Davidson County, North Carolina State Court Records
A court record is any document created or gathered during a lawsuit or a criminal trial. The record serves as the official account of everything that transpired during the proceedings. All court records in Davidson County are maintained and preserved by the Clerk of Superior Court's Office. The office is responsible for organizing the files and helping the public view or obtain copies of the records.
Court records are not isolated records in the public records system and often link with other records, such as arrest, vital, and property records.
Are Davidson County Court Records Public?
Yes. Court records in Davidson County are classified as public records under the North Carolina Public Records Act. Additionally, N.C.G.S. § 7A-109 states that the records kept by a court clerk regarding "civil actions, special proceedings, estates, criminal actions, juvenile actions, minutes of the court, judgments, liens, lis pendens" are to be made available for public inspection.
However, a court record only remains publicly accessible if the law or court does not exempt it from disclosure. Common examples of court records that are usually exempted from public disclosure in the county include
- Juvenile records
- Social security numbers
- Medical-related information
- A judge's notes and drafts
- Adoption records
- Sealed records
Individuals who want to access an exempt record will have to obtain the court's approval, which is typically issued through a written order. Under N.C.G.S. § 132-11, all closed public records become open 100 years after their creation. This means that individuals can access any of these typically confidential records without a court order once the relevant record reaches 100 years.
What Information is Available in Davidson County Court Records?
Court records in Davidson County contain all the details about a case, and since not all cases are of the same nature, the content of one record may differ from that of another. However, the information in a court record usually falls under one of these categories:
- Case information
- Party information
- Event history
- Evidence and exhibits
- Motions, court orders, and judgments
Davidson County Court Records Search
There are several ways of accessing court records in Davidson County, depending on the researcher's needs.
Online Access
In October 2025, Davidson County transitioned to the North Carolina eCourts system, allowing individuals to search for court records from their home or anywhere that they can access the internet. Members of the public can search for criminal, civil, estate, or special proceedings through the dedicated Case Search portal. The portal can be queried using a name or a case number with advanced filtering options for a more precise search.
The case search portal makes accessing Davidson County court records easier; however, not all records and documents are viewable online. To access such records, individuals may need to use other access options.
In-Person Access
In-person searches for court records in Davidson County give individuals access to more information than they would find online. To search, members of the public may visit the Clerk of Court's Office at the Davidson County courthouse. Public self-service terminals are available at the office and can be searched by a defendant's, victim's, or witness's name or a case number. Researchers can also ask the clerk to make copies of the entire record, or of a specific document within a file, for a fee.
Mail and Phone Requests
Individuals who do not live near the county courthouse and need a copy (including certified copies) of a court record may put their request in writing and mail it to the Clerk of Court's Office. The request should clearly state details about the record, such as the case number, the full names of the case parties, and the specific documents needed. A pre-addressed, stamped envelope and payment for the copies should also be mailed with the request to
Davidson County Courthouse
PO Box 1064
Lexington, NC 27293
Fees for Court Records in Davidson County
Viewing Davidson County court records through the North Carolina Case Search portal or on a public self-service terminal at the Clerk of Court's Office is free of any cost. However, if the inquirer needs physical copies of the record, a fee will be required. North Carolina uses a unified fee schedule outlined in N.C.G.S. § 7A-308.
- Uncertified (plain copies): $2 for the first page, and 25 cents for each additional page
- Certified copies: $3 for the first page, and 25 cents for each additional page
- Exemplified copies: $10 for the first page and 25 cents for each additional page
- Audio recording copy: The actual cost of the CD (or other physical media)
Davidson County Courthouse Locations
The Davidson County court system consists broadly of a District Court and a Superior Court. The Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction in the county. Both courts operate out of the two courthouses in the county: The Davidson County Courthouse and the Davidson County Courthouse-Thomasville Branch. Below are the addresses of the courthouses.
Davidson County Courthouse
110 West Center Street
Lexington, NC 27292
Phone: (336) 242-6701
Davidson County Courthouse-Thomasville Branch
22 Randolph Street
Thomasville, NC 27360
Phone: (336) 474-3185
Criminal Records Access in Davidson County
Criminal records in Davidson County are accessible through two primary sources: law enforcement and the court system. Law enforcement agencies are generally responsible for the management of arrest records, jail records, and the official criminal history record, while the court manages the records stemming from the criminal proceeding.
Individuals interested in obtaining an official criminal history record may conduct a background check through the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The Bureau of Investigation allows inquirers to conduct a personal background check or a background check on others. A personal background check costs $14, while a check on another person costs $25.
For the criminal case record, researchers may search the North Carolina Case Search portal using the name of the individual or the case number. A copy of the record may also be obtained for a fee at the Davidson County courthouse.
Davidson County Probate Records
Probate records in Davidson County are documents created after a person passes away that dictate how the person's estate is administered. Examples of probate documents include wills, death certificates, estate inventories, and letters of administration. These records are created and maintained by the Davidson County Superior Court and are considered public records, like other court records. However, certain details, such as sensitive personal identifiers, are kept private.
Members of the public can access public probate records online through the North Carolina Case Search portal. The record can be searched by name or case number. Alternatively, inquirers may visit the Clerk of Court's Office to access the public terminal or obtain a copy of the record.
Davidson County Family Court Records
Family court records are documents involving domestic matters, such as adoption, dissolution, child custody, and child support. Some counties in North Carolina have a separate Family Court that handles family law cases; however, in Davidson County, all family cases are handled by the District Court.
Family court records can be accessed using the standard court methods. Individuals may search for the record on the Case Search portal, visit the Clerk of Court's Office, or mail in a request. Requesters should note that they will only be granted access to the public details if they are not a party to the record or have a court order.
Federal Court Records in Davidson County
Federal court records are in a separate category from court records maintained by the Davidson County District and Superior Courts. Federal court cases originating from Davidson County are exclusively handled by the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Davidson County residents who want to view a federal court record may use the federal Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. The system allows members of the public located anywhere to access federal court records online for a fee. There is no federal courthouse in the county, so Davidson County residents who prefer physically inspecting a record may have to go out of the county to the relevant federal courthouse.
