Wilkes County Court Records Search

Wilkes County sits in the foothills of northwestern North Carolina, serving a population spread across Wilkesboro and the surrounding communities of Judicial District 34. The county’s trial-level judiciary operates out of a single courthouse campus and includes both a Superior Court division — handling serious criminal prosecutions, higher-value civil litigation, and estate matters — and a District Court division with jurisdiction over misdemeanors, infractions, small claims, and family cases. The Clerk of Superior Court functions as the central custodian of nearly all court filings generated in Wilkes County, from criminal docket sheets and civil complaints to probate inventories and domestic orders. Whether a person needs to verify a pending lawsuit, pull a certified criminal history, or review the terms of a recorded will, understanding which office holds the record and how to request it is the first step.

Court records in North Carolina can be searched through several channels, including visits to the local clerk’s office, self-service public-access terminals inside the courthouse, and online tools maintained by the state judiciary. The eCourts Portal, accessible through NorthCarolinaCourts.us, allows the public to look up case information by name, case number, citation, or attorney across participating counties. Wilkes County joined the eCourts system as part of Track 9 in July 2025, meaning residents and attorneys can now search dockets, review case events, and access filings electronically rather than traveling to the courthouse during business hours.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Wilkes County?

There are three principal ways to locate a court case in Wilkes County: online searches, in-person visits, and written requests by mail.

Online Case Lookup

The statewide eCourts Portal is the primary online search tool. Users can query criminal, civil, special proceeding, and estate cases by entering a party name, case number, citation number, or attorney name. The portal returns docket entries, hearing dates, and case status at no charge. It does not serve as a certified background check — individuals who need official criminal-history documentation should contact the clerk’s office directly.

In-Person Access

The Wilkes County Courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The building provides wheelchair access, elevators, and designated visitor parking on both sides of the facility.

Wilkes County Courthouse
Address: 500 Courthouse Drive, Wilkesboro, NC 28697
Phone: (336) 651-4400
Fax: (336) 651-4401

Inside the courthouse, the Clerk of Superior Court’s office maintains public-access computer terminals where anyone may search criminal and civil records at no charge. These terminals allow county-specific and statewide searches. Paper case files are also available for inspection at the clerk’s window, and staff can produce copies for a fee.

Requesting Copies by Mail

To request court records by mail, send a written request to the Clerk of Superior Court specifying the case number, party names, and the documents needed. Include payment by money order or certified check — personal checks are not accepted. The mailing address is:

Clerk of Superior Court
500 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1115
Wilkesboro, NC 28697

Copy and Certification Fees (N.C.G.S. § 7A-308)

Service	Fee
Copy — first page of each document	$2.00
Copy — each additional page	$0.25
Certified copy — first page	$3.00
Certified copy — each additional page	$0.25
Certificate under seal	$3.00
Exemplification of records	$10.00
Criminal record search (Form AOC-CR-314)	$25.00

The NC Judicial Branch publishes the complete current court costs schedule, including separate charts for civil, criminal, estates, special proceedings, and miscellaneous fees, all effective January 1, 2026.

Are Court Records Public in Wilkes County?

North Carolina’s public records law, codified at N.C.G.S. § 132-6, establishes a broad right of public inspection. Any person may examine government records — including court filings — under reasonable supervision, at reasonable times, and upon payment of any lawful fee. This statute applies equally to Wilkes County court records held by the Clerk of Superior Court, the District Court, and related offices.

Publicly accessible court records in Wilkes County generally include:

Criminal case dockets, indictments, judgments, and sentencing orders
Civil complaints, answers, motions, and court orders
Estate filings such as wills admitted to probate, letters testamentary, and inventories
Small claims actions, summary ejectment proceedings, and judgment liens
Traffic and infraction dispositions
Special proceeding filings including foreclosures and partitions

Despite the presumption of openness, state and federal statutes shield several categories of records from public disclosure:

Juvenile records: Delinquency adjudications and abuse/neglect proceedings are confidential under North Carolina law.
Adoption files: All records associated with adoption proceedings are sealed.
Mental health and involuntary commitment records: Proceedings under Chapter 122C are not publicly accessible.
Sealed and expunged records: Under N.C.G.S. Article 5 (§ 15A-145 et seq.), qualifying criminal records may be expunged by court order and removed from public view.
Active law enforcement investigation files: Records tied to ongoing criminal investigations may be withheld.
Protected personal identifiers: Social Security numbers and certain financial account information are restricted.

The NC Judicial Branch also maintains a Request a Public Record page that describes how to submit formal requests for various document types, including court filings, prisoner records, vital records, and real estate documents.

Wilkes County Criminal Court Records

Criminal matters in Wilkes County are divided between the Superior Court and the District Court based on offense severity. The Superior Court handles felony prosecutions and appeals from District Court, while the District Court adjudicates misdemeanors, infractions, traffic offenses, and initial appearances including bail determinations. Both courts operate from the Wilkes County Courthouse, and the Clerk of Superior Court maintains all criminal case files for the county.

Searching Criminal Records

Public-access terminals: Visit the clerk’s office at the courthouse to search criminal dockets on self-service computers at no charge. Searches can be conducted by defendant name or case number, county-wide or statewide.
eCourts Portal: Use the Portal to search for criminal cases by name, case number, or citation online.
Certified criminal record search: Submit Form AOC-CR-314 with a $25.00 fee to the Clerk of Superior Court for a single-county certified search. Payments in person may be made by cash, credit card, money order, or certified check. Mail-in payments require a money order or certified check.

Arrest Records and Sheriff Resources

The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest logs, incident reports, and booking records. Requests for law enforcement records should be directed to:

Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 381 Executive Drive, Wilkesboro, NC 28697
Phone: (336) 903-7600

Statewide Criminal History and Offender Searches

For searches that extend beyond Wilkes County, two state-level databases are available:

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) provides fingerprint-based statewide criminal history checks and maintains the NC Sex Offender Registry search page.
The NC Department of Adult Correction publishes an offender search tool covering current and former state inmates, probationers, and parolees.

Local Rules Affecting Criminal Cases

Wilkes County is part of the 34th Judicial District, which covers Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties. The Senior Resident Superior Court Judge has issued several local rules applicable to criminal practice, including a Criminal Superior Court Case Docketing Plan and a Pretrial Release/Bail Policy for District 34 effective December 1, 2025.

Wilkes County Civil Court Records

Civil litigation in Wilkes County is heard in both the Superior Court and the District Court, depending on the amount in controversy and the type of claim. The Superior Court has general civil jurisdiction, while the District Court handles cases where the amount in dispute falls within its statutory limits, as well as small claims and summary ejectment (eviction) actions.

Types of Civil Records

Civil case files maintained by the Wilkes County Clerk of Superior Court typically include complaints, answers, counterclaims, discovery motions, pretrial orders, trial transcripts, judgments, and post-judgment filings such as executions and garnishments. Small claims records include the magistrate’s judgment and any appeal to District Court.

How to Access Civil Court Records

Online: Search the eCourts Portal for civil case dockets, hearing dates, and filed documents.
In person: Review paper case files at the clerk’s office window during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM). Staff can produce copies at the fees outlined in the miscellaneous cost chart — $2.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page.
By mail: Send a written request with the case number and party names to the Clerk of Superior Court at 500 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1115, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.

Filing Fees

Civil filing fees are set by the General Assembly and published in the Civil Court Costs 2026 chart. Fees vary based on case type, court level, and specific actions filed. All filing fees must be paid in advance when the case is initiated. Indigent litigants may petition to proceed without prepayment using Form AOC-G-106.

Electronic Filing

Since Wilkes County’s integration into the eCourts system, attorneys and self-represented litigants can file civil documents electronically through File & Serve. The Guide & File tool provides an interview-based process to help self-represented parties prepare and submit common filings.

Local Civil Rules

The 34th Judicial District maintains a Case Management Plan and Local Court Rules for Superior Civil Cases covering Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties. The District Court also operates under a local continuance policy and case management plan for calendaring civil matters. Local forms, including a Request to Calendar and a Report of Case Settlement, are available through the Wilkes County local rules and forms page on the NC Judicial Branch website.

Property Records

Real estate records — including deeds, deeds of trust, plats, and liens — are filed with the Wilkes County Register of Deeds rather than the court clerk. The Register of Deeds office offers free online searching through the Wilkes County Register of Deeds Remote Access Site, which provides indexing and imaging retrieval for recorded instruments. The Register of Deeds office is located at:

Wilkes County Register of Deeds
Address: 500 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1000, Wilkesboro, NC 28697
Phone: (336) 651-7351
Fax: (336) 990-0041

Wilkes County Family Court Records

Family law matters in Wilkes County — including divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, paternity, domestic violence protection orders, and adoption — are heard in the District Court division. The Clerk of Superior Court files and maintains all family case records at the Wilkes County Courthouse.

Accessing Family Court Files

Family case dockets can be searched through the eCourts Portal by party name or case number. Paper files are available for inspection at the clerk’s office during regular business hours, though certain records carry access restrictions. To request family court documents by phone, contact the clerk at (336) 651-4400.

Confidential Family Records

Not all family court records are open to the public. The following categories are sealed or restricted under North Carolina law:

Adoption records are sealed and accessible only by court order.
Juvenile abuse and neglect proceedings are confidential.
Domestic violence protective order files may restrict the disclosure of victim addresses and other identifying information.
Financial records containing Social Security numbers, bank account details, and similar personal data are exempt from public inspection.

Custody Mediation

Wilkes County participates in the Child Custody and Visitation Mediation Program, and the 34th Judicial District has issued local rules governing child custody/visitation mediation procedures. Mediation is typically required before contested custody hearings are scheduled.

Marriage Licenses and Certificates

Marriage licenses in Wilkes County are issued by the Register of Deeds — not the court clerk. The fee is $60.00. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10.00 each, and uncertified copies are $0.25 per page. Applications can be started through the Wilkes County marriage application website. The Register of Deeds office at 500 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1000, can be reached at (336) 651-7351.

For marriage records from 1962 forward and divorce records from 1958 forward, the North Carolina Vital Records office is the primary source. Mail requests require a completed application and a non-refundable fee of $24.00, plus $15.00 for each additional certificate. Payments should be sent to:

NC Department of Health and Human Services
2001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2001

Marriage certificates dated before 1962 and divorce records before 1958 may be available through the Wilkes County Register of Deeds office.

Birth and Death Records

Birth records are private for 100 years and death records for 50 years under North Carolina law. Authorized requestors — including the named individual, immediate family, legal representatives, and certain government agencies — may obtain certified copies through the NC Department of Health and Human Services by calling (800) 669-8310 or visiting the NC Vital Records site. The Wilkes County Register of Deeds also maintains local birth and death records.

Wilkes County Probate Court Records

In North Carolina, probate matters are handled by the Clerk of Superior Court rather than a separate probate court. The Wilkes County Clerk of Superior Court serves as the judge for estate proceedings, including the probate of wills, appointment of executors and administrators, guardianship of minors and incompetent adults, conservatorship, and trust administration.

Types of Probate Records

Estate files in Wilkes County typically contain:

The original will and any codicils
Letters testamentary or letters of administration
Estate inventories and accountings
Claims against the estate and orders of distribution
Guardianship petitions, annual reports, and orders
Conservatorship filings and periodic accountings
Trust instruments filed with the clerk

Searching Probate Records

Probate and estate case information can be searched through the eCourts Portal by the decedent’s name or estate case number. In-person inspection of paper files is available at the clerk’s office during business hours. The NC Judicial Branch also publishes a Civil Case Processing System (VCAP) User Manual that explains how to navigate the database used for civil, special proceeding, and estate records on public-access terminals.

How to Request Probate Records

Visit the Clerk of Superior Court at the Wilkes County Courthouse, 500 Courthouse Drive, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.
Provide the decedent’s name, approximate date of death, and case number if known.
Review the file in person or request copies at the standard rate ($2.00 first page, $0.25 per additional page).
For a certified copy, pay the certification fee ($3.00 first page, $0.25 each additional page, plus $3.00 for the seal).

Estate Filing Fees

Fees for opening an estate case are published in the Estates Court Costs 2026 chart and vary depending on the estate’s value and complexity. All filing fees must be paid in advance when the estate petition is filed with the clerk.

Historical Wills and Estate Records

Researchers looking for older Wilkes County wills and estate documents may also consult the State Archives of North Carolina, which holds a selection of historical county records. Container lists for Wilkes County wills are available in PDF format through the archives’ website.

Programs and Mediation

The Clerk Mediation Program is available in Wilkes County for certain estate disputes, offering parties an alternative to contested hearings. The Guardian ad Litem program also operates in the 34th Judicial District, providing court-appointed advocates for children and incapacitated adults involved in proceedings before the clerk.