Guilford County Court Records Search

Guilford County is the third most populous county in North Carolina, encompassing the cities of Greensboro and High Point. Its court system includes both Superior Court and District Court divisions, which together handle the full spectrum of legal proceedings—felonies, civil disputes, family law matters, juvenile cases, estates, and special proceedings. The Guilford County Clerk of Superior Court is the official custodian of all court records filed in the county.

North Carolina has transitioned its court system to a modernized platform known as eCourts. Guilford County completed this transition in April 2024, which means case records are now searchable through the statewide eCourts Portal. In addition to the Portal, records can be accessed in person at either Guilford County courthouse, by mail request to the Clerk’s office, or through self-service terminals available at all North Carolina courthouses. NorthCarolinaCourts.us may also help users identify publicly available court case information. Those needing certified copies or formal background checks should work directly with the Clerk of Superior Court rather than relying solely on online tools.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Guilford County?

There are several ways to locate case records in Guilford County, depending on whether you need informal case information or certified copies of court documents.

Online through the eCourts Portal

The North Carolina Judicial Branch’s Portal allows anyone to search court records by party name, case number, attorney name, citation number, or county. The system covers criminal, civil, family, estates, and special proceedings cases across all eCourts counties, including Guilford. Search results display case numbers, party names, hearing dates, charges or claims, and case status. Some case documents may also be viewable. Portal access is free and does not require registration.

For background check purposes, the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts advises using the county Clerk’s office rather than Portal.

Self-service terminals at the courthouse

Public access computer terminals are available in the Clerk of Superior Court’s office at both Guilford County courthouses. These terminals allow statewide searching by defendant name, case number, or victim/witness name at no charge. Printing fees may apply.

In-person and mail requests

Paper case files can be reviewed at the Clerk’s office in the county where the case was filed. The Clerk can produce copies of documents for applicable fees. Mail requests should be directed to:

Guilford County Courthouse
Clerk of Superior Court
P.O. Box 3008
Greensboro, NC 27402

Courthouse locations and hours

Location	Address	Phone	Hours
Greensboro Courthouse	201 South Eugene Street, Greensboro, NC 27401	(336) 412-7300	Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m., 1:45–5:00 p.m.
High Point Courthouse	505 East Green Drive, High Point, NC 27262	(336) 822-6700	Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m., 1:45–5:00 p.m.

Both offices close daily between 12:45 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. and observe State Judicial Branch holidays. Secure drop boxes outside each courthouse accept documents around the clock.

Historical records

The NC Judicial Branch also provides access to older case calendars through the District and Superior Court Search, which allows users to find upcoming and recent criminal and infraction cases by defendant name, court type, and county.

Are Court Records Public in Guilford County?

North Carolina law establishes a strong presumption that court records are open to the public. N.C.G.S. 132-1 et seq. (the Public Records Law) defines public records broadly and does not require a requester to state a reason for seeking access. Separately, N.C.G.S. 7A-109(a) confirms that records kept by the Clerk of Superior Court under Administrative Office of the Courts rules are public records.

Despite the general rule of openness, certain categories of court records are exempt from disclosure:

Juvenile records – Proceedings involving abuse, neglect, dependency, and delinquency are confidential under Chapter 7B of the General Statutes.
Adoption records – Files from adoption proceedings are sealed and not available to the public.
Grand jury records – Grand jury proceedings and records are secret by law.
Unexecuted warrants – Arrest and search warrants that have not been returned are exempt from disclosure under G.S. 132-1.4(k).
Medical malpractice settlements – Settlement records in actions against public hospitals are protected under G.S. 132-1.3(a).
Attorney-client communications and judges’ personal notes are also exempt.

When a requested document contains both public and confidential information, the court may redact the confidential portions and release the remainder. Confidential court proceedings (such as juvenile or involuntary commitment hearings) require a court order before audio recordings or transcripts can be released, using Form AOC-G-115. Non-confidential audio recordings can be requested with Form AOC-G-114.

Guilford County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Guilford County are divided between the Superior Court (felonies) and the District Court (misdemeanors, infractions, and traffic offenses). The Clerk of Superior Court maintains records for both divisions. Contact the respective courthouse for criminal case inquiries:

Greensboro: (336) 412-7300
High Point: (336) 822-6700

Searching criminal case records

eCourts Portal – Search criminal cases by defendant name, case number, or other criteria at no cost through the Portal.
Self-service terminals – Visit either Guilford County courthouse to use public access computers that allow statewide criminal record searches.
District and Superior Court calendars – The criminal case calendar search shows upcoming court dates by defendant name and county.

Certified criminal background checks

To obtain a certified criminal record search in a single county, complete Form AOC-CR-314 and submit it to the Clerk of Superior Court’s office with a $25 fee. This search covers only Guilford County records—it is not a statewide check.

In person: Pay by credit card, cash, money order, or certified check.
By mail: Pay by money order or certified check only (personal checks are not accepted). Mail to either courthouse mailing address.

For a statewide criminal history, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation provides fingerprint-based background checks to the subject of the record for $14.

Arrest records and Sheriff’s Office resources

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office provides several online services for public access to arrest information. The Sheriff’s Police to Citizen (P2C) portal allows the public to search incident reports, arrests, and other law enforcement records. The Sheriff’s Office also offers fingerprinting services for employment-related criminal background checks by appointment at the Greensboro Courthouse. Requirements include a valid photo ID and a $10 fee. To schedule an appointment, contact the Legal Process division or call (336) 641-3005.

The Greensboro Police Department provides arrest history reports to the public at no charge for arrests made by the Greensboro Police Department.

Guilford County Civil Court Records

Civil jurisdiction in Guilford County is split by the amount in dispute. The Superior Court handles civil cases involving more than $25,000, while the District Court hears claims of $25,000 or less. Small claims cases, decided by magistrates, cover disputes up to $10,000 in Guilford County.

Searching civil case records

Civil case records are accessible through the same channels used for criminal records:

The eCourts Portal for online searching by party name or case number
Self-service terminals at either Guilford County courthouse
Direct requests to the Clerk of Superior Court’s office in person or by mail

The NC Judicial Branch publishes a Civil Case Processing System (VCAP) user manual that explains how to navigate the information stored in the case management system.

Small claims filing

Small claims cases are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court using standardized forms. The filing fee is $96 per case. Service of process costs an additional $30 if served by the Sheriff. Useful forms include the Complaint for Money Owed, the Complaint in Summary Ejectment, and the Magistrate Summons. The NC Judicial Branch’s Guide & File tool helps self-represented litigants prepare small claims documents online.

Court costs

The North Carolina General Assembly sets court costs statewide. Current fee schedules for civil, criminal, estates, and special proceedings are published as downloadable PDFs on the Current Court Costs page of the NC Judicial Branch website.

Civil process lookup

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office maintains a civil process search tool that allows the public to search by name, business name, or court docket number for information about civil papers served through the Sheriff’s Office.

Property and real estate records

Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other real estate documents are filed with the Guilford County Register of Deeds, not the Clerk of Superior Court. The Register provides a Real Estate Property Search tool for online name-based searching of recorded land records.

Guilford County Family Court Records

The Guilford County District Court handles all family law matters, including divorce (absolute divorce and divorce from bed and board), child custody and visitation, child support, equitable distribution of property, adoption, paternity, domestic violence protective orders, and juvenile delinquency proceedings. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains the files for these proceedings.

Family court records can be searched through the same methods as other court records: the eCourts Portal, courthouse self-service terminals, or direct contact with the Clerk’s office. However, records involving juvenile proceedings, adoptions, and certain domestic violence matters are restricted and not available to the general public. Access to these confidential records is limited to the parties involved, their attorneys, or individuals who obtain a court order.

Guilford County also offers custody mediation services. For custody mediation inquiries, call (336) 412-7803.

Divorce records

A copy of a divorce judgment can be obtained from the Clerk of Superior Court’s office in the county where the divorce was granted, for a fee. Divorce verification certificates are also available from North Carolina Vital Records at a cost of $24 for the first copy and $15 for each additional copy.

Marriage licenses and certificates

Marriage licenses are issued by the Guilford County Register of Deeds, not the court clerk. Both applicants must appear in person with valid photo identification and their Social Security number. The license fee is $60 (cash, check, debit, or credit card). Licenses are valid immediately upon issuance and expire after 60 days.

Marriage licenses and out-of-county birth records are issued from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Magistrate offices in both Greensboro ((336) 412-7870) and High Point ((336) 822-6719) perform civil marriage ceremonies by appointment only. A $50 cash fee applies, and two witnesses with photo identification are required.

Certified copies of a marriage license filed in Guilford County cost $10 each and can be ordered in person or by mail using the Register’s vital records request form. Mail requests should be sent to P.O. Box 3427, Greensboro, NC 27402-3427, along with a check or money order and a copy of photo identification.

Birth and death certificates

The Guilford County Register of Deeds issues birth and death certificates for events that occurred within the county. Under N.C.G.S. 130A-93, certified copies are available only to the record subject, their spouse, sibling, direct ancestor or descendant, stepparent/stepchild, or authorized legal representative. A valid photo ID is required for all requests.

Method	Cost per Certified Copy	Notes
In person	$10.00	Uncertified copies $0.05 each; cash ≤$50 or check/money order
By mail	$10.00 certified; $1.00/page uncertified	Check or money order to “Register of Deeds”; processed within 3 business days
Online	$10.00 + processing fees	Through the Register’s approved vendor

First certified birth certificate copies are free for applicants age 62 or older requesting their own record. Email guilforddeeds@guilfordcountync.gov for general questions.

Guilford County Probate Court Records

In North Carolina, the Clerk of Superior Court serves as the probate judge with jurisdiction over estates, wills, guardianships, and related matters. There is no separate probate court in Guilford County. Estate cases are filed with and administered through the Clerk’s office at the Greensboro or High Point courthouse.

Types of probate matters

The Clerk of Superior Court handles the administration of decedents’ estates (both testate and intestate), qualification of personal representatives (executors and administrators), probate of wills, appointment and oversight of guardians, approval of estate accountings, and the resolution of claims against estates. For email inquiries regarding estates, contact Guilford.GB.Estates@nccourts.org. Special proceedings questions can be directed to Guilford.GB.SpecialProceedings@nccourts.org.

Searching probate records

Probate and estate case information can be found through:

The eCourts Portal, which includes estates and special proceedings case types
Self-service terminals at either courthouse
In-person or mail requests to the Clerk’s office

The Estates Court Costs 2026 chart published by the NC Judicial Branch details the current fee structure for estate filings. Filing fees for opening an estate are set by the General Assembly and typically include a base filing fee plus costs for certificates and required notices.

Guardianship

Guardianship of minors and incompetent adults is also within the jurisdiction of the Clerk of Superior Court. The Guardian ad Litem program operates in both Guilford County courthouses—Greensboro: (336) 412-7580; High Point: (336) 822-6789.

Individuals who need assistance navigating the probate or guardianship process without an attorney may benefit from the standardized court forms available on the NC Judicial Branch website or from the Guide & File tool, which helps prepare certain filings electronically.