Union County was formed in 1842 from parts of Mecklenburg and Anson Counties. It has an estimated population of 238,267 and a total area of 639.65 square miles. Monroe is its county seat, while Indian Trail is its largest municipality.
Courts in Union County
The court system in Union County comprises superior and district courts. The Union County Superior Court is the highest court in the county and typically hears cases outside the District Court's purview. It hears civil with claims above $25,000, all felonies and some misdemeanors. It has exclusive jurisdiction over all probate matters, including admission of wills, appointment of guardianships, and estate administration.
The Union County District Court hears municipal ordinance infractions, misdemeanors, traffic offenses, civil cases with claims under $25,000, and preliminary hearings for felonies. It also handles domestic relations and juvenile matters, such as adoption, termination of parental rights, child support, divorce, annulment, juvenile delinquency, and alimony.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Union County
Public court records in Union County are court records open to the public, such as court filings, writs, transcripts, warrants, judgments, and other court information in the county. The Union County Clerk of the Superior Court maintains and updates the records from both courts in compliance with county and state laws. Members of the public can visit the clerk of the Superior Court’s Office to view or request copies of nonconfidential court records. They can also use the self-service terminals located at the clerk’s office to search for criminal cases. In addition, public court records from Union County will be available eCourts portal provided by the state from October 14, 2024.
Types of Public Court Records in Union County
Access to public court records in Union County promotes confidence in the county’s judicial system. Union County makes the following types of court records available to the public unless sealed by court orders:
- Civil Court Records: includes personal injury cases, product liabilities, libel, breaches of contracts, trade secrets, contract indebtedness, slander, eminent domain, and professional malpractices
- Criminal Court Records: includes warrants, details about charges, court proceedings, and verdicts for felony and misdemeanor cases
- Probate Court Records: includes documentation of wills, estates, and trusts
- Family Court Records: includes annulments, divorce decrees, emancipation, maintenance orders, and custody judgments
Confidential Court Records in Union County
In Union County, some court documents are sealed to protect confidential information, maintain privacy, or further the interests of justice. These records are either sealed by court orders or by default under North Carolina law. Confidential court records are not available to the public, unlike public court records. Only those with authorization or court orders may review them. Typically, the following court records cannot be accessed by the public in Union County:
- Medical and mental health records
- Certain records of victims of domestic violence
- Most juvenile delinquency records
- Records sealed or expunged under state sealing and expungement laws
- Unprosecuted charges
- Adoption records
- Substance abuse treatment records
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) test results and treatment records
- Eligible misdemeanor or felony convictions after certain years
- Certain records of victims of sexual assault
The following are also concealed from public view in North Carolina:
- Social Security number
- Driver’s license number
- Bank account details
- Tax returns
- Identifying information about jurors
- Identifying information about confidential informants in criminal prosecutions
Juvenile Delinquency in Union, NJ
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Union County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in New Jersey often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 1154 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Union County. Of that total, 86% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 995 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Union County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Union County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 8,112 |
| Dependency | 0 |
| Status | 1,664 |
Government of Union County, NJ
| County Seat: | Elizabeth |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Home Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1857 |
| Total Square Miles: | 105 |
| 2019 Population: | 563,892 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.00 |