Stokes County, North Carolina Court Records
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Stokes County occupies a section of the Piedmont-Triad region along the Virginia border, with Danbury serving as the county seat. The county's court system operates under the North Carolina Judicial Branch as part of Superior Court District 23 and District Court District 23 — meaning both major trial-level courts share a courthouse in Danbury. Court records from these proceedings, covering criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, domestic relations, probate matters, and more, are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court and governed by statewide public access rules.
Locating Court Records in Stokes County
People searching for court records in North Carolina have several options, including clerk's offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online tools. NorthCarolinaCourts.us can help you identify the correct court location and navigate publicly available case information across the state. Records may be searched in person at any county clerk's office, or online through the North Carolina Judicial Branch's case search tools — which now include Stokes County following the July 21, 2025 Track 9 eCourts rollout.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Stokes County?
The North Carolina Judicial Branch is your go-to resource for searching Stokes County case records. Stokes County joined the statewide eCourts system on July 21, 2025, as part of the Track 9 rollout, meaning electronic case filing and online case searches are now available for most case types.
Online Search: NC Courts Portal
The NC Courts Portal lets you search case information by name, case number, attorney, and other criteria. It's useful for checking case status, scheduled hearings, and basic case details — but it should not be used as a substitute for an official certified background check.
In-Person and Public Terminal Access
Free, self-service computer terminals are available at the Stokes County Courthouse for non-certified case searches. Clerk's Office staff can also help you locate physical case files and provide copies for a fee.
Stokes County Courthouse — Clerk of Superior Court
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Physical Address | 1012 Main Street (Hwy 89), Danbury, NC 27016 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 250, Danbury, NC 27016 |
| Phone | (336) 593-4400 |
| Fax | (336) 593-4401 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM |
Mail Requests
Written requests for records may be mailed to the Clerk of Superior Court at the address above. Include the case number or full party names, the approximate date of filing, and a description of the specific documents you need. Payment for copy fees should accompany the request.
For the full Stokes County contact directory — including Superior Court judges, District Court judges, and the District Attorney — visit the NC Judicial Branch website. Additional judicial forms are available through the statewide NC Judicial Branch forms search.
Are Court Records Public in Stokes County?
The North Carolina Public Records Act, codified under G.S. Chapter 132, establishes the default rule that documents created or received by government agencies — including courts — are public records subject to inspection and copying. Under G.S. 132-1.4(k), specific court records such as returned arrest and search warrants, indictments, criminal judgments, civil case filings, and probate records are explicitly listed as public records that may only be withheld when sealed by court order.
That said, North Carolina law carves out several important categories of restricted or confidential records:
- Juvenile records — Delinquency, abuse and neglect, dependency, and termination of parental rights proceedings are confidential and not available to the general public
- Sealed records — Any record ordered sealed by a judge requires a separate court order for access
- Medical records — Health information incorporated into court files is protected
- Adoption records — Adoption proceedings are sealed; post-adoption birth certificate access is limited to the adoptee or, in some circumstances, close relatives
- Pending law enforcement investigative records — Records compiled for law enforcement purposes while an investigation is ongoing are restricted under G.S. 132-1.4
- Privileged communications — Attorney-client communications and materials protected by work-product doctrine
- Confidential informant information — Identifying details may be redacted or withheld
When a court record is ordered sealed, it is kept separate from the general case file and is inaccessible without a court order authorizing access. Members of the public who believe a records request has been improperly denied may seek review under the Public Records Act or through the courts.
Stokes County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Stokes County are split between two courts based on the seriousness of the offense. The District Court handles misdemeanors, infractions, and traffic violations. The Superior Court takes felony cases and misdemeanor appeals from district court. Both courts hold sessions at the Stokes County Courthouse at 1012 Main Street in Danbury.
Criminal case records — including charging documents, pleas, convictions, sentencing orders, and probation conditions — are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court and are searchable through the NC Courts Portal or at public terminals in the courthouse.
Criminal Background Checks
The NC Judicial Branch offers two primary options for criminal record searches in Stokes County:
- Certified Single-County Check (Fee: $25.00): Submit Form AOC-CR-314 to the Clerk of Superior Court, either in person (cash, credit card, money order, or certified check accepted) or by mail (money order or certified check only; personal checks are not accepted). This search covers Stokes County court records only.
- Free Non-Certified Search: Use the public access computers at the courthouse to search criminal records in any county at no charge. Printing charges may apply. This search is not certified and cannot be used for official background check purposes.
For a statewide certified criminal record search, contact the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), which offers fingerprint-based searches for individuals seeking to review their own record.
Arrest Records and Sheriff's Office
Arrest records and incident reports are maintained separately from court files by the Stokes County Sheriff's Office. The Records Division handles public records requests for law enforcement records, subject to the restrictions in G.S. 132-1.4 for active investigations.
Stokes County Sheriff's Office
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Administrative Address | 1012 N. Main St., P.O. Box 118, Danbury, NC 27016 |
| Main / Records Division | (336) 593-8787 |
| Administrative Fax | (336) 593-3361 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM |
| Emergency | 9-1-1 |
| Non-Emergency (Communications) | (336) 593-8130 or (336) 593-8139 |
| Crime Stoppers | (800) 222-8506 |
Stokes County Jail is located at 1013 N. Main St., P.O. Box 248, Danbury, NC 27016; Phone: (336) 593-8117
Stokes County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Stokes County are divided between the Superior Court — which handles higher-value and more complex disputes — and the District Court, which covers lower-value claims, summary ejectment, and small claims. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains records for both divisions.
Civil case records include complaints, summonses, motions, judgments, garnishments, foreclosure filings, and execution documents. These are searchable through the courthouse's public terminals or the NC Courts Portal and may be inspected in person at the Clerk's Office.
Small Claims
Small claims cases in North Carolina are heard in the District Court division. The dollar limit for small claims varies depending on local rules, ranging between $5,000 and $10,000 statewide. Contact the Stokes County Clerk's Office at (336) 593-4400 to confirm the current local small claims ceiling. The standard statewide small claims filing fee is $96.00, payable to the Clerk of Court. For each defendant, an additional service fee of $30.00 applies for the Sheriff to serve process. There is no cost for service of Ex Parte Domestic Violence Orders or 50B protective orders.
Civil Process Service
All civil summonses, magistrate summonses, foreclosure papers, child support orders, and other civil papers issued by the Clerk of Superior Court are served by the Stokes County Sheriff's Office patrol division. The standard fee for serving civil papers is $30.00 per process per person to be served, payable by cash or money order only. For advanced civil papers — writs of execution, claims and deliveries, and writs of possession — contact the Sheriff's civil officer at (336) 593-2811, ext. 1383. Property levy fees for writs of execution start at approximately $800.00 per tract for real property, depending on the length of the legal description.
For questions about civil case processing at the court level, consult the Stokes County Clerk's page on the NC Judicial Branch website. The NC Judicial Branch also maintains a searchable database of statewide judicial forms for civil filings.
Stokes County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Stokes County are heard by the District Court, which has jurisdiction over divorce and separation, equitable distribution, child custody and visitation, child support, domestic violence protective orders, paternity, adoptions, and juvenile proceedings. Once a divorce decree is entered, it is filed with the Clerk of Superior Court. The Stokes County Clerk of Court is also the custodian of domestic violence protective orders under Chapter 50B.
To get a copy of a divorce judgment, contact the Clerk of Superior Court at (336) 593-4400 — copies are available for a fee. Local forms for conditions of release in domestic violence cases are available through the Stokes County Local Rules and Forms page on the NC Judicial Branch website.
Confidential Family Records
Adoption case files are sealed under North Carolina law. Individuals who were adopted in Stokes County and want access to their original birth certificate must request it through NC Vital Records in Raleigh — not through the local Register of Deeds. Juvenile court proceedings, including abuse, neglect, dependency, and delinquency cases, are confidential and are not accessible to the general public.
Marriage, Birth, and Death Records
Vital records in Stokes County are maintained by the Stokes County Register of Deeds, not the Clerk of Court. Marriage licenses have been issued and recorded in the Register of Deeds since 1868. Birth and death records have been registered locally since 1913.
Stokes County Register of Deeds
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 1014 Main Street, Danbury, NC 27016 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 67, Danbury, NC 27016 |
| Phone | (336) 593-2414 |
| Fax | (336) 593-9360 |
| Office Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM |
| Recording Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:45 PM |
| Marriage License Applications | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
Certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates can be requested in person or through the Register of Deeds online request service. The standard fee for certified vital record copies is $10.00 per copy, consistent with the statewide fee schedule for Register of Deeds offices. Access is limited to eligible individuals: the subject of the record, their children, stepchildren, siblings, spouse, parents, stepparents, grandparents, legal representatives, and authorized agents (proof of relationship or authorization required).
For records not available locally — including birth records for individuals adopted in Stokes County — contact NC Vital Records in Raleigh directly.
Stokes County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Stokes County — including estate administration, wills, and guardianships — are handled by the Clerk of Superior Court acting in their probate jurisdiction. Filing takes place at the Stokes County Courthouse at 1012 Main Street in Danbury. Wills are filed with the Clerk of Court, not with the Register of Deeds.
The Clerk of Superior Court maintains records of all probate proceedings, which are generally public unless sealed. Estate files, letters testamentary, letters of administration, inventories, accountings, and final settlements are all part of the court's permanent record.
North Carolina Probate Filing Fees
Under G.S. 7A-307, probate fees in North Carolina are based on the gross estate value at a rate of $0.40 per $100 of estate assets, with a minimum fee and a statutory maximum of $6,000. Additional flat fees apply for specific filings. The most current fee schedule is published by the NC Judicial Branch in the Estates Court Costs 2026 document, available on the NC Courts website.
Searching Probate Records
- In person: Visit the Clerk of Superior Court at the Stokes County Courthouse during regular business hours (8:30 AM–5:00 PM, Monday–Friday). Provide the decedent's name and approximate date of death to help clerks locate the file.
- Online: The NC Courts Portal now supports searches of estate and special proceeding case records for counties in the eCourts system, including Stokes County as of the July 2025 launch.
- Historical records: Probate records from Stokes County dating back to 1753 are catalogued through the FamilySearch genealogical database for historical research purposes.
For current probate filing questions, call the Stokes County Clerk of Superior Court at (336) 593-4400. For name change petitions and correction of vital records — also handled by the Clerk's office as special proceedings — the same contact and courthouse address apply.