Divorce records in Durham County, North Carolina, can be accessed through several channels. DurhamCourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information for Durham County. You can also obtain records directly from the court that issued the divorce decree, the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court, or the North Carolina Vital Records Office. The type of record you need — a court file or a vital record certificate — determines which office to contact.
Durham County Divorce Records Search
Two offices maintain divorce-related records in Durham County. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps the complete court file for every divorce case processed through Durham County's District Court division. This includes the divorce decree, complaint, settlement agreements, custody orders, equitable distribution orders, and any other filings made during the case. The North Carolina Division of Public Health, Vital Records Section, maintains divorce certificates — shorter documents that verify a divorce occurred but do not contain the full case details.
Durham County divorce case information can be searched online through the North Carolina eCourts portal, which uses the Odyssey case management system. You can also visit the clerk's office in person to use public self-service terminals for searching case records.
Durham County Clerk of Superior Court
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Durham County
In North Carolina, divorce cases are heard in the District Court Division of the General Court of Justice. In Durham County, divorce complaints are filed with and processed through the Durham County District Court, which sits at the Durham County Courthouse. After the judge signs the divorce judgment, the decree becomes part of the permanent court file maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court.
The state Vital Records office also receives a report of each divorce and maintains a divorce certificate. Which office you contact depends on what you need:
- Full court file (decree, settlement agreement, custody orders, property division): Contact the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court.
- Divorce certificate (verification that the divorce occurred, with names, date, and county): Contact the NC Vital Records office or the Clerk of Court in the county where the divorce was filed.
Durham County Clerk of Superior Court
North Carolina Vital Records
Divorce certificates from the state Vital Records office are available for divorces granted from January 1, 1958, to the present. For divorces before that date, contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Durham County
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce certificate (NC Vital Records – standard mail) | $24.00 | 4–6 weeks |
| Divorce certificate (NC Vital Records – expedited) | $24.00 + $15.00 expedite fee + express shipping | 5–7 business days |
| Divorce certificate from Clerk of Court | $10.00 | Same day to several business days |
| Certified copy of court document (per page) | $0.25 per page + $3.00 certification fee | Same day to several business days |
| Uncertified copy of court document | $0.25 per page | Same day to several business days |