Carved out from Rowan County and named in honor of William Lee Davidson, a Revolutionary War general, Davison County is located in central North Carolina. Established in 1822, Davidson County has a population of over 168,000 residents and covers an area of 567 square miles. Its county seat in Lexington is home to the famous Lexington-style barbecue, which attracts visitors from across the United States.

Courts in Davidson County

The trial court system in Davidson County comprises Superior and District Courts. The Davidson County Superior Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, including felonies, civil claims for more than $25,000 in disputes, property disputes, and appeals from the District Courts.

The District Courts in Davidson County presides over criminal cases, including misdemeanors, infractions, municipal violations, and civil claims for $25,000 or less. The District Court has a Small Claims Court Division that handles civil disputes for $10,000 or less. The Court also handles domestic relations and juvenile matters, including divorce, paternity, alimony,  foster care, emancipation, and parental rights cases.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Davidson County

Public court records are documents maintained by the courts that are open to the public. In Davidson County, public court records are available at the self-service terminals located at the Clerk of Court Office. Record seekers can use the terminals to view and obtain copies of public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Davidson County

Access to public court records in Davidson County ensures judicial proceedings are conducted fairly, which helps build public trust and confidence in the county’s legal system. The following types of court records are publicly available in Davidson County:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors, including aggravated assaults, arson, shoplifting, and disorderly conduct
• Civil Court Records: Property disputes, employment disputes, business litigation, evictions, and contract breaches
• Traffic Records:  Driving with a suspended license, illegal U-turns, parking violations, speeding tickets, and driving without insurance
• Probate Records: Estates, trusts, guardianships, name change, wills, and conservatorships
• Family Court Records: Divorce, marriage annulments, legal separation, child custody, and spousal and child support

Confidential Court Records in Davidson County

Confidential court records are documents and information from the court containing sensitive or private information and not accessible to the public. Confidential court records are sealed by court order or federal or state law to protect and safeguard an individual’s private information from public exposure. Some examples of confidential court records in Davidson County include:

• Adoption records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Medical and mental health records
• Confidential informant and crime victims' identities
• Juvenile court records

Similarly, public court records contain personal data restricted from the public. Personal identifies sensitive information that can be used to identify an individual. The court removes personal data from public court records to protect individuals from having their personal information used fraudulently. Personal identifiers redacted from public court records include:

• Driver’s license numbers
• Passport numbers
• Bank account information
• Insurance Policy numbers
• Social Security numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Davidson, NC

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Davidson County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in North Carolina often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 275 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Davidson County. Of that total, 86% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 236 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Davidson County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Davidson County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Davidson County, NC

https://www.nc.gov/

County Seat:	Lexington
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1822
Total Square Miles:	567
2019 Population:	165,466
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	PO BOX 1067 County Courthouse Lexington , NC 27293-1067 http://www.co.davidson.nc.us

Davidson County, NC Courts