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Cleveland County, North Carolina Court Records

Cleveland County court records are the formal files created and maintained during proceedings in the county courts. These records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court, which is an agency within the North Carolina Judicial Branch that documents the progress and files the outcomes of civil, criminal, probate, juvenile, and family cases.

Court records are often linked to other public records, as court cases may involve arrests and vital life events documented by other government agencies. Although each record type is maintained by separate offices, they can complement each other and provide a more complete picture of a legal matter.

Are Cleveland County Court Records Public?

Yes. Cleveland County court records are public files that anyone can access, whether they are a resident or have a specific purpose for the information. N.C. Gen. Stat § 132-1 establishes the presumption of open government in North Carolina.

Nonetheless, there are exemptions where certain records are not available for inspection. Such records include

  • Juvenile delinquency and dependency records (confidential under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3000)
  • Police investigative files
  • Adoption records
  • Identities of victims of domestic violence
  • Mental health reports
  • Civil commitment records

What Information is Available in Cleveland County Court Records?

Information available in a court record depends on several factors, including the case type and the court's division in which the case was filed. However, the following basic information can be found in a Cleveland County court record:

  • Full name of parties involved
  • Docket entries
  • Filing date
  • Case numbers
  • Hearing schedules
  • Motions and complaints
  • Charges
  • Notices & summons
  • Sentencing orders
  • Judgments

Cleveland County Court Records Search

Finding Cleveland County court records can be easy and straightforward once the requester knows the type of record they seek, the appropriate authority to approach, and the approximate date the case was filed. One can search for court records in Cleveland County through three major channels:

Online Access

Cleveland County is a part of the North Carolina eCourts system, the primary statewide portal for accessing most case information across counties. The NC Judicial Branch offers users the option to search case records by name, case number, or citation number across the civil, criminal, probate, and traffic divisions.

Access to records may differ by case type, as not all case information is available online. For instance, sealed cases and most juvenile records are restricted from online viewing, even when the general case status is visible. Other search tools of the NC Judicial Branch are

In-Person Access

Copies of court documents created in Cleveland County can be obtained in person at the Superior Court Clerk's Office (which is situated at the local courthouse). The courthouse is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visitors can use designated public terminals within the courthouse for on-site record searches.

Visitors to the courthouse are advised to bring a valid government-issued photo ID, along with case-identifying details such as the party's name, case number, and filing date of the record they seek.

Mail and Phone Requests

Where individuals are unable to visit the courthouse, they can request records by mail or phone. Mail requests should include a case party's full name, estimated filing date, case number (if known), the type of record, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The processing time for a mail request depends on the request's complexity; however, custodians are required to respond to public requests as soon as possible.

The acceptable payment methods include certified checks, cashier's checks, and money orders made payable to

Clerk of Superior Court

Cleveland County Courthouse

100 Justice Place

Shelby, NC 28150

Cash payments are only used for in-person visits.

Fees for Court Records in Cleveland County

Public court records in Cleveland County are free to inspect, whether online or in person. Fees apply only if copies or certification are requested. The North Carolina Judicial Branch Court Costs and Fees Chart outlines the following miscellaneous court fees:

  • Photocopies: $2 for the first page of each document and 25 cents for each extra page
  • Certified copies: $3 per document
  • Exemplified records: $10
  • Criminal record search: $25

Cleveland County Courthouse Locations

Cleveland County operates under the unified court system of the North Carolina Judicial Branch. Local cases are heard at the Cleveland County Courthouse, where all proceedings for the county superior and district courts take place.

Cleveland County Courthouse

(Superior & District Court)

100 Justice Place

Shelby, NC 28150

Phone (Main): (704) 476-7800

Phone (Clerk): (704) 484-4862

Criminal Records Access in Cleveland County

When conducting criminal record searches, requesters need to specify the type of record they seek. In Cleveland County, criminal records maintained by the court are distinct from the state's official criminal history records.

Official statewide criminal history background checks, which include the compilation of an individual's full criminal history across all counties in North Carolina, are conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), and not by county courts. The NCSBI manages the statewide CJIN (Criminal Justice Information Network) and performs background checks required for employment or professional licensing.

By contrast, the Cleveland County Superior Court files and maintains records of individual criminal cases, which contain details of a single local case. These records can be accessed electronically through the NC Judicial Branch eCourts portal or in person/via mail at the Clerk of Superior Court's Office with a criminal background check. Criminal case records may include charges, pleas, sentencing orders, and probation terms.

Cleveland County Probate Records

In Cleveland County, probate records are documents filed as part of the court-supervised process of managing a deceased person's estate and related matters, such as guardianship and conservatorship. In North Carolina, probate is heard by the Clerk of Superior Court, who acts as the probate judge.

Probate filings, including wills, letters testamentary, petitions for guardianship, asset inventories, and conservatorship files, are publicly available to members of the public to view and inspect. While recent probate files can be searched online through the NC Judicial Branch eCourts portal, historical records may need an in-person visit to the Clerk's Office.

For more information about wills and estates, interested persons may check out the NC Courts Wills and Estates help topic.

Cleveland County Family Court Records

Family law cases, including divorce, child custody & support, domestic violence protective orders, and adoption, are handled by the District Court in Cleveland County. However, the Clerk of the Superior Court maintains records of the proceedings and makes them accessible to the parties involved, their attorneys, and the general public.

Online access to family court case information is available through the NC Judicial Branch eCourts portal. Case searches can be conducted by party name or case number. However, access may be restricted for certain matters; for instance, adoption records are sealed, and domestic violence protective orders have restricted access to avoid publicizing the victim's information.

Copies of family law records can be requested in person at the Office of the Superior Court Clerk.

Federal Court Records in Cleveland County

Cleveland County courts handle all local cases arising within the county, but they have no jurisdiction over federal cases, including those related to immigration, bankruptcy, diversity actions, and federal crimes. Although these cases occur within the county, they are heard by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, which has courthouses in Charlotte, Asheville, and Statesville.

Federal court records are primarily accessed through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). One must register for a PACER account and pay per-page fees to view and download court documents. The Western District of North Carolina also provides case information through CM/ECF, its electronic filing system.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of North Carolina handles Cleveland County bankruptcy cases.

Cleveland County Court