Court records in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. CabarrusCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Cabarrus County. You can also use the North Carolina Judicial Branch's Cabarrus County page, the clerk's office at the courthouse, and statewide government databases to locate case records, check court dates, and request certified copies.
Cabarrus Court System Overview
Cabarrus County is part of North Carolina Judicial District 19A, which serves Cabarrus County exclusively. The district includes both Superior Court and District Court divisions, each with distinct jurisdiction. Superior Court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases above $25,000, and appeals from District Court. District Court covers misdemeanors, infractions, civil cases up to $25,000, small claims, family law, and juvenile matters. Magistrates within the District Court division issue warrants, set bail, hear small claims, and perform other judicial duties authorized by statute.
The primary courthouse is located in Concord, the county seat:
Cabarrus County Courthouse
For courthouse details including maps and directions, visit the Cabarrus County Courthouse page on the North Carolina Judicial Branch website.
Courts Serving Cabarrus
Several courts at the state and federal level serve Cabarrus County residents:
| Court | Address / Contact |
|---|---|
| Cabarrus County Superior Court | 61 Union Street South |
| Cabarrus County District Court | 61 Union Street South |
| Cabarrus County Magistrate's Office | 61 Union Street South |
| U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina | 324 West Market Street |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of North Carolina | 101 South Edgeworth Street |
Cabarrus County falls within the Middle District of North Carolina for federal matters. There are no separate municipal courts in North Carolina; all criminal and traffic cases are handled through the state district court system.
What Types of Cases Cabarrus Courts Hear
Courts in Cabarrus County handle a wide range of case types across the Superior Court, District Court, and magistrate divisions:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil: General civil litigation, small claims, summary ejectment (eviction)
- Family Law: Divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence protective orders, paternity, termination of parental rights
- Probate and Estates: Decedent estates, guardianships, incompetency proceedings, trust matters
- Juvenile: Delinquency, undisciplined youth, abuse/neglect/dependency
- Traffic: Moving violations, DWI, license-related offenses
The sections below explain which court division handles each category and how cases move through the system.
District Court Cases in Cabarrus
In North Carolina's unified court system, "District Court" in Cabarrus County hears misdemeanors, infractions, civil cases at or below $25,000, family law matters, and juvenile cases. District Court judges preside over bench trials — there is no jury trial at this level. If a defendant in a criminal case wants a jury trial, the case is appealed de novo to Superior Court.
Superior Court in Cabarrus handles all felony cases (after indictment by the grand jury), civil cases exceeding $25,000, and appeals from District Court. Superior Court cases are assigned to judges who rotate through the district. Cases typically arrive through grand jury indictment for felonies or through filing of a civil complaint for higher-value disputes. Post-conviction motions and certain extraordinary writs are also heard at the Superior Court level.
Magistrate Court Cases in Cabarrus
Magistrates in Cabarrus County are judicial officers within the District Court division. They handle several categories of matters:
- Small claims: Civil disputes up to $10,000 (the current jurisdictional limit under North Carolina law)
- Summary ejectment: Landlord-tenant eviction proceedings
- Criminal process: Issuing arrest warrants, search warrants, criminal summonses, and setting conditions of pretrial release
- Worthless check cases
- Domestic violence protective orders: Emergency temporary orders when District Court is not in session
Magistrates do not conduct felony or misdemeanor trials. Those matters proceed before a District Court or Superior Court judge. Small claims hearings before a magistrate are informal — parties may represent themselves, and formal rules of evidence are relaxed. If either party is dissatisfied with a magistrate's small claims decision, they can appeal for a new trial in District Court.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Cabarrus
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, child support, equitable distribution, paternity, and domestic violence protective orders are heard in Cabarrus County District Court. North Carolina requires a one-year separation period before an absolute divorce can be granted. Divorce certificates can be obtained from the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was filed or from NC Vital Records.
Probate and Estates
The Clerk of Superior Court in Cabarrus County serves as the probate judge. The clerk's office handles estate administration, appointment of executors and administrators, guardianship and incompetency proceedings, and accounts filed by fiduciaries. Historical estate records for Cabarrus County are also available through the NC State Archives.
Juvenile
Juvenile cases — including delinquency, undisciplined youth, and abuse/neglect/dependency proceedings — are heard in Cabarrus County District Court. Juvenile court records are confidential under North Carolina law and are not available to the general public. Court Counselor services through the NC Department of Public Safety's Juvenile Justice division handle intake and supervision for delinquency matters.
How Cases Move Through the Cabarrus Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with a magistrate issuing a warrant or criminal summons, or by grand jury indictment. Civil cases start when a plaintiff files a complaint with the clerk. Family law and probate matters begin with a petition.
- Assignment: Cases are assigned to a judge based on the court's calendar. Superior Court judges rotate through the district on scheduled sessions.
- Initial Hearing: In criminal cases, the defendant appears for a first appearance (within 96 hours of arrest for jailed defendants) or arraignment. Civil cases proceed to a scheduling conference or initial case management.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in mediation (required in many civil and custody cases). Criminal defendants may negotiate plea agreements with the district attorney.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases are resolved by plea, bench trial, jury trial, settlement, consent order, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal sentencing follows conviction. Civil judgments may be enforced through execution or garnishment. Either party may appeal — criminal appeals from District Court go to Superior Court; appeals from Superior Court go to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Cabarrus
The Administrative District Judge for Judicial District 19A oversees court operations in Cabarrus County. A Trial Court Administrator assists with scheduling, budgeting, and administrative functions. Contact the Cabarrus County court directory for the Trial Court Administrator's office phone number and email.
Local Rules
Local rules for Judicial District 19A govern scheduling, motions practice, and courtroom procedures. These rules are available through the North Carolina Judicial Branch website under the local rules section for District 19A.
Public Access to Records
Most court records in North Carolina are public under Chapter 132 of the North Carolina General Statutes (the Public Records Act). The North Carolina Judicial Branch's public records policy requires that records be available for inspection at reasonable times. Exceptions include:
- Juvenile records
- Sealed or expunged records
- Grand jury proceedings
- Certain adoption and mental health records
You can view criminal and civil case information at public-access terminals in the courthouse or request records through the Clerk of Superior Court's office.
Attending Hearings
Court proceedings in Cabarrus County are generally open to the public. Hearings are held in person at the Cabarrus County Courthouse. Some proceedings may be conducted by video, particularly initial appearances and certain motions — check with the clerk's office for current remote hearing availability.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Cabarrus
- Court date lookup: Search for upcoming court dates by name, county, citation number, or date range through the NC Judicial Branch portal.
- Court records search: Access the court records portal to search case information online or learn how to use public-access terminals at the courthouse.
- Public records requests: Submit a public records request to the NC Judicial Branch for court-related documents. For marriage licenses, police reports, or real estate records, contact the appropriate county office.
- Criminal background checks: The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is the central repository for criminal history information in the state.
- Offender search: Use the NC Department of Adult Correction offender search to look up state prison inmates, probationers, and parolees by name or offender ID.
- Sheriff's office records: The Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office maintains local law enforcement records. A mobile app is also available for jail and inmate information.
- Historical records: The NC State Archives holds Cabarrus County estate records and miscellaneous county records for historical research.
- Police records (City of Concord): The Concord Police Department provides documents and resources including public video request forms and other materials.
- Open government resources: The NC Attorney General's open government page explains public records and open meetings laws that apply to all government agencies in the state.
- Additional public records: The NC DAC public records online portal provides access to various state records without a formal request.
For general questions about court services, courthouse locations, or jury duty in Cabarrus County, visit the Cabarrus County page on the North Carolina Judicial Branch website or contact the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse.