Gaston County, formed from Lincoln County in 1846, is named after William Gaston. Located in the southwestern part of North Carolina, Gaston County covers an area of 364 square miles and has a population of 230,000 residents. Historically, Gaston County is known for its textile heritage. Today, the economy has diversified into manufacturing, including automotive parts and metal products. The county seat of Gaston County is Gastonia.

Courts in Gaston County

The Gaston County judicial system includes Superior and District Courts. The Gaston County Superior Court presides over all criminal and civil cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, infractions, civil disputes for more than $25,000, injunctions, and complex business dispute cases. The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters, including guardianship and administration of estate for decedents.

The District Courts in Gaston County preside over criminal cases such as misdemeanors, infractions, municipal ordinance violations, and civil cases for claims below $25,000. The District Court has a Small Claims Division for claims below $10,000, eviction, and recovery of personal property lawsuits. The court also handles domestic relation cases such as divorce, annulment, and child custody cases, and juvenile matters, including delinquencies, child neglect, emancipation, and foster care.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Gaston County

Public court records are official documents created by the court that are accessible to the public. Record seekers may access public court records from Gaston County at the Clerk of Court office. The office provides self-service terminals at the clerk's office to view and obtain copies of public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Gaston County

Granting the public access to court records ensures that the court proceedings are conducted fairly and the judicial system remains transparent. The following types of court records are publicly available in Gaston County:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors
• Civil Court Records: Landlord/tenant disputes, foreclosures, property disputes, small claims, and business litigations
• Traffic Records: Driving under the influence, speeding violations, illegal parking, driving without insurance, and illegal U-turn
• Family Court Records: Legal separation, divorce, annulments, child custody, and child support
• Probate Records: Wills, name change, guardianships, conservatorships, estates, and trusts

Confidential Court Records in Gaston County

Confidential court records are information and documents from the courts that contain private or sensitive information that are closed to the public. Confidential court records are sealed to safeguard victims of crimes and ensure that sensitive personal information is not disclosed and misused to the public. Some examples of confidential court records in Gaston County include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Mental health records
• Domestic violence and protection orders

Public court records contain personal data that are confidential and excluded from public view. Personal data are redacted from public court records to prevent identity theft and protect the safety and privacy of individuals. Examples of redacted personal identifiers on public court records include:

• Social Security numbers
• Financial account information
• Medical information
• Tax identification numbers
• Driver’s license numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Gaston, NC

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

In 2017, a total of 470 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Gaston County. Of that total, 70% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 331 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Gaston County, NC

https://www.nc.gov/

County Seat:	Gastonia
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1846
Total Square Miles:	364
2019 Population:	220,182
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Gaston County, NC Courts