Cumberland County, formed from Bladen County in 1754, is located in the coastal plain region. As of the 2020 US census, the county’s population was estimated as 334,728, making it North Carolina's fifth-most densely populated County. It has 142,175 housing units and spans over 652.6 square miles of land area. Its county seat is Fayetteville.

Courts in Cumberland County

Cumberland County is home to the Superior Courts and the District Courts. The Superior Courts handle civil cases involving more than $25,000. Also, all felonies, misdemeanors, complex commercial laws, and resolution of matters are within their purview. In addition, infraction appeals from the District Court are heard by the superior courts.

The District Courts hear civil cases such as monetary claims involving less than $25,000. It also handles divorce, child custody, and support cases. The criminal division of the court handles cases involving misdemeanors and infractions. While the juvenile division handles juvenile cases involving delinquency issues, abuse, neglect, and dependency cases.

The magistrate division of the District Court has jurisdiction over civil cases involving small claims of $10,000 or less. It hears personal property recovery and landlord eviction cases. It is authorized to issue arrest warrants, and set bail in criminal cases. It also oversees the acceptance of guilty pleas for minor misdemeanors and infractions.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Cumberland County

The Cumberland County Clerk is responsible for keeping public court records in the County. Members of the public interested in obtaining paper copies of court records can visit the Clerk’s Office. Cumberland County public court records can also be accessed by filling out the online request form. Alternatively, the North Carolina eCourt management system provides the public with remote access to these records.

Types of Public Court Records in Cumberland County

Some court records are publicly available in Cumberland County. Some of these records include:

• Land Records: These include bills of sale, mortgages, indentures, leases, and title deeds
• Civil Court Records: These include personal injury cases, product liability, and mortgage foreclosures
• Family Court Records: These include divorce, annulment, spousal support, and paternity cases
• Criminal Case Records: These include court proceedings for misdemeanors and felonies
• Traffic Violation Records: These include records of traffic infractions such as driving without a seat belt, driving with outdated licenses, and permitting unauthorized minors to drive
• Small Claims Records: These include property damage, contract disputes, debt collection, inter-personal and inter-establishment civil cases

Confidential Court Records in Cumberland County

Not all court records are available to the public. Some records may be sealed due to the sensitive nature of the information. Examples are:

• Adoption Records
• Mental Health Records
• Records Relating to Juvenile Delinquency
• Marriage/Divorce Records

Juvenile Delinquency in Cumberland, NC

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Cumberland County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in North Carolina often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 772 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Cumberland County. Of that total, 96% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 743 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Cumberland County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Cumberland County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Cumberland County, NC

https://www.nc.gov/

County Seat:	Fayetteville
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1754
Total Square Miles:	658
2019 Population:	332,546
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	PO BOX 1829 County Courthouse Fayetteville , NC 28302-1829 http://www.co.cumberland.nc.us

Cumberland County, NC Courts