Cleveland County Court Records Search
NorthCarolinaCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on NorthCarolinaCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Cleveland County is situated in the southwestern Piedmont region of North Carolina, with Shelby serving as the county seat. The county’s trial courts — Superior Court and District Court — are both part of Judicial District 39 and operate out of the Cleveland County Courthouse. Superior Court exercises general jurisdiction over felony prosecutions, civil actions exceeding $25,000, probate, guardianship, adoption, and appeals from lower courts. District Court presides over misdemeanors, infractions, small claims, civil cases under $25,000, juvenile proceedings, and most family law matters. The Clerk of Superior Court functions as the official custodian for all records generated in both courts.
Individuals looking for North Carolina court records can begin with the official resources maintained by the state judiciary, the Clerk of Superior Court office, and public access terminals installed in county courthouses across the state. The NC Judicial Branch Portal allows users to search for case information by name, case number, or attorney. NorthCarolinaCourts.us may also be useful for locating publicly available court case data. For Cleveland County specifically, records are accessible through the Clerk’s office at the courthouse, as well as through statewide online databases administered by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Cleveland County?
There are several ways to search for Cleveland County court records, depending on the type of case and how quickly the information is needed.
Online Searches
- The NC Courts Portal provides free access to case information statewide, including Cleveland County. Users can search by defendant name, case number, citation number, or attorney name.
- The Remote Public Access Program (RPA), administered by the NC Administrative Office of the Courts, offers licensed real-time access and bulk data extracts for criminal and civil court data across all 100 North Carolina counties. RPA operates under G.S. 7A-109(d) and (e) and G.S. 7A-343.2.
In-Person Searches
The Clerk of Superior Court office maintains public self-service terminals where visitors can search for case records by defendant name, case number, or victim/witness name at no charge. Paper case files may also be reviewed at the Clerk’s office. Copies of documents are available for a fee.
Cleveland County Courthouse
Address: 100 Justice Place, Shelby, NC 28150
Phone: (704) 476-7800
Fax: (704) 476-7801
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Magistrate’s Office — Annex
Address: 407 McBrayer Street, Shelby, NC 28150
Phone: (704) 476-7819
After-Hours Magistrate: (704) 480-2892
Requesting Copies by Mail or Phone
Individuals may contact the Clerk’s office by phone at (704) 476-7800 to inquire about specific records. Written requests can be mailed to the courthouse address. Applicable copy fees will be assessed per the statewide current court costs schedule published by the NC Judicial Branch.
Key Contact Numbers at the Courthouse
| Office | Phone |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Superior Court | (704) 476-7800 |
| Superior Court Judges | (704) 476-7816 |
| District Court Judges | (704) 476-7812 |
| Court-Ordered Arbitration | (704) 476-7812 |
| Magistrate | (704) 476-7819 |
Are Court Records Public in Cleveland County?
Cleveland County court records are presumed public under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 132 (the Public Records Law), particularly G.S. 132-1 and G.S. 132-6, which establish the right of citizens to inspect and obtain copies of government records. Additionally, G.S. Chapter 7A reinforces access to judicial records maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court.
Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure by statute, court rule, or court order. Restricted records include:
- Juvenile proceedings — Records involving minors in delinquency, abuse, neglect, and dependency matters are confidential.
- Sealed and expunged records — Cases that have been sealed by court order or expunged under North Carolina’s expunction statutes are removed from public access. The NC Judicial Branch provides information on expunctions for eligible individuals.
- Adoption records — Finalized adoption files are sealed.
- Grand jury proceedings — Deliberations and voting records are confidential.
- Mental health commitment records — Involuntary commitment proceedings are not accessible to the general public.
- Victim and witness information — Personal identifying details of victims and witnesses may be redacted or withheld when disclosure could compromise safety.
- Sensitive personal data — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar information are routinely redacted from publicly accessible documents.
When a record contains both public and exempt information, the Clerk’s office may redact the confidential portions and release the remainder. Individuals who need access to sealed or confidential records must obtain a court order authorizing disclosure. Audio recordings of confidential proceedings, such as juvenile hearings, require a separate court order using Form AOC-G-115.
Cleveland County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Cleveland County are divided between Superior Court and District Court depending on the severity of the offense. Superior Court handles all felonies and certain misdemeanors, while District Court adjudicates misdemeanor charges, infractions, and municipal ordinance violations. Both courts’ records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court at the Cleveland County Courthouse.
Searching Criminal Records
- Public access terminals — Visit the Clerk’s office at 100 Justice Place, Shelby, to use the self-service computer terminals. Searches can be conducted by defendant name or case number at no cost. Printing fees may apply.
- NC Courts Portal — Search the Portal online for criminal case information by name or case number.
- Remote Public Access — Licensed users can access criminal data statewide through the RPA program.
Certified Criminal Background Checks
A certified criminal record search in a single county costs $25 and requires Form AOC-CR-314. The completed form can be submitted to the Cleveland County Clerk’s office by mail (money order or certified check only) or in person (credit card, cash, money order, or certified check accepted). This search covers only Cleveland County and is not statewide.
For a statewide background check, the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) offers a fingerprint-based criminal history review for $14, available through the Right to Review process. Payment must be by money order or certified check.
Sheriff’s Office Resources
The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and detention records. The office provides an online Inmate Inquiry page and a Daily Bulletin with recent booking activity.
Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 100 Justice Place, Shelby, NC 28150
Non-Emergency: (704) 484-4822
Control Room: (704) 484-4888
The NC Department of Adult Correction also maintains a searchable Offender Search tool for individuals currently or formerly in state custody.
Cleveland County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Cleveland County is heard in either Superior Court or District Court depending on the amount in controversy. Superior Court has jurisdiction over civil cases where the disputed amount exceeds $25,000, as well as matters involving real property, eminent domain, declaratory relief, and constitutional questions. District Court handles civil claims under $25,000 and small claims actions.
Accessing Civil Records
The Clerk of Superior Court is the custodian of all civil case files. Records can be reviewed at the courthouse using public access terminals or by requesting paper files from the Clerk’s office. The NC Courts Portal also provides online access to civil case information. The VCAP user manual explains how the civil case processing system stores and displays records.
Copy Fees
Copy fees for court documents in Cleveland County follow the statewide schedule established by the NC Judicial Branch. The current court costs page publishes annually updated PDF charts covering civil, criminal, estates, special proceedings, and miscellaneous fees. Inquiries about specific fees can be directed to the Clerk’s office at (704) 476-7800.
Small Claims
Small claims cases are filed in District Court. The Clerk’s office can provide the required forms and explain the filing process. Cleveland County local rules and forms are published on the NC Judicial Branch website, and statewide judicial forms are also available for download.
Property-Related Civil Records
Court records affecting real property — including foreclosures, evictions, partitions, condemnations, judgments, and liens — are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court. Deeds, mortgages, plats, and other recorded instruments are held separately by the Cleveland County Register of Deeds. The Register’s online Land Records Recording Search portal contains records dating back to 1945 and allows searches by grantor name, grantee name, or document index.
Cleveland County Register of Deeds
Physical Address: 311 E. Marion St., Room 151, Shelby, NC 28150
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1210, Shelby, NC 28151
Phone: (704) 484-4834
Fax: (704) 484-4909
Cleveland County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Cleveland County are handled primarily by the District Court, with certain proceedings — such as adoptions — falling under Superior Court jurisdiction. The Domestic Division addresses divorce, legal separation, alimony, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, domestic violence protective orders, and name changes. Several county-level programs support family litigants, including the Child Custody and Visitation Mediation Program, the Family Financial Settlement Program, and the Guardian ad Litem program.
Requesting Family Court Records
Family case files are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court. Records can be requested in person or by phone at (704) 476-7800. Adoption records are sealed upon finalization. Juvenile dependency, abuse, and neglect files are confidential. Domestic violence protective order files may contain restricted personal information. Individuals who are not parties to a case may need a court order to access certain family law records.
Divorce Records
Copies of divorce judgments can be obtained from the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. The NC Judicial Branch’s obtaining court records page outlines this process. Divorce verification certificates (not the full judgment) are also available through NC Vital Records at the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
Marriage Licenses and Certificates
Marriage licenses in Cleveland County are issued by the Register of Deeds. Applicants must complete the online marriage license application before scheduling an in-person appointment by calling (704) 484-4834, option 2.
- Fee: $60 (cash or chip card)
- Ceremony fee: $50 (cash only, if performed by a magistrate)
- Requirements: Valid state-issued ID or passport, Social Security number documentation, and both applicants appearing in person
- Previously married: A certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate is required if the prior marriage ended within the last five years
- Under 18: Applicants aged 16–17 must have a parent present and provide a certified birth certificate
Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10.00 and can be ordered online through GetCertificateNow or by mail using the Vital Records Request Form. Mail requests should include the completed form, a copy of a valid photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a $10.00 check or money order payable to Cleveland County Register of Deeds, sent to: Register of Deeds, P.O. Box 1210, Room 151, Shelby, NC 28151.
Birth and Death Records
The Register of Deeds also issues certified copies of birth and death certificates. Under N.C.G.S. 130A-93©, certified copies are available only to the record subject, a spouse, parent, direct ancestor or descendant, step-parent, step-child, sibling, or an attorney or legal representative. The cost is $10.00 per certified copy. Out-of-county birth certificates for individuals born after 1971 in another North Carolina county can also be obtained at this office for $24.00, by appointment.
Birth records become public 100 years after the date of birth, and death records become public 50 years after the date of death.
Cleveland County Probate Court Records
In North Carolina, the Clerk of Superior Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over probate matters. Cleveland County probate proceedings — including the probate of wills, estate administration, guardianship appointments, conservatorships, and trust disputes — are all handled by the Clerk’s office at 100 Justice Place, Shelby, NC 28150.
Types of Probate Records
The Clerk maintains files for the following categories of proceedings:
- Probate of wills and estate administration
- Appointment of executors, administrators, and personal representatives
- Guardianship of minors and incompetent adults
- Conservatorship proceedings
- Trust administration and disputes
- Estate inventories, accountings, and closing documents
Searching Probate Records
Probate case information can be searched on the public access terminals at the Cleveland County Courthouse or through the NC Courts Portal. To obtain copies of probate documents, contact the Clerk’s office at (704) 476-7800 or visit in person during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.). The statewide estates court costs chart details the filing and copy fees applicable to Cleveland County estate and guardianship proceedings.
Estates and Special Proceedings Contact
Individuals with questions about pending or closed estates, guardianships, or special proceedings should call the Clerk of Superior Court at (704) 476-7800. The NC Judicial Branch’s Wills and Estates help topic page provides additional guidance on the probate process, required forms, and applicable statutes. Relevant statewide forms for estates proceedings are available through the NC Courts forms library.