Nash County Court Records Search

Nash County sits within the 8th Superior Court District and District Court District 8 in North Carolina’s trial court system. Court operations take place at two primary locations — the Nash County Courthouse in Nashville and the Rocky Mount Judicial Center. The Nash County Clerk of Superior Court serves as the official custodian of all court records, functioning both as the administrative recordkeeper and as the county’s probate judge. With the county’s transition to the statewide eCourts system in April 2025, many records and services that were previously accessible only in person are now available through new digital platforms.

North Carolina court records can be searched through a combination of clerk’s office visits, public access terminals at courthouses, and online tools. NorthCarolinaCourts.us may help users identify courthouse locations, search for case information, access judicial forms, and find contact details for the Nash County Clerk of Superior Court. The state’s eCourts Portal, local clerk’s offices, and self-service terminals at any courthouse in the state provide additional avenues for locating publicly available case data.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Nash County?

There are several methods for searching Nash County court records, ranging from free online tools to formal written requests.

Online Case Search via the eCourts Portal

As of April 28, 2025, Nash County is live on North Carolina’s eCourts system. The public can now search case information through the Portal, which allows queries by name, citation number, case number, attorney, and county. The Portal covers criminal, civil, traffic, domestic, and special proceedings matters. Note that the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts advises that individuals conducting formal background checks should use the clerk’s office rather than Portal.

Self-Service Terminals at the Courthouse

Public access computer terminals are available at the Nash County Courthouse and at any clerk of court office statewide. These terminals allow users to search for cases by defendant name, case number, or victim/witness name at no charge. Printouts from terminals may incur a small per-page fee.

In-Person and Mail Requests

Paper case files can be reviewed by visiting the Nash County Clerk of Superior Court during business hours. Copies of court documents are available for a fee. Written requests may also be mailed to:

Nash County Clerk of Superior Court
P.O. Box 759
Nashville, NC 27856
Phone: (252) 220-3000

Nash County Courthouse Hours:

Day	Hours
Monday	8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM
Tuesday	8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM
Wednesday	8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM
Thursday	8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Friday	8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 – 5:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday	Closed

Court Locations

Court	Address	Phone
Nash County Courthouse (Superior & District Courts)	234 W. Washington St., Nashville, NC 27856	(252) 220-3000
Rocky Mount Judicial Center (Superior & District Courts)	305 Cokey Rd., Rocky Mount, NC 27802	(252) 212-3100

Electronic Filing

Attorneys and self-represented parties may file documents electronically using File & Serve, North Carolina’s eCourts e-filing platform. Self-represented litigants can also prepare documents through Guide & File, an interactive tool that walks users through form preparation for certain case types.

Are Court Records Public in Nash County?

Nash County court records are presumed public under Chapter 132 of the North Carolina General Statutes, which grants the general public the right to inspect and examine government records at reasonable times. Court files, docket entries, orders, judgments, and most pleadings can be viewed at the clerk’s office or through the online Portal.

Certain categories of records are restricted from public access or require special authorization:

Adoption records — sealed by statute
Juvenile delinquency and abuse/neglect records — confidential under North Carolina law
Records of ongoing criminal investigations — may be withheld by law enforcement
Mental health and involuntary commitment records — confidential proceedings
Sealed and expunged records — removed from public view by court order
Attorney-client privileged material — exempt from disclosure
Personal identifying information — may be redacted for privacy or security reasons
Records protected by specific state or federal statutes

Audio recordings of confidential proceedings, such as juvenile or involuntary hospitalization cases, require a court order before copies can be released. Requests for such recordings must be submitted on Form AOC-G-115. Non-confidential audio recordings may be requested using Form AOC-G-114.

The North Carolina Judicial Branch also operates a Remote Public Access Program for businesses and agencies needing ongoing statewide access to court data, including criminal background checks and civil case searches.

Nash County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Nash County begin in the District Court, which handles misdemeanors, infractions, and preliminary felony hearings. Felony cases bound over after a preliminary hearing proceed to the Superior Court for trial. The Nash County contact directory lists phone numbers for both criminal and civil court divisions.

Searching Criminal Court Records

Search the eCourts Portal by defendant name, case number, or citation number.
Use the public access terminals at the Nash County Courthouse (234 W. Washington St., Nashville) or the Rocky Mount Judicial Center (305 Cokey Rd.).
Request a certified criminal record search by completing Form AOC-CR-314 and submitting it to the Clerk of Superior Court with a $25 fee. This search covers only Nash County records. Accepted payment methods include cash, credit card, money order, or certified check in person; by mail, only money orders and certified checks are accepted. Personal checks are not accepted.

Statewide Criminal History

For records beyond Nash County, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation offers a statewide fingerprint-based criminal record search for individuals seeking their own records. The SBI also maintains the Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry, which is searchable by name, address, or registration number.

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction provides an offender search tool for looking up information on active and inactive state prison inmates, probationers, and parolees.

Arrest and Detention Records

The Nash County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records and operates the Nash County Detention Facility, located behind the courthouse on West Washington Street in Nashville. For general inquiries, contact the Sheriff’s Office at (252) 459-4121 or Fax: (252) 459-8741 The Sheriff’s mailing address is:

Nash County Sheriff’s Office
222 W. Washington St.
Nashville, NC 27856

Criminal court forms, including those for record requests, expunction applications, and various motions, are available on the NC Judicial Branch criminal forms page.

Nash County Civil Court Records

Civil jurisdiction in Nash County is split between the District Court and the Superior Court. The District Court handles disputes where the amount in controversy is $25,000 or less, including landlord-tenant matters and small claims. The Superior Court hears civil cases exceeding $25,000, as well as appeals from the District Court.

Accessing Civil Records

Civil case information can be searched through the eCourts Portal or reviewed in person at the Clerk of Superior Court’s office. Paper files are available at the courthouse where the case was filed. To request copies by mail, send a written request with the applicable fee to the Clerk of Superior Court at P.O. Box 759, Nashville, NC 27856. Civil court forms are available on the NC Judicial Branch civil forms page.

Current civil court cost charts, including filing fees and miscellaneous fees, are published by the NC Administrative Office of the Courts in the Civil Court Costs 2026 chart.

Small Claims

Small claims cases in Nash County are heard by magistrates. The maximum claim amount ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on local rules — contact the Nash County Clerk’s office at (252) 220-3000 to confirm the current limit. Filing a small claims case requires:

A $96 filing fee (or petition to file as indigent using Form AOC-G-107)
Three copies of the complaint form (e.g., Complaint for Money Owed)
Three copies of the Magistrate Summons
A Servicemembers Civil Relief Act affidavit
A $30 fee per defendant for sheriff service

Nash County also has local rules governing civil court calendaring, sanctions, and continuances that practitioners should review before filing.

Nash County Family Court Records

Family law cases in Nash County are heard in the District Court and include divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence protective orders, adoptions, termination of parental rights, and juvenile abuse, neglect, and dependency proceedings. The county participates in the state’s Child Custody and Visitation Mediation Program and operates under local rules for domestic cases that address equitable distribution procedures, designation of judges, and case calendaring.

Searching Family Court Records

Non-confidential domestic relations case information is accessible through the eCourts Portal and at public access terminals. However, adoption records, juvenile delinquency files, and certain domestic violence records are confidential and not available for public inspection. Individuals seeking access to restricted family court records must demonstrate legal eligibility and may need to present valid identification.

To obtain copies of family court records, visit the Clerk of Superior Court’s office at:

Nash County Courthouse
234 W. Washington St.
Nashville, NC 27856
Phone: (252) 220-3000
Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (with midday break), Monday through Friday

Divorce Records

Copies of divorce judgments are available from the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. The clerk’s office charges a per-page copy fee for uncertified copies and a higher rate for certified copies. Divorce certificates are also available through North Carolina Vital Records, which charges $24 for a certified copy and $15 for each additional copy. Requests can be submitted online, by phone, in person, or by mail to:

North Carolina Vital Records
ATTN: VC Certificate Orders
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900

Marriage Records

Marriage licenses are issued by the Nash County Register of Deeds, which maintains marriage records since 1862. Certified copies cost $10 each and can be ordered online through the Permitium vital records portal, in person, or by mail. The Register of Deeds is located at:

Nash County Register of Deeds
120 W. Washington St., Suite 3030
Nashville, NC 27856
Phone: (252) 459-9836
Fax: (252) 459-9889
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records are confidential in North Carolina and are available only to the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, and authorized government agencies. The Nash County Register of Deeds has birth and death records since October 1913. Certified copies are $10 each through the Register of Deeds. Statewide records are also available through NC Vital Records at $24 per certified copy.

Nash County Probate Court Records

In North Carolina, probate matters are handled by the Clerk of Superior Court, who acts as the ex officio judge of probate. The Nash County Clerk of Superior Court has original, exclusive jurisdiction over the probate of wills, the appointment and supervision of executors and administrators, guardianship of incompetent adults and minors, and the administration of decedents’ estates. Challenges to the validity of a will (caveat proceedings) are transferred to a Superior Court judge for hearing.

Types of Probate Records

Nash County probate records include wills, estate inventories, letters testamentary, letters of administration, annual accounts filed by personal representatives, guardianship petitions, conservatorship filings, and final accountings. A decedent’s will becomes a public record once it is filed with the clerk after the decedent’s death.

Estate Filing Requirements

To begin the estate administration process, the following must be presented to the Clerk of Superior Court:

The original will (if one exists)
A certified death certificate
A completed application and preliminary inventory of the decedent’s property
A filing fee of $120

Required estate forms — including applications for letters testamentary, petitions for summary administration, and affidavits for collection of personal property — are available on the NC Judicial Branch estate forms page. The current Estates Court Costs 2026 chart details the full schedule of probate-related fees.

Searching Probate Records

Probate case information can be accessed through the eCourts Portal or by visiting the Clerk of Superior Court’s office during regular business hours. Active estate files may be reviewed in person. To request copies by mail, send a written request with identifying information (such as the decedent’s name, case number, and date of death) along with the applicable fee to: