Bladen County Court Records Search
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Bladen County, North Carolina, is one of the state’s oldest counties, and its courts maintain a broad range of case records spanning criminal, civil, family, and probate proceedings. These records are generated by the trial courts serving the county — primarily the Bladen County Superior Court and the Bladen County District Court — and are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court. Whether you are searching for a judgment, a divorce decree, an estate file, or a criminal case outcome, knowing which office holds the record and which tools are available online will save considerable time.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Bladen County?
The North Carolina Judicial Branch operates an online case search tool that covers Bladen County. NorthCarolinaCourts.us provides a starting point for anyone looking to understand what public court resources are available statewide. For direct case lookups in Bladen County, the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s eCourts Portal allows the public to search civil, criminal, and traffic case information by name, citation number, case number, or county — free of charge. Bladen County joined the eCourts system in February 2025 as part of the Judicial Branch’s statewide rollout, meaning digital case records from that transition point forward are now searchable online.
For cases filed before the eCourts migration, or when you need physical documents rather than digital summaries, you will need to visit or contact the Bladen County Courthouse directly.
Bladen County Courthouse — Clerk of Superior Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 166 West Broad Street, Elizabethtown, NC 28337 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 2619, Elizabethtown, NC 28337 |
| Main Phone | (910) 872-7200 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM |
The Clerk’s Office maintains public self-service terminals where walk-in visitors can search both criminal and civil case records at no charge. Copies of court documents are available for a fee upon request.
Are Court Records Public in Bladen County?
Under the North Carolina Public Records Act, NCGS Chapter 132, court records produced by government agencies and courts in Bladen County are presumed to be public records. This means that case filings, judgments, orders, and related documents are generally open to inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies.
Several categories of records are restricted from public access under state law or court order, including the following:
- Juvenile delinquency and undisciplined matter records
- Adoption files and related proceedings
- Guardianship records sealed by court order
- Victim and witness identifying information in qualifying criminal cases
- Certain active law enforcement investigation materials
- Records sealed by judicial order in any case type
The statutory framework governing these exemptions is primarily found in NCGS Chapter 7B (juvenile matters) and NCGS § 132-1.4 (law enforcement records). Members of the public seeking to inspect restricted records must generally petition the court directly and demonstrate a lawful basis for access. Court staff cannot override a judicial sealing order or provide access to confidential case files.
For records that are public, the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s Court Records help page provides guidance on accessing, copying, and requesting documents, as well as information on the Remote Public Access Program for organizations requiring bulk data.
Bladen County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Bladen County originate in the Bladen County District Court (for misdemeanors, infractions, and traffic matters) and the Bladen County Superior Court (for felony offenses). Both courts are located at the same courthouse address. Superior Court falls within Superior Court District 15A, and District Court serves District 15.
To search criminal case information, the public has three primary options:
- Online via the eCourts Portal — Visit the NC Courts Portal and search by defendant name, case number, or county. Results include case filings, court dates, charges, dispositions, and payment information for fines.
- In-person self-service terminal — Walk-in visitors at the Bladen County Courthouse can use the public terminal in the Clerk’s Office to search the same statewide criminal case information system at no cost.
- Physical file review — If you need to inspect the actual paper file or obtain certified copies, you must visit the Clerk’s Office in person. Staff can provide copies of public documents for a fee. Valid photo identification is typically required.
Criminal records in these files may include arrest and charging documents, arraignment records, bond conditions, plea agreements, trial motions and orders, and sentencing records. Keep in mind that arrest records from the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office do not automatically appear in court records until charges are formally filed. The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office maintains its own arrest and inmate records. For information on individuals currently incarcerated, the Sheriff’s Office website provides a mobile app with an inmate search feature, or you can call the detention center directly.
For offenders who have completed sentences and are under state supervision, the NC Department of Adult Correction offender search provides up-to-date information on state prisoners, probationers, and parolees.
Individuals seeking to have a criminal record cleared should review the NC Courts Expunctions page, which explains eligibility criteria, applicable statutes, and how to file for expunction through the Clerk’s Office.
Bladen County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Bladen County are divided by claim amount and case type between the District Court and Superior Court. Small claims cases — typically disputes involving $10,000 or less — are heard in District Court by a magistrate. More complex civil litigation, including claims exceeding $10,000, contract disputes, and equitable actions, are filed in Superior Court.
Civil court records include complaints and summonses, answers and counterclaims, motions and orders, judgments, appeals, and related procedural filings. These records are public unless sealed by order of the court.
Searching Civil Case Records
- Use the eCourts Portal to search by party name (individual or business), attorney name, or case number.
- Visit the Clerk’s Office at the Bladen County Courthouse to inspect physical files or request certified copies.
- For civil cases predating the eCourts conversion, older records are primarily accessible through the Clerk’s Office or, for pre-1990 files, through the State Archives of North Carolina.
If you are filing a new civil action, the North Carolina Judicial Branch Forms page provides standardized forms for small claims, civil summons, and related filings. Court staff cannot provide legal advice, but they can assist with confirming whether a form is the correct one to use.
Bladen County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Bladen County are handled by the District Court, which has a dedicated family law division under the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s integrated Family Court structure. North Carolina district courts are designed to consolidate related family matters — such as divorce, child custody, child support, and domestic violence proceedings — before a single judge or judicial team wherever possible, reducing duplication and improving consistency for families navigating multiple issues simultaneously.
Key family law proceedings handled in Bladen County District Court include the following:
- Absolute divorce — North Carolina requires spouses to be physically separated for at least one year and one day before an absolute divorce can be granted. Divorce judgments are filed with and maintained by the Bladen County Clerk of Superior Court.
- Child custody and visitation — Custody orders and modifications are civil family court records. The Judicial Branch’s Child Custody and Visitation Mediation Program is available to help parties reach agreements without a contested hearing.
- Child support — Support orders are enforced through the court and may also involve the NC Child Support Services agency.
- Domestic violence protective orders (DVPOs) — Emergency and civil DVPOs are filed in District Court and are searchable through the eCourts Portal.
- Juvenile matters — Delinquency and abuse, neglect, and dependency cases are confidential under NCGS Chapter 7B and are not accessible to the general public.
Divorce Records and Certificates
Certified copies of divorce judgments can be requested from the Bladen County Clerk of Superior Court at (910) 872-7200. For divorce certificates — a separate document issued by the state — the NC Vital Records office handles orders for divorces recorded from 1958 to the present. The standard search fee through NC Vital Records is $24 per three-year search period (nonrefundable), which includes one copy if a record is found. Additional copies are $15 each.
Bladen County Family Vital Records
Marriage, birth, and death records for events occurring in Bladen County are maintained by the Bladen County Register of Deeds. Certified copies carry a fee of $10.00 per copy for birth and death certificates, and $10.00 for a certified copy of a marriage certificate. Vital records may be ordered in person, by mail, or online through the county’s authorized portal at getcertificatenow.com/bladen.
Bladen County Register of Deeds
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Register | Wendy A. Martin |
| Address | 106 East Broad St., Room 118, Elizabethtown, NC 28337 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 247, Elizabethtown, NC 28337 |
| Phone | (910) 862-6710 |
| bcrod@bladenco.org | |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM (recording cut-off at 4:30 PM) |
Mail-in requests for vital records must include a completed application (available at bladenncrod.org), a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment by check or money order made payable to the Register of Deeds. Note that Bladen County currently issues only vital records for events that occurred within Bladen County. For records of events in other counties, contact the relevant county’s Register of Deeds or NC Vital Records directly.
Marriage licenses are issued by appointment only, during the hours of 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Prospective applicants should call (910) 862-6710 to schedule an appointment and confirm the current requirements.
Bladen County Probate Court Records
In North Carolina, the Clerk of Superior Court serves as the ex officio judge of probate, meaning probate jurisdiction is a function of the Clerk’s Office rather than a separate probate court. The Bladen County Clerk of Superior Court oversees the administration of decedents’ estates, wills, trusts, and guardianship/conservatorship appointments for minors and incapacitated adults.
Probate filings maintained by the Clerk’s Office include the following:
- Last wills and testaments filed for probate
- Letters testamentary and letters of administration
- Inventories and accountings for estate assets
- Guardianship appointments and reports for minors
- Incompetency proceedings and adult guardianship records
- Trust administration filings under court supervision
- Petitions for name changes (filed in District Court and maintained by the Clerk)
Searching Probate Records
Probate case records can be searched through the eCourts Portal by entering a case number, the decedent’s name, or the petitioner’s name. For older estate files — particularly those predating eCourts — researchers should visit the Bladen County Courthouse directly or contact the Clerk’s Office at (910) 872-7200 to request access to physical files. Copies of public probate documents are available for a fee.
Certain sensitive probate records, including sealed guardianship proceedings involving vulnerable adults, require a court order before they can be accessed by parties outside the case. The Clerk’s Office can advise on the appropriate petition process in those situations.
Researchers accessing historical probate data should also note that the State Archives of North Carolina holds older Bladen County probate records dating back to the colonial period, including estate inventories, wills, and guardianship bonds from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These archives are searchable online and available for in-person research in Raleigh.
The NC Courts family law information page also provides helpful background on how guardianship and incompetency proceedings work procedurally, which is useful for family members navigating those processes for the first time.