Mecklenburg County Courts

Mecklenburg County, with a population of about 1.1 million residents, is the second-most populous county in North Carolina. Charlotte is its county seat and largest municipality. The county's court system comprises Superior, District, and Federal Courts. These courts handle all of the county's judicial needs, including criminal, civil, probate, domestic relations, and juvenile cases, depending on their jurisdiction:

• Mecklenburg County Superior Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases, but typically handles felonies, lesser-included offenses, some misdemeanors, and civil cases with claims exceeding $25,000. It also handles administration of estates and trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, declaratory relief, constitutional right issues, adoptions, and appeals from the District Court.
• Mecklenburg County District Court generally hears misdemeanors, traffic offenses, infractions, municipal ordinance violations, preliminary criminal case hearings, civil cases with claims under $25,000, and involuntary mental commitment hearings. It may also handle domestic relations and juvenile matters, including domestic violence protective orders, divorces, annulments, alimony, child support, termination of parental rights, juvenile delinquency, and emancipation.

According to the North Carolina Judiciary Branch, Mecklenburg County courts hear about 22,000 civil cases annually. Similarly, about 6,500 felony cases, 14,000 misdemeanor cases, and 47,000 traffic offenses are handled by the county courts each year.

How to Access Mecklenburg County Court Records

Mecklenburg County court records are generally accessible to the public. North Carolina's Public Records Act gives the public the right to view and request copies of court records in the county, unless such records are made confidential by law or court order. Restricted court records in the county typically include juvenile records, adoption records, expunged or sealed court records, medical and mental health records, child protection orders, and sexual abuse records. Court records containing confidential information, including financial accounts, Social Security numbers, and trade secrets, may have those portions redacted.

Generally, case numbers may be needed to find court records in the county, but parties' names and dates of birth may also be used. In addition, a record seeker's valid photo ID may be required to obtain copies of the county's court records. The following methods may be used to access Mecklenburg County court records:

Online

Mecklenburg County court records may be accessed through the North Carolina Judicial Branch eCourts Portal. Requesters may search by name or record number. For more refined searches, users may click on the "Advanced Filtering Options" to limit the search to Mecklenburg County and search with additional criteria such as the attorney's name, citation number, nickname, and case type.

Requesters may also search Mecklenburg County court records through CourtCaseFinder. The website provides current and accurate court records by aggregating publicly available court records from every county in the United States. Furthermore, record seekers may access court records of federal cases heard in Mecklenburg County through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) platform.

In-Person

The Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court maintains all court records in the county, including those from the District Court. Anyone may access the county's court records in person by visiting the Clerk of Superior Court's office. They may contact the clerk's office to inquire about the requirements for in-person access to court records and applicable fees before visiting. Record seekers may also use the public-access terminals in the court premises to access the county's court records.

Old and Archived Court Records

Mecklenburg County was added to the North Carolina Judicial Branch eCourts Portal on October 9, 2023. Hence, the portal may not contain the county's court records created before that date. Persons interested in retrieving older records may visit the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court's Office to access them.

In addition, the State Archives of North Carolina maintains old and historic court records from Mecklenburg County that may not be available in the county's courts. Record seekers may contact the state archives at:

State Archives of North Carolina

How To File a Case in Mecklenburg County

Most cases are filed with the Mecklenburg County District Court, while more serious cases are filed with the Mecklenburg County Superior Court. To file a case in Mecklenburg County, an individual must first ascertain which court has jurisdiction over the case and the statute of limitations of the case. They may contact the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court's office to inquire which court can handle the case they intend to file.

Once the court has been determined, a plaintiff may file a case by mail, in person, or electronically through the North Carolina Judicial Branch eCourts portal. Plaintiffs in the county are encouraged to file cases electronically and may use the public terminals in the courthouse to file their cases. They may contact the clerk's office for the appropriate forms and procedures for filing the case.

A plaintiff may need to prepare a complaint detailing the relief they seek from the court, the circumstances that led to the case, and the parties involved. Depending on the court, they may need to prepare other documents or fill out necessary forms. They may then submit all required documents and evidence to the clerk's office.

Typically, filing a case in Mecklenburg County incurs certain filing fees depending on the court and case type. The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides the current court costs for different types of cases on its website. Indigent litigants may apply for fee waivers if they are unable to afford the filing fees. To get a fee waiver, an individual must complete and file the Petition to Proceed as an Indigent form and supporting documents with the Clerk of Superior Court. The court will grant the fee waiver if the applicant is eligible.

After filing the case, the plaintiff may serve the defendant through the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office or by private Process Servers. However, it is advisable for individuals to get legal counsel when filing cases in Mecklenburg County, and those with low incomes may seek pro bono legal assistance from the county's legal aid organizations.

In summary, a plaintiff will typically do the following to file a case in Mecklenburg County:

• Determine the Court that has jurisdiction and the case type. Ensure the case is within the applicable statute of limitations.
• Prepare the required documents, providing details of the events that necessitated the lawsuit and the parties involved in the case. Attach relevant documents, exhibits, and evidence to support the case.
• Pay the stipulated filing fees or apply for fee waivers, if eligible.
• File the complaint with the relevant court and serve the defendants.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

County court systems across the United States play a crucial role in ensuring the public has access to justice. Legal assistance and self-help resources are foundational to this access, especially for self-represented or indigent litigants. These resources typically include online portals, legal aid groups, self-help centers, legal clinics, and court-affiliated assistance programs.

In Mecklenburg County, government officials cannot serve as personal attorneys or offer legal counsel to the public. Persons who cannot afford the services of an attorney may be able to obtain legal assistance from pro bono panels and local legal aid organizations. These organizations typically assist with personal court cases, including probate, housing, domestic relations, sexual and domestic violence, public benefits, elderly citizens, landlord/tenant relations, and veterans' matters. The following self-help and legal aid resources are commonly available to indigent litigants in the county:

• Free Legal Representation for Low-income Persons
• North Carolina Justice for All Project
• Legal Aid of North Carolina
• Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
• Carpool Lane
• Access to Justice Project
• Private Lawyer Referral Services
• American Bar Association Program
• Mecklenburg Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

Other self-help resources and legal aid services available to county residents include the following:

• Affordable Housing Initiatives
• 26th Judicial District SelfServe Center
• North Carolina Veterans Law Project
• 4all - Lawyers on Call

Types of Courts in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Below is a list of Mecklenburg County's courts' jurisdictions and contact details:

Mecklenburg County Superior Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Felonies, lesser-included offenses, civil cases with claims exceeding $25,000, administration of estates and trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, declaratory reliefs, constitutional right issues, adoptions, and appeals from the District Court.
• Address and Contact Information

Mecklenburg County District Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Misdemeanors, infractions, municipal ordinance violations, preliminary criminal case hearings, civil cases with claims under $25,000, divorces, annulments, alimony, child support, termination of parental rights, juvenile delinquency, and emancipation.
• Address and Contact Information

Federal Courts in Mecklenburg County

The following are the federal courts covering Mecklenburg County:

United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Criminal and civil cases about the U.S. Government, federal laws, and the United States Constitution.
• Address and Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of North Carolina

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Bankruptcy cases, including liquidation and reorganization.
• Address and Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Mecklenburg County Courts

Provided below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Mecklenburg County courts: