Davie County Public Records /Davie County Court Records

Davie County Court Records

What Is Davie County Court Records

Court records in Davie County encompass the complete body of official documentation generated by judicial proceedings within the county's court system. These records include case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, sentencing records, and any other materials filed with or produced by a court in connection with a legal matter. Under North Carolina General Statutes § 132-1, public records are broadly defined to include all documents made or received in connection with the transaction of public business by any agency of North Carolina government, which encompasses the judicial branch.

Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained at the county level. Property records, for example, are held by the Davie County Register of Deeds, while vital records such as birth and death certificates are administered through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Court records, by contrast, are generated exclusively through the judicial process and are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court.

The following courts currently maintain official records in Davie County:

Superior Court — handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $25,000, and appeals from District Court
District Court — handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $25,000, family law, juvenile matters, and traffic infractions
Magistrate Court — handles small claims cases up to $10,000, initial appearances, and certain civil summons matters
Probate proceedings — administered through the Clerk of Superior Court

Records span civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and juvenile matters. The Davie County court system operates as part of North Carolina's 22nd Judicial District.

Are Court Records Public In Davie County

The majority of court records maintained in Davie County are open to public inspection under North Carolina law. N.C.G.S. § 132-6 establishes that every custodian of public records shall permit any record in the custodian's custody to be inspected and examined at reasonable times and under reasonable supervision. This statutory mandate applies to court records held by the Clerk of Superior Court.

The following categories of records are generally available to members of the public:

Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
Criminal case files following the filing of charges
Judgments and court orders
Docket sheets and hearing schedules
Sentencing records in criminal matters
Probate filings and estate inventories
Small claims judgments

It is important to note the distinction between state and federal court records. Records from the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, which has jurisdiction over federal matters arising in Davie County, are governed by federal law and accessed through the federal PACER system rather than through state court channels. State court records in North Carolina are governed by the North Carolina Public Records Law and the Rules of the North Carolina Supreme Court. The North Carolina Judicial Branch publishes guidance on obtaining court records, including procedures for background checks and expungements.

Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under current law, including juvenile records, sealed case files, certain mental health proceedings, and records subject to expunction orders issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 15A-145.

How To Find Court Records in Davie County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Davie County may access them through several official channels. The primary custodian of all state court records at the county level is the Clerk of Superior Court, located at the Davie County Courthouse.

Steps to obtain records in person:

Visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Provide the case number, party name, or approximate filing date to assist staff in locating the record
Request inspection of the file or submit a written request for certified copies
Pay applicable copy fees, which are set by statute at $0.25 per page for standard copies and $3.00 for certified copies of most documents

Steps to obtain records by mail:

Address a written request to the Clerk of Superior Court, Davie County Courthouse
Include the full case name, case number if known, and the specific documents requested
Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for estimated copy fees
Allow 5–10 business days for processing

Steps to obtain records online:

Members of the public may search case information through the North Carolina eCourts portal and the Automated Criminal/Infraction System (ACIS), both of which are described in detail in the section below.

Davie County Clerk of Superior Court 140 S. Main Street, Mocksville, NC 27028 (336) 753-6020 North Carolina Judicial Branch – Davie County

How To Look Up Court Records in Davie County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Davie County court records without requiring an in-person visit.

North Carolina eCourts / Portal The North Carolina Judicial Branch operates an online case search portal that allows members of the public to search civil and criminal case information by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal includes docket entries, hearing dates, and case status for matters filed in Superior and District Court.

Navigate to the North Carolina Courts case search portal
Select "Davie County" from the county dropdown menu
Enter the party name, case number, or attorney name
Review the list of matching cases and select the relevant matter
Case summary information, including docket entries and scheduled hearings, is displayed at no charge

Automated Criminal/Infraction System (ACIS) The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction maintains a statewide database of criminal and infraction records. The public records online portal contains current and historical information dating back to 1972 and does not include county jail information. Members of the public may use the Automated System Query (ASQ) to search for criminal history data.

Federal Court Records (PACER) For federal cases involving Davie County parties, records are accessible through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at pacer.gov. A per-page fee applies to document retrieval through PACER.

How To Search Davie County Court Records for Free?

State law currently guarantees the right of public inspection of court records at no charge. Under N.C.G.S. § 132-6, any person may inspect public records during regular business hours without payment of a fee; charges apply only when copies are requested. This means members of the public may review case files, docket sheets, and orders in person at the Clerk of Superior Court's office without incurring any cost.

The following free online resources are available for Davie County court record searches:

North Carolina Courts Case Search Portal — free case summary and docket information for civil and criminal matters in Superior and District Court
ACIS (Automated Criminal/Infraction System) — free online access to criminal and infraction records statewide, including Davie County, through the NC Department of Adult Correction's public records portal
Clerk of Superior Court public terminals — computer terminals available at the courthouse for free in-person record searches during business hours

Fees are assessed only for printed or certified copies of documents, as authorized by statute.

What's Included in a Davie County Court Record?

The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally include the following categories of documents:

Civil Case Records:

Complaint and summons
Defendant's answer and counterclaims
Motions and supporting briefs
Court orders and rulings
Final judgment
Notice of appeal, if applicable

Criminal Case Records:

Charging documents (indictment, information, or warrant)
Arrest and booking information
Bail and bond orders
Plea agreements
Trial transcripts
Sentencing orders and probation conditions
Expunction orders (where applicable and not sealed)

Family Court Records:

Divorce complaints and decrees
Child custody and visitation orders
Child support orders and payment histories
Domestic violence protective orders (subject to access restrictions)
Adoption records (generally sealed under North Carolina law)

Probate Records:

Will filings and probate petitions
Estate inventories and accountings
Letters testamentary and letters of administration
Final settlement orders

Traffic and Infraction Records:

Citation information
Disposition and fine payment records
License suspension orders

Small Claims Records:

Complaint and summons
Judgment for plaintiff or defendant
Execution and garnishment records

How Long Does Davie County Keep Court Records?

Davie County courts retain records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. Retention periods vary by record type and case classification.

Current retention periods for principal record categories include:

Record Type	Retention Period
Felony criminal case files	Permanent
Misdemeanor criminal case files	10 years after disposition
Civil case files (Superior Court)	10 years after final judgment
Small claims case files	3 years after disposition
Probate records	Permanent
Juvenile records	Varies; many sealed at age 18
Traffic infraction records	3–7 years depending on offense
Court orders and judgments	Permanent

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources publishes the official records retention and disposition schedule applicable to judicial branch records. Permanent records are maintained either in the courthouse or transferred to the State Archives of North Carolina. Members of the public seeking older records may need to contact the State Archives directly if the originating court no longer holds the physical file.

Types of Courts In Davie County

Davie County is served by courts operating within North Carolina's 22nd Judicial District. The court hierarchy proceeds from Magistrate Court at the entry level through District Court, Superior Court, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and ultimately the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Davie County Superior and District Court (Clerk of Superior Court) 140 S. Main Street Mocksville, NC 27028 (336) 753-6020 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Davie County | North Carolina Judicial Branch

North Carolina Court of Appeals One West Morgan Street Raleigh, NC 27601 (919) 831-3600 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. North Carolina Court of Appeals

North Carolina Supreme Court Two East Morgan Street Raleigh, NC 27601 (919) 831-5700 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. North Carolina Supreme Court

Magistrate Court in Davie County operates under the administrative supervision of the Chief District Court Judge and handles small claims matters, initial appearances in criminal cases, and the issuance of civil summonses. District Court hears misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $25,000, juvenile proceedings, and domestic relations matters. Superior Court exercises original jurisdiction over felony criminal cases and civil matters exceeding $25,000, and also serves as the appellate court for District Court decisions.

What Types of Cases Do Davie County Courts Hear?

Each court within Davie County's judicial structure exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of cases.

Magistrate Court:

Small claims civil actions (claims up to $10,000)
Initial appearances and bail determinations in criminal matters
Summary ejectment proceedings
Worthless check cases

District Court:

Misdemeanor criminal prosecutions
Traffic infractions and violations
Civil cases with claims up to $25,000
Domestic relations matters (divorce, separation, alimony)
Child custody and child support
Juvenile delinquency and abuse, neglect, and dependency proceedings
Domestic violence protective orders
Involuntary commitment proceedings

Superior Court:

Felony criminal prosecutions
Civil cases with claims exceeding $25,000
Appeals from District Court decisions
Condemnation and eminent domain proceedings
Probate matters (administered through the Clerk of Superior Court)
Special proceedings

North Carolina Court of Appeals:

Appeals from Superior Court and District Court final judgments
Certain administrative agency appeals

North Carolina Supreme Court:

Discretionary review of Court of Appeals decisions
Mandatory review in capital cases and certain constitutional matters

How To Find a Court Docket In Davie County

A court docket is the official schedule of proceedings and the chronological record of all filings and actions in a case. Members of the public may access Davie County court dockets through the following methods:

Online Search:

Access the North Carolina Courts case search portal through the North Carolina Judicial Branch website
Select Davie County and enter the party name or case number
The case summary page displays all docket entries, including filing dates, document types, and scheduled hearing dates

In-Person Search:

Visit the Clerk of Superior Court at 140 S. Main Street, Mocksville, NC 27028, during business hours
Request access to the public case index terminals
Staff may assist in locating docket information by case number or party name

Criminal Docket Information:

The ACIS system maintained by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction provides criminal docket and disposition information accessible through the public records online portal

Scheduled Hearing Calendars:

The Clerk of Superior Court posts weekly and monthly hearing calendars for civil and criminal sessions
Calendars may be viewed at the courthouse or requested by telephone at (336) 753-6020

Which Courts in Davie County Are Not Courts of Record?

A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented, preserved, and subject to review by a higher court. Under N.C.G.S. § 7A-198, Magistrate Courts in North Carolina are expressly designated as courts not of record. This means that proceedings before a magistrate are not transcribed or preserved in the same manner as proceedings in District or Superior Court, and parties dissatisfied with a magistrate's judgment are entitled to a de novo (entirely new) trial in District Court rather than an appeal on the record.

In Davie County, the following proceedings are currently conducted before courts not of record:

Small claims hearings before a magistrate (civil claims up to $10,000)
Initial appearances conducted by a magistrate
Summary ejectment hearings before a magistrate

Because no official transcript is created in magistrate proceedings, parties who wish to challenge a magistrate's ruling must file a notice of appeal and have the matter reheard in its entirety before a District Court judge. District Court, Superior Court, and all appellate courts in North Carolina are courts of record, and their proceedings are transcribed and preserved as part of the official court record.