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Gaston County Court Records

Gaston County court records are official documentation of activities, actions, and events related to a legal case in Gaston County. These records encompass all documents, filings, judgments, transcripts, evidence/exhibits, and other materials generated or received during the adjudication of cases in the county. The Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court, who is the custodian of Gaston County Court records, generates and maintains these records in accordance with North Carolina Public Records Law (N.C. Gen. Stat. Ch. 132) and court rules as official, authoritative, and historical records of cases.

These records are created as cases are filed, and proceedings take place in Gaston County Superior or District Court. The Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court maintains these records electronically and/or on paper, preserving them as official public records. Gaston County court records are essential to public transparency and accountability, as they allow the general public to follow, track, or monitor court proceedings and research legal outcomes.

Although a court record is a distinct record, it is related to other public records, such as vital records, arrest information, and federal case files. For example, vital records such as birth or death certificates are often used in probate proceedings and may appear or be referenced in those court records. Similarly, arrest information is typically part of a criminal court record. Meanwhile, federal case files are simply federal court records.

Are Gaston County Court Records Public?

Yes. Gaston County court records are public under the North Carolina Public Records Law (N.C. Gen. Stat. Ch. 132), which statutorily provides that government records, including court records, are public and that interested persons have the right to copy or inspect any of them at a reasonable time without the need to disclose intent, unless a particular record is specifically exempt by law.

Per the law, case types generally public include criminal, civil, probate cases, and certain family law cases. Of these case types, accessible records/information include, but are not limited to, the names of case parties, hearing dates, filings, motions, transcripts, evidence/exhibits, subpoenas, orders, and judgments. However, the following case types/records are restricted from public access:

  • Involuntary commitment cases/records
  • Juvenile delinquency cases/records
  • Adoption records
  • Domestic abuse cases/records
  • Sealed/expunged cases/records
  • Grand jury proceedings
  • Search warrants

What Information is Available in Gaston County Court Records?

Information available in a typical Gaston County court record includes:

  • Case docket entries (e.g., names of involved parties, case number, filing dates, hearing dates)
  • Transcripts
  • Filings
  • Pleadings and motions
  • Court orders, judgments, decrees, and final dispositions
  • Evidence/exhibits
  • Appeals
  • Indictments, charges, citations (criminal court records)
  • Warrants (e.g., arrest, bench, and search)
  • Divorce decree (divorce cases)
  • Probate & estate documents, such as wills (probate court records)

Gaston County Court Records Search

Interested persons can search or access Gaston County court records via:

  • Online Access-Through the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s eCourts Portal, which allows interested persons to search for and look up case information, hearing dates, and judgments. The portal is searchable by name, case number, and other criteria. Set the search location to "Gaston County" to search Gaston County court records. Note that access to court records on the portal may differ by case type. For example, juvenile delinquency court records are confidential and will not be accessible.
  • In-Person Access-The Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court maintains public self-service terminals (eCourtKiosks). Interested persons can visit the clerk’s office to utilize these public terminals to search for and access public Gaston County court records by name or case number. They can also visit the clerk’s office to request and obtain physical copies of a court record. Visits to the clerk’s office should be made during business hours, Monday through Friday.

Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court

325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Suite 1004

Gastonia, NC 28052

Phone: (704) 852-3100

Email: Gaston.Clerk@nccourts.org

  • Mail and Phone Requests-Submit written requests for Gaston County court records by mail in self-addressed stamped envelopes to the Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court. Mail should include the applicable copy fees made payable to the Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court. Money orders and certified checks are the acceptable mail-in payment methods. Mail requests to:

Clerk of Superior Court

Gaston County Courthouse

325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Suite 1004

Gastonia, NC 28052.

Alternatively, requests may be submitted by phone to the clerk’s office by calling (704) 852-3100. However, note that phone requests may be limited to general inquiries, rather than record searches.

Fees for Court Records in Gaston County

According to state law, fees for Gaston County court records, which can be obtained from the clerk of superior court, include $2.00 for the first page of each document copied and $.25 for each additional page (N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-308(a)(12)), $3.00 for each certified copy (N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-308(a)(9)), and $10.00 for exemplification of records (N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-308(a)(10)). However, record inspection via the eCourts portal or in person at the clerk’s office is free. The fees for vital records (e.g., death, birth, and marriage certificates) handled by the Gaston County Register of Deeds are $10 each per certified copy.

Gaston County Courthouse Locations

Below is the location and contact information of Gaston County Courts.

Gaston County Superior Court

325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Suite 1004

Gastonia, NC 28052

Phone: (704) 852-3100

Gaston County District Court

325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Suite 1004

Gastonia, NC 28052

Phone: (704) 852-3100

The Gaston Superior Court handles criminal felony cases, civil matters exceeding $25,000 (perN.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-243), and probate and estate administration. In contrast, the Gaston County District Court handles misdemeanor cases, civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000, traffic violations, infractions, and family/domestic relations cases, including divorce, child custody & support, and juvenile delinquency.

Criminal Records Access in Gaston County

In Gaston County, access to official state-level criminal history records is handled by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the custodian and central source of criminal history information in the state. As such, requestors may not obtain criminal records through a county court. However, local criminal case records are available, and interested persons may search or access them through the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s eCourts Portal or in person at the Gaston County Clerk of the Superior Court’s office.

Gaston County Probate Records

Interested individuals can search the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s eCourts Portal for Gaston County probate records, including more recent wills and probate filings. Additionally, they can contact the Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court to search for and/or obtain copies of these records in person, by mail, by e-mail, or by phone.

Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court

325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Suite 1004

Gastonia, NC 28052

Phone: (704) 852-3100

Email: Gaston.Clerk@nccourts.org.

Note that while some probate records may be available online, older or more detailed files may require in-person access. Additionally, certain probate court records, such as guardianship records involving minors or sealed case records are confidential and therefore not available to the public.

Gaston County Family Court Records

Gaston County family court records contain documents and information regarding family law cases, including divorce, adoption, and child custody & support. Although these cases are handled in the Gaston County District Court, the Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court is responsible for the records. Most family court records are public and accessible to interested persons under the law. For confidentiality and privacy reasons, certain records like adoption files are not public.

To access these records, interested persons should submit their requests to the Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court. This may be done in person, by mail, by e-mail, or by phone.

Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court

325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Suite 1004
Gastonia, NC 28052

Phone: (704) 852-3100

Email: Gaston.Clerk@nccourts.org.

Alternatively, these records are available online via the eCourts Portal and may be searched by party name, case number, or other criteria. Online access is limited to inspection. To obtain certified copies of Gaston County family court records, visit the clerk’s office in person or mail a request. Fees apply.

Federal Court Records in Gaston County

Federal cases in Gaston County fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division (28 U.S.C. § 113(c)). This court handles all federal cases within its jurisdiction, including civil, criminal, and bankruptcy cases. The clerk of this court is responsible for creating and maintaining official records of all matters the court handles. As such, Gaston County federal court records are available to interested persons through the clerk’s office of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. Additionally, these records are available and accessible online through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), a service providing electronic public access to federal court records at $0.10 per page (capped at $3.00 per document).

Gaston County Court