North Carolina public records laws and regulations provide access to government records like budget reports and meeting minutes. They also allow public access to records on individuals, such as vital records and criminal records.

North Carolina public records laws can be classified by the type of public records that they affect. These include the three following categories:

1. Laws on North Carolina public records that address the way in which these records can be accessed. These laws control issues such as the requirement for providing a reason for the information, specifying fees that an agency may charge and stating the length of time that the state is allowed to respond to a request for information.
2. Laws that specify an individual's information that may be considered public. These laws affect the way in which individuals may access their own information and how they may allow access by another party.
3. Laws that control the government records that the public may access. These laws may be intended to keep individuals informed on government decisions or allow journalists to report on government activity.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Examine the laws that control access to state of North Carolina public records

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for North Carolina is a law that typically guides access to North Carolina court records and is usually handled by the attorney general's office. North Carolina criminal records may also be obtained from municipal and county courts.

I recommend: The North Carolina General Assembly provides the general statutes on public records in North Carolina. The Town of Cary provides a policy statement on the release of public records under North Carolina law.

Study the laws that affect North Carolina public records on individuals

Public records laws control access to North Carolina arrest records, North Carolina marriage licenses and North Carolina divorce records. Some of these records may only be accessible to a designated individual or a party.

I recommend: New Hanover County provides its procedures for obtaining vital records under North Carolina law. The Macon County Register of Deeds specifies the regulations for releasing vital records.

Review the North Carolina public records laws that affect government records

Government records laws allow access to records such as real estate sales, budget reports and meeting minutes. Some government entities may specialize in one particular type of record, while others may provide access to many different types of government records.

I recommend: The Government Records Branch of North Carolina provides its guidelines for disclosing government records under North Carolina law. The North Carolina Open Government Coalition answers specific questions on the laws for disclosing government records to the public.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  North Carolina public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996, which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.

Whether you're looking for information about a potential employee or researching facts on a property, you need to access public records in North Carolina. Public records are documents that have been filed or recorded by public agencies or private individuals. Such records include birth and death records, marriage and divorce papers, criminal records, real estate documents, licenses, and so on.

Public records are held by federal, state, and local governments, who in turn determine their availability. Although State of North Carolina public records are accessible to the public, you may be expected to pay for some information; the fees will vary depending on the department. You can always visit state departments and offices for public records, though there's a breadth of information online.

When researching public records in North Carolina, remember the following:

1. When doing a background check on an individual, you may want to consider a nationwide search. This will cover information, not just in your state, but in the country as a whole.

2. Make sure that the North Carolina vital records you get are up to date.

3. Get information from a credible source when searching North Carolina criminal records online. You may be liable for turning someone down if you base a hiring decision on incorrect facts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search North Carolina public records to get information on real estate

Information on real estate is always available to the public. If you're looking for specific data on a particular property, such as zoning information, assessments or building requirements, you can find those on government sites, such as county offices. Additionally, you can research title and deed information, find out who owns a property and get tax information.

I recommend: Real Marketing is an online resource that provides links to North Carolina county assessor's offices, county recorder's offices and county treasurer's offices. You can find comprehensive property information by visiting these online resources.

Consider a North Carolina criminal search before you hire an employee

As a business owner, it's smart to run background checks on potential employees, especially if you're hiring childcare providers and teachers. Background checks can range from verifying a person's Social Security number, to a detailed account of the person's history and acquaintances. Before doing a background check, you must get permission from the individual.

I recommend: The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation can help you obtain criminal records. Additionally, public access to North Carolina court records is available through The North Carolina Court System.

Track down anyone with a North Carolina vital records search

With the assistance of the Internet and the right data, you can track down any individual, living or deceased. If you already know the person's Social Security number, date of birth or last known address, you can use these to research vital records. Less information than that makes your search a little more difficult, but still possible.

I recommend: You can find records of marriage, divorce, birth and death at the North Carolina Division of Public Health. PeopleData can help you track someone down using a variety of information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates how consumer information is is collected and used by outside companies-- not employers. The act also restricts reporting on North Carolina arrest records and other negative information after seven years, with the exception of criminal convictions.

Whether you're an employer searching for North Carolina court records about an potential employee or you're trying to track down the rightful land owner of a piece of commercial real estate property you'd like to buy, learning how to quickly and efficiently search public records in North Carolina can be a valuable tool.

There are several aspects of North Carolina public records that you should familiarize yourself with in order to properly form a thorough search. From North Carolina vital records, to North Carolina court records and more, the resources are all different. It may take a bit of time to learn where to find these records up-front, but once you get the hang of it, it'll be well worth your initial time investment. Think of this tutorial as North Carolina public records for beginners.

1. Search North Carolina criminal records when performing background checks on potential employees.

2. Locate birth, marriage and death public records in North Carolina by searching various departments of vital records.

3. Find reputable databases that have compiled North Carolina public records.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Scan North Carolina arrest records before hiring an individual to work for your company

The standard job application asks the potential employee if they have been arrested previously within the past few years. The potential employee is then asked to document that information. As an employer, it is advisable that you perform your own North Carolina criminal search on the individual. This will ensure that the employee has told you the truth with any information they may have written down on their application. It will also throw up a red flag if this person has criminal judgments or warrants against them that might interfere with your business.

I recommend: Visit the website for the North Carolina Department of Correction. On their website they allow you to perform a criminal record search. Other arrest records within the state can be located at the North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry if the crime committed was of that nature.

Find North Carolina public records by searching vital records databases

There are several websites, some hosted by the state of North Carolina and others by third party groups, who charge for the convenience of the information that cover North Carolina marriage records, birth records and North Carolina death records. In some counties, you will have to appear to the local office of vital records to obtain the information. The third party companies charge for the information because they have already complied and stored the information so that it is ready at the click of the mouse.

I recommend: Search the vital records kept by the state of North Carolina for birth, death and other familial information. State Records.org will also provide you with the latest information in the area of vital records for the state of North Carolina.

Check out comprehensive databases that compile North Carolina public records

Searching for North Carolina public records is big business. From the employer wanting to know about a potential employee, to police tracking a fugitive, to curious members of the public who are interested in friends, exes and family members and their latest marriage, divorce, arrest or property acquisition, it can all be obtained right online. Locate these databases, fill in as much information as possible and let the search engine do the rest. It should be noted that many of these databases will provide some information free of charge, however at a certain point they charge for specifics.

I recommend: Check out the website for Public Record Finder. They have a section dedicated to the state of North Carolina as well as the other 49 states as well. Search Systems.net is another quality resource when looking for public records. The public records are broken down by county. Simply select the county name and let your search begin.

Finding public records can be an overwhelming task without a good understanding of how and where records are kept. Make sure you know a few key terms that will help you expedite your records search before you begin.

Whether you are conducting a criminal background check or looking for a driving history report, you'll need to know where to begin your search and what specific terms you may run across.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Land records management section

The North Carolina Land Records Management Section is an organization established to help county and city governments record and store land record information in a uniform manner.

I recommend: North Carolina Land Records Management Section information can be viewed on the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State website.

Imaging unit

The imaging unit is the organization responsible for taking many of North Carolina's public records and recording them to microfilm.

I recommend: View information about the imaging unit at North Carolina's Collections Management Branch.

Vital records

The term vital records refers to records such as marriage, divorce, birth and death records that North Carolina makes available to the public.

I recommend: Read all about vital records at the North Carolina Vital Records website.

Unclaimed property

Unclaimed property is property the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer has acquired as a temporary custodian, because the original owner couldn't to be found. Property can include money owed from banks, insurance or other organizations or real property left in unclaimed deposit boxes and more. The original owner has the right to claim the property as their own.

I recommend: Read about unclaimed property and learn how to search for your own unclaimed property at the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer website.

NCcare Link

NCcare Link is a website set up by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to help citizens find public health records and other health related information.

I recommend: Find out about all the services provided and public information available at the NCcareLink website.

MARS

MARS (Manuscripts and Archive Record System) is North Carolina's online catalog of state archived documents. It includes many historical collections from Civil War records to postal information. The system is available for public research and record copying.

I recommend: Learn about MARS and other state archives and public records search options at the North Carolina State Archives website.