Find Alamance County Court Records

Alamance County court records are held at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Graham, the county seat. The courthouse sits at 212 W. Elm Street. It dates back to 1924 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Residents and the public can search Alamance County case filings in person or through the state eCourts system. Most court records are open to public review. This guide walks through how to find Alamance County court records, what types of cases are on file, and the steps to get copies.

Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court

The Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court handles all court filings for the 15A Judicial District. This office sits on the second floor of the historic courthouse in downtown Graham. An elevator provides access. Free parking is available around the courthouse square. The clerk's staff of roughly 25 members processes civil cases, criminal filings, estates, and special proceedings each day.

Alamance County Superior Court meets on a monthly or bi-monthly schedule. District Court sessions run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. A magistrate is on duty around the clock through the Alamance County Sheriff's Office at (336) 570-6300. If you need to reach the court after hours, contact the sheriff's dispatch line for help.

Note: The clerk's office tends to be less busy between 2:00 and 4:00 PM on weekday afternoons.

How to Search Alamance County Court Records

Two main paths exist for searching Alamance County court records. You can visit the courthouse in person or search online. Each method has trade-offs worth knowing.

For online searches, the North Carolina eCourts Portal is the primary tool. This statewide system lets you look up civil and criminal cases filed in Alamance County by name, case number, or date range. Results show case type, filing date, charges, and disposition when available. The portal is free to use and runs around the clock. It covers cases across all 100 North Carolina counties, so you can search Alamance County records from anywhere with an internet connection.

In-person searches happen at the Alamance County courthouse. Public access terminals sit on the second floor near the clerk's office. These terminals are free to use and let you pull up case details on the spot. Staff can help if you run into trouble. Bring the full name and date of birth of the person you are searching for. A case number speeds things up if you have one. You can also ask the clerk's office to run a certified or uncertified background check through the Criminal Records Division.

The Alamance County Sheriff's Office also keeps records at 109 S. Maple Street in Graham. Their records division can be reached at (336) 570-6311. Incident reports take three to five business days to process once requested.

Criminal Record Searches in Alamance County

Alamance County criminal records include felony and misdemeanor cases heard in Superior and District Court. The Criminal Records Division at the clerk's office processes both certified and uncertified background checks. Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours. You will need the subject's full legal name and date of birth at a minimum.

For a broader search, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation runs statewide criminal history checks. These cover records from all counties, not just Alamance. SBI checks require fingerprints and a signed release in most situations. Under N.C.G.S. § 114-19, certain criminal history records are restricted to authorized agencies and individuals.

Alamance County also offers fingerprinting through the Sheriff's Office. Walk-in fingerprinting is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 11:00 AM and again from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. The fee is $15 in cash. Bring a valid photo ID and an FD-258 fingerprint card. Concealed handgun permit applications are handled by appointment. The fee runs about $90, and processing takes 30 to 45 days.

The Alamance County Sheriff's Office posts a daily jail roster on its website. This roster lists current inmates and is updated each day.

The image above shows the Alamance County offices where court records and sheriff reports are processed for the public.

Note: The clerk does not accept personal checks for criminal record searches.

Alamance County Court Records Fees

Most record requests at the Alamance County clerk's office carry a small fee. Certified copies of court documents cost more than plain copies. The clerk accepts cash, credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and Discover), money orders, and certified checks. Fees vary based on the record type and how many pages you need.

• Certified copy of a court document: typically $3 for the first page and $0.25 per additional page
• Marriage license: $60, both parties must appear with valid photo ID
• Marriage ceremony by appointment: $20
• Expunction filing fee: $175 unless the petitioner qualifies as indigent
• Fingerprinting at the Sheriff's Office: $15 cash

Marriage licenses in Alamance County have no waiting period. They remain valid for 60 days after issue. Both parties must show up at the clerk's office with proper ID to apply. The NC Courts forms library has blank forms for many filings, which can save time at the window.

Types of Cases in Alamance County Courts

Alamance County courts handle a wide range of case types. Criminal cases cover felonies and misdemeanors. Civil cases include lawsuits, small claims, and contract disputes. The clerk's office also processes domestic matters like divorce, custody, and child support. Each case type has its own filing requirements and fee schedule.

Special Proceedings make up another large category. These include estate matters, guardianships, name changes, and adoptions. Under N.C.G.S. § 7A-109, the clerk serves as judge in many special proceeding cases. Alamance County sees a steady flow of estate filings given its population of roughly 171,000 residents. The county was established in 1849 and named after Great Alamance Creek, the site of the Battle of Alamance in 1771.

Juvenile records in Alamance County are not open to the public. N.C.G.S. § 7B-2901 limits access to juvenile case files. Sealed and expunged records are also off-limits under N.C.G.S. § 15A-152. If you are unsure whether a record is public, staff at the clerk's office can check for you. The NC Courts records help page explains these rules in more detail.

Getting Copies of Alamance County Records

You can get copies of Alamance County court records in person, by mail, or through the eCourts portal for some document types. Walk-in requests are the fastest option. Bring your ID and the case number if you have it. The clerk's office will pull the file and make copies while you wait in most cases.

Mail requests should include the case number, the names of the parties involved, and a check or money order for the copy fee. Send requests to the Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court at 212 W. Elm Street, Graham, NC 27253. Allow one to two weeks for processing. The Administrative Office of the Courts also provides guidance on statewide record request procedures.

Under N.C.G.S. § 132-6, any person may request copies of public records. The law allows the custodian to charge a reasonable fee to cover copying costs. N.C.G.S. § 132-9 sets penalties for officials who unlawfully deny access to public records. Alamance County follows these statutes in all record requests. Appeals of denied requests can be brought through the North Carolina appellate courts system.

Alamance County Sheriff Records

The Alamance County Sheriff's Office maintains its own set of records separate from the court system. These include incident reports, arrest records, and the daily jail roster. The sheriff's office is at 109 S. Maple Street in Graham. Call (336) 570-6311 to reach the records division directly.

Incident reports usually take three to five business days to prepare. You can request them in person or by phone. The NC Department of Public Safety handles state-level records requests if you need reports from outside Alamance County.

Nearby Counties

Several counties border Alamance County in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.