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Robeson County, North Carolina Court Records

Robeson County court records comprise official documentation generated during legal proceedings held in the region's Superior or District Court. These records play a crucial role in transparency within the judiciary by streamlining public and media access to case proceedings, activities, or outcomes.

The central custodian of court records in Robeson County is the Clerk of Superior Court. This single, elected official preserves records for both the Superior and District Court divisions in accordance with the overarching state statutes, primarily G.S. 7A-109.

Within court files, researchers may occasionally find external data managed by outside agencies. For instance, a criminal court file may include the initial arrest or incident report from the arresting law enforcement department. Correspondingly, a civil or estate file may contain vital statistics records (e.g., death certificates) or property/land documents (e.g., deeds) from the local Register of Deeds.

Are Robeson County Court Records Public?

Yes. Under North Carolina's Public Records Law (G.S. 132-1 et seq.) and G.S. 7A-109, members of the general public have the authority to view or copy Robeson County court records. No statutory restrictions affect access based on the requester's identity or citizenship.

Prohibitions on public access apply strictly to case files, information, or materials deemed confidential by law. Adoption files, full Social Security numbers (SSNs), juvenile court records, and wills deposited for safekeeping (G.S. 31-11) are among the restricted records in Robeson County.

What Information is Available in Robeson County Court Records?

Following North Carolina law, the public can access court records in Robeson County to the extent permitted by law. However, the exact contents found in a case file vary by the case's specific type and duration. The longer a legal action proceeds, the more documents and information are added to the official court file. Moreover, civil cases vary substantially from criminal prosecutions, leading to distinct contents within the respective court files.

For example:

  • A criminal case file may include plea agreements; grand jury indictments, criminal summonses, and other charging instruments; warrants for arrest; pre-trial motions; final sentencing orders; and related probation reports.
  • A civil case file contains paperwork such as formal complaints, answers, discovery documents, motions, subpoenas, civil judgments, and settlement orders.

Nevertheless, interested persons can find certain baseline information regardless of the litigation type, such as the

  • Full legal names of the involved litigants (plaintiffs and defendants)
  • Names of the attorneys of records
  • Assigned case number and the filing court
  • Hearing and trial dates scheduled by the court
  • Identity of the presiding Superior or District Court judge
  • Court docket (chronological record of court actions)

Robeson County Court Records Search

The following channels are available to look up court records in Robeson County:

Online Access

One of the more convenient ways to view Robeson County court records is to access the North Carolina Judiciary's eCourts Portal. This portal offers remote public access to case records in all 100 North Carolina counties, frequently making it the first stop for statewide case searches.

ECourts are accessible with specific parameters, such as a litigant's name or case number, and case inspection is entirely free to the general public. Sealed or confidential records are unavailable through this online channel.

In-Person Access

Visiting the Robeson County courthouse affords visitors the option to utilize free public terminals (kiosks) for self-service searches or coordinate with staff at the Clerk of Superior Court's office to obtain copies of case records. Staff-assisted research or record duplication attracts nominal statutory fees.

Mail and Phone Requests

Mail requests for court records can be sent to the following mailing address:

Robeson County Courthouse

PO Box 1084

Lumberton, NC 28359

Including a self-addressed stamped envelope allows the clerk's office to return document copies. As fees apply for copy requests, it is also necessary to add to the envelope a money order or check in the appropriate fee amount. If this amount cannot be estimated, it is advised to contact the Clerk's Office beforehand at (910) 272-5900.

Fees for Court Records in Robeson County

Per the Uniform Court Costs published by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) and G.S. 7A-308, certain fees apply to obtain court records in Robeson County. These fees do not affect standard record lookups through the eCourts system or at courthouse electronic terminals or kiosks. However, where the requester wishes to duplicate a court record or obtain clerical staff assistance for a manual search, they will need to cover the corresponding costs, which include

  • Standard Copies: $2 for the first page, and 25 cents per additional page or fraction thereof.
  • Certified Copies: $3 flat
  • Exemplified Copies: $10 flat
  • Criminal Record Check: $25 flat per name-based check

Robeson County Courthouse Locations

Robeson County has two trial courts: the Superior Court and the District Court. These tribunals handle all cases that arise locally under state law or municipal ordinance, adjudicating legal proceedings at a single centralized courthouse building:

Robeson County Courthouse

500 North Elm Street

Room 101

Lumberton, NC 28359

Main: (910) 272-5900

Juvenile Court Facility: (910) 671-6290

(See also Courthouse Contact Directory.)

Criminal Records Access in Robeson County

Criminal records access in Robeson County can be obtained through these agencies:

The local judicial branch offers name-based criminal record searches, which cost $25 each and are available to any member of the public seeking certified charge and disposition information in Robeson County. Requesters will need to complete Form AOC-CR-31 and hand-deliver or mail it to the Clerk of Superior Court's Office.

Because the court-certified background check only investigates court records in the county requested, it does not serve as a statewide check for those interested. Where statewide criminal information is desired, the proper agency to query is the NCSBI. However, following G.S. 143B-1209.10 et seq., only subjects of records (through a process called "Right to Review") and legally authorized agencies can request NCSBI records. NCSBI checks are strictly fingerprint-based background checks.

Finally, local law enforcement can provide immediate arrest logs, booking information, and incident narratives to the public under North Carolina's Public Records Law. The agency to query in this instance is the arresting police department, but countywide booking data is preserved by the Robeson County Sheriff's Office, which manages the local jail facility.

Robeson County Probate Records

Probate seeks to distribute a deceased person's estate according to their written desires or in compliance with state intestacy laws. A unique aspect of these cases, when filed within Robeson County, is that the Clerk of the Superior Court stands as the ex officio probate judge, rather than a regular judge of the Superior Court (G.S. 28A-2-1). The Clerk's original jurisdiction extends beyond standard estate cases into protective and special proceedings, such as adoptions, legal name changes, incompetency hearings, and guardianships. Probate records, thus, encompass the formal documentation generated during these cases.

The methods for obtaining Robeson County probate records include online through the North Carolina Judicial Branch's eCourts portal, in person at the Robeson County courthouse, and by written request mailed to the Clerk of Superior Court's Office.

Robeson County Family Court Records

Family court records originate from proceedings related to domestic actions or disputes, for example, custody, visitation, divorce, termination of parental rights, equitable distribution of marital property, and domestic violence orders of protection. The Robeson County District Court adjudicates these matters following G.S. 7A-244, which designates the court as the proper venue for domestic or familial cases.

To access public family court records, individuals can search the eCourts system, request information directly from the Clerk of Superior Court's Office, or conduct unassisted searches using public courthouse terminals. When seeking the certified copy of a family court record or confidential information, direct contact should be made with the Clerk's Office.

Federal Court Records in Robeson County

The federal court possessing jurisdiction of civil and criminal actions involving federal statutes or the United States Constitution and arising within Robeson County is the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Such proceedings fall under the court's Southern Division, which operates out of the divisional office in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Alton Lennon Federal Building and Courthouse

2 Princess Street

Wilmington, NC 28401

Phone: (910) 815-4663

Fax: (910) 815-4518

Members of the public have the option to review the court's schedule online (updated every 20 minutes on weekdays) or search PACER, the online self-service federal case management, for case information from the Eastern District of North Carolina. PACER usage is subject to certain search fees.

The Eastern District of North Carolina Court also hosts an online Record Request Systemfor the public. Individuals should note, however, that the fee requirements for using this system are substantially higher than those incurred when using PACER.

Robeson County Court