Court records of Lenoir County, North Carolina, are available through several channels. LenoirCourt.us allows you to search publicly accessible information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be found through the official online portals of the state court system, directly at the Clerk of Court's office, and through public terminals in the courthouse building.
Lenoir Court System & Jurisdictions
Lenoir County operates a unified state court system of North Carolina, which is divided into two main levels — District Court and Superior Court. Both courts are located in the Lenoir County Courthouse in Kinston.
Superior Court handles:
- Criminal felony cases (serious crimes)
- Civil claims over $25,000
- Appeals from District Court
District Court covers a much broader range of cases, which most residents encounter more frequently:
- Misdemeanors (less serious crimes) and traffic violations
- Civil cases up to $25,000
- Small Claims cases — up to $10,000
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony, protective orders
- Juvenile cases
The Magistrate — a judicial officer at the District Court — issues arrest and search warrants, sets bail, and presides over small claims hearings. Estate and guardianship cases are handled by the Clerk of Superior Court, who acts as a probate judge.
Federal cases concerning Lenoir County are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Lenoir Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the date of a court hearing today, tomorrow, or within the week, use the Court Dates portal on the Lenoir County page on the NC Judicial Branch website. The search works by party name, case number, or citation number.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Go to the Court Dates portal through the county page on nccourts.gov.
- Select Lenoir County in the filter.
- Enter the last name or case number.
- The system will show scheduled hearings with the date, time, room, and judge's name.
Criminal and civil session calendars for the Superior Court are usually published separately and updated weekly. If you cannot find the desired date online, contact the Clerk of Court's office directly — contact information can be found in the county contact directory.
How to Get a Copy of a Lenoir Court Document
Copies of court documents are issued by the Lenoir County Clerk of Superior Court's office. There are two types of copies: uncertified and certified. A certified copy has the clerk's seal and signature and is accepted as an official document in most institutions.
Ways to obtain:
- In person — visit the clerk's office in the courthouse. Bring as many details as possible: full party name, case number, approximate date.
- By mail — send a written request with case details and payment to the address:
- Online — the Request a Public Record page describes options for submitting requests depending on the document type.
For NC Judicial Branch criminal history checks, it is recommended to contact the clerk's office rather than relying solely on the online portal. Divorce certificates can also be obtained from the county clerk where the case was filed or through NC Vital Records.
Birth, death, marriage, and property records are maintained by a separate office — Lenoir County Register of Deeds.
Lenoir Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for court documents in North Carolina are set at the state level according to N.C. General Statutes Chapter 7A, Article 28. Below are the main rates applicable at the Lenoir County Clerk of Superior Court's office.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of a court document | $3.00 for the first two pages + $0.25 for each additional page |
| Uncertified copy | $0.25 per page |
| Certification of an existing copy | $3.00 |
| Name search in the registry | $25.00 per name |
Payment is usually accepted in cash, money order, or certified check. Check with the clerk if credit or debit cards are accepted — this depends on the specific office.
Information about inmates in the local detention center can be found on the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office website, which operates the 285-bed facility. Data on convicted individuals serving sentences in state correctional facilities are available through the NC Department of Adult Correction search system — the database contains records since 1972.