Johnston County Court Records

Johnston County court records are kept at the courthouse in Smithfield. The Clerk of Superior Court is the official custodian of all case files for this fast-growing county east of Raleigh. Criminal cases, civil disputes, and family law matters all produce records stored here. Johnston County has seen major population growth in recent years, and the court system reflects that with a high caseload. Searching for court records starts at the clerk office or through the state online portal.

Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court

The clerk office in Johnston County is on East Johnston Street in Smithfield, the county seat. This office handles all court filings, records storage, and copy requests. Staff can search for records by name or case number. The clerk serves the entire county from this one location.

Johnston County is one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina. Towns like Clayton, Smithfield, Selma, and Four Oaks all fall under the Johnston County court system. Every case from across the county is filed at the courthouse in Smithfield. The clerk keeps both active and closed files. Certified copies of court documents are available for legal use. Plain copies are cheaper. The Johnston County clerk follows the state fee schedule for all records requests.

The volume of cases in Johnston County means the clerk office stays busy. Walk-in visits are welcome, but you may want to call ahead. Having the case number or full name ready speeds up the process.

How to Search Johnston County Court Records

There are two main ways to search court records in Johnston County. Use the online portal from any device or visit the courthouse in Smithfield. Both options give you access to public records.

The NC eCourts portal lets you search Johnston County cases for free. Enter a name or case number. The system shows case type, charges, filing dates, court dates, and status. It covers criminal and civil cases. The portal gives a good overview of each case. Full documents are not always available online. For those, you need to contact the Johnston County clerk directly.

Visiting the courthouse lets you see the entire case file. The clerk pulls the file and you review it at the counter. You can ask for copies of any document in the file. This is the best approach for complex requests or when you need specific papers from Johnston County court records.

Under §132-1, public records belong to the people of North Carolina. Court records in Johnston County are public unless a specific statute says otherwise. Juvenile records are sealed under §7B-2901. Adoption records and grand jury proceedings are also restricted. All other adult cases in Johnston County are fully open to the public.

Note: The eCourts portal may not include very old Johnston County cases that were filed before electronic records began.

Johnston County Criminal Court Records

Criminal records in Johnston County include felonies, misdemeanors, and court-heard traffic offenses. Each case file has warrants, charging documents, motions, orders, plea records, and sentencing information. The Clerk of Superior Court stores all criminal records at the courthouse.

Johnston County sits along I-95 and US 70, which brings a variety of criminal cases. Drug charges, DWI offenses, property crimes, and violent offenses all produce records. The eCourts portal lets you search these records online. The NC SBI provides background checks that include Johnston County criminal history from the statewide database.

Under §15A-152, criminal record information is public. The Johnston County clerk provides access to all non-sealed criminal records. Expunged cases are removed from public view when a court grants the petition. All other adult criminal records in Johnston County are available to anyone who asks.

• Felony cases in superior court
• Misdemeanor cases in district court
• DWI and serious traffic offenses
• Drug and property crime cases

Civil Records in Johnston County

The civil docket in Johnston County covers a broad range of disputes. Contract claims, property cases, personal injury lawsuits, and foreclosures all create court records. Family law matters like divorce, custody, and support cases are also part of the civil record. The clerk files and stores all civil case documents in Johnston County.

Johnston County's growth has led to more civil filings each year. Real estate disputes, construction claims, and neighbor conflicts are common as new development spreads across the county. Small claims go to magistrate court for amounts up to $10,000. District court handles family law and mid-range civil cases. Superior court takes the largest disputes. All of these create records maintained by the Johnston County clerk under §7A-109.

Estate proceedings and guardianship cases are also handled by the clerk. These special proceedings have their own file series in Johnston County. Wills, estate administration, and guardianship appointments are all on file at the courthouse.

Johnston County Sheriff Records

The Johnston County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and booking data. These law enforcement records are separate from the court records at the courthouse. The sheriff serves court papers and carries out court orders across Johnston County.

You can visit the Johnston County Sheriff's Office website for information about records and services available from law enforcement.

The sheriff handles civil process in Johnston County. Deputies deliver lawsuits, subpoenas, and court orders to people across the county. Each service creates a return of service document for the court file. The sheriff also carries out evictions, serves arrest warrants, and transports prisoners. All of these actions generate records that connect to cases at the Johnston County courthouse.

Public Access and Records Law

North Carolina has clear laws about public access to court records. General Statute §132-1 says public records are the property of the people. Court records in Johnston County fall under this rule. Anyone can request to view them. No reason is required.

Restrictions apply to a small number of record types in Johnston County. Juvenile cases under §7B-2901 are not public. Grand jury proceedings are kept secret. Mental health hearings and adoption records also have limited access. For everything else, the Johnston County clerk must provide access upon request. The NC Courts court records page explains the rules in more detail.

Note: The Johnston County clerk may redact Social Security numbers and other sensitive identifiers from public copies of court records.

Johnston County Court System

Johnston County is part of North Carolina Judicial District 11B. The court system includes superior court, district court, and magistrate court. Superior court handles felonies and major civil cases. District court covers misdemeanors, traffic, family law, and juvenile matters. Magistrates hear small claims and issue warrants. Under §7A-109, the Johnston County clerk keeps records for all three court levels.

The Johnston County courthouse in Smithfield is the only court location for the county. Court sessions follow a regular calendar with separate schedules for criminal and civil matters. The clerk posts the calendar at the courthouse and can provide dates by phone. The NC Administrative Office of the Courts oversees the court system statewide. Court forms for Johnston County filings are available at nccourts.gov/documents/forms.

Getting Copies of Johnston County Records

Copies of Johnston County court records are available at the clerk office. Walk in with the case number or party name. Staff will locate the file and make copies for you. Plain copies cost less. Certified copies include the court seal and cost more.

Most legal uses require certified copies. Courts, banks, and government agencies want the certified version of Johnston County records. Plain copies are fine for personal use and reference. You can also send a written request by mail. Include the case details, what documents you need, and payment for fees. The clerk mails copies back to you. Call ahead to confirm current fees before you visit or send a mail request to Johnston County.

Nearby Counties

Johnston County borders several counties in eastern North Carolina. Court records are filed in the county where the case originated. Check the right county before you search.