Durham County is located in the Piedmont region of central North Carolina. With an estimated population of 324,833, it is the sixth-most densely populated county in North Carolina. Spanning an area of 287.5 square miles of land mass, with 144,559 housing units. Its county seat is Durham, the only incorporated municipality in the state.

Courts in Durham County

Durham County is home to two courts. They are the Superior Courts and District Courts.

The Superior Courts in Durham County have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. However, only cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts are heard in these courts. Civil cases handled by Superior Courts include general civil claims for more than $25,000, divorce, annulment, small claims, and complex commercial cases.

The District Courts in Durham County oversee most general civil claims for less than $25,000, most infractions,  misdemeanors, ordinance violations, and magistrate matters.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Durham County

The Office of Durham County Clerk is responsible for keeping court records. These records are made accessible to the public by the Court clerk. Interested persons may obtain copies of public court records by visiting the Clerk’s Office. Alternatively, Durham County court records can be accessed through the Durham County Public Records Request Portal. Also, the unified North Carolina eCourt management system provides remote access to these records. In addition,  requests can be mailed in a self-addressed stamped envelope with a certified check or money order.

Types of Public Court Records in Durham County

Some court records are made available to the public in Durham County. They include:

• Traffic Violations Records: Include records of traffic infractions such as driving without a seat belt, driving with outdated licenses, and permitting unauthorized minors to drive
• Property Records: Include real property, mortgage information, plat map, deeds, and liens
• Criminal Court Records: Include court proceedings for misdemeanors and felonies
• Civil Court Records: Include personal injury cases, product liability, and mortgage foreclosures
• Probate Court Records: Include wills, estates, trusts, and guardianships

Confidential Court Records in Durham County

Confidential court records are documents from court proceedings not open to the general public. They are sealed by law or court order due to privacy concerns. Court records deemed confidential in Durham County include:

• Adoption Records
• Mental Health Records
• Drug and Alcohol Treatment Commitment Records
• Sealed Information by a Judicial Order
• Protection from Abuse Orders
• Juvenile Non-offender Records
• Paternity Records
• Confidential Name Change

Juvenile Delinquency in Durham, NC

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Durham 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 223 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Durham County. Of that total, 91% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 204 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Durham County, NC

https://www.nc.gov/

County Seat:	Durham
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1881
Total Square Miles:	298
2019 Population:	311,640
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Durham County, NC Courts