a person was convicted based only on an arrest, citation, charge or filing.
Frequently asked questions about Wake County NC court records
How do I search Wake County court records by name?
Use the North Carolina eCourts Portal for available public case information and court records. Search by case number when possible. If you search by name, compare the court, case type, filing date, party role, hearing details and disposition before relying on a match.
What is the official Wake County court records portal?
The official online route is the North Carolina eCourts Portal, which is linked from NCcourts.gov. The portal allows public users to search and view available court information online, including case information, records, court dates and certain payment options.
Who keeps Wake County court records?
The Wake County Clerk of Superior Court is the local recordkeeping office for Superior Court and District Court case records in Wake County. The main Wake County clerk and court phone number is 919-792-4000.
Where is the Wake County Courthouse?
Wake County Courthouse is located at 316 Fayetteville St. Mall, Raleigh, NC 27601. The North Carolina Judicial Branch states that all civil matters, except marriages, are conducted there.
Where are Wake County criminal court and traffic matters handled?
Criminal matters, traffic-related court business and marriages are conducted at the Wake County Justice Center, 300 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601. Administrative Traffic Court is held in courtroom 101 at that location.
How do I get certified Wake County court records?
Request certified copies from the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court or the clerk in the county where the case was filed. NCAOC states it is not the custodian of court documents and that case documents may be certified by the clerk for the county where the case is filed.
How do I get a certified criminal record check in Wake County?
For a certified single-county criminal record search, submit the required North Carolina form to the Clerk of Superior Court with the published $25 fee. This is different from simply searching eCourts Portal.
Why might a Wake County case not appear online?
The case may be sealed, confidential, juvenile, adoption-related, too new, indexed differently, in a different county, in a federal court, restricted from remote access, available only at a public terminal, or held in a clerk file that requires direct clerk assistance.
Where do I search Wake County federal or bankruptcy records?
Federal civil and criminal records use PACER and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Bankruptcy records use PACER and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, including the Raleigh Division.
Can I use this page for employment, tenant, credit or insurance screening?
No. Public-Court-Records.us is not a Consumer Reporting Agency, and this guide is not an FCRA screening product. Do not use this page to make employment, housing, tenant, credit, insurance or similar eligibility decisions.
Wake County court-record publishing checklist
This guide was structured around official Wake County Judicial Branch pages, NC eCourts Portal resources, Portal training materials, North Carolina court-record help topics, criminal background-check guidance, public-record request guidance, Superior Court and District Court materials, small-claims and estates help topics, North Carolina appellate court resources, Eastern District of North Carolina federal resources, Eastern District bankruptcy resources and PACER pricing. Before publishing or updating, re-check Portal behavior, Wake contact numbers, courthouse hours, traffic court instructions, certified-copy routes, public-terminal guidance, appellate document access, federal county routing and PACER pricing.