REDUCTION IN CIVIL COURT OPERATIONS
(Effective November 17, 2020)
The information below applies only to civil court sessions in the Tenth Judicial District.
Criminal court sessions and court personnel are located in a different court building and are not impacted by the changes below.
DISTRICT COURT – CIVIL DIVISION
Effective Tuesday, November 17, 2020, the following District Court Civil courtrooms in the Wake County Courthouse will be temporarily closed until further notice:
Domestic Courtrooms (2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D). Family Court will reschedule all matters on these calendars. Family Court staff will operate on a reduced schedule, and all emergency filings should be left on the first floor of the Wake County Courthouse in the designated drop box.
General Civil Courtroom (9C). The Civil District Case Coordinator will reschedule all trials. New calendar requests will need to be submitted to reschedule all motions. Any motions to stay an eviction in which a writ of possession has been issued should be left on the first floor of the Wake County Courthouse with other emergency motions in the designated drop box.
All other District Court Civil Courtrooms in the Wake County Courthouse will remain open without any reduction in operation at this time: Juvenile Delinquency (4B); Juvenile Abuse/Neglect/Dependency (4C); Civil Domestic Violence (5A); IV-D Child Support (5D); and Involuntary Commitment Hearings (Remote).
MAGISTRATE AND SMALL CLAIMS
All Small Claims court proceedings are suspended, and pending matters will be continued by the court and rescheduled.
Magistrate’s Court located at the Wake County Detention Center is open 24/7/365 and operations will continue as normal including the issuance of Arrest and Search Warrants, Initial Appearances, Bail Transactions, Involuntary Commitment Orders, Juvenile Petitions, Secured and Non-Secured Custody Orders.
Weddings are performed Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., outside in front of the Wake County Detention Center through 11/25/2020. Effective 11/30/2020, all weddings will be performed by appointment only at the Wake County Justice Center in Courtroom 901.
CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT – CIVIL DIVISION
Wake County Courthouse Civil Division in-person services will be temporarily reduced until further notice. The limited number of staff working will be dedicating their efforts to continuing cases, processing urgent drop box filings, and responding to email questions and copy requests.
As their attention will be focused on the direct needs of the court during this time, your patience and understanding is appreciated. Staff will respond as promptly as possible, but attorneys and parties are strongly encouraged to not wait until the last minute to file or seek assistance.
Filings by mail (PO Box 351, Raleigh, NC 27602) are encouraged and will be accepted in addition to what is set out below.
Civil District, Civil Superior, and Small Claims Filings will be accepted by drop box only. The drop boxes will be located on the first floor of the Wake County Courthouse.
Emergency filings (e.g., TRO, family court, and motions to stay) will be accepted by appointment only. Appointment requests shall be submitted by email to: WakeCourtHotline@nccourts.org.
Domestic Violence filings will be accepted on the 5th floor of the Wake County Courthouse only.
Public File Access requests (copies of files) will be accepted by email only, as follows:
CIVIL: WakeCivilClerk.FileRequest@nccourts.org
CRIMINAL: WakeCriminalClerk.FileRequest@nccourts.org
ESTATES: Wake.Estates.CopyRequest@nccourts.org
SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS: Wake.SP.CopyRequest@nccourts.org
SUPERIOR COURT – CIVIL DIVISION
All court sessions will be conducted remotely, via Webex, through the end of 2020. The Civil Superior Case Coordinator will contact parties and counsel in cases that have requested in-person hearings to set the matter remotely or continue the matter.
Notice of Impounded Livestock
Per North Carolina General Statute 68-18.1, the Wake County Sheriff's Office is to notify the public of sale of impounded livestock when the owner is unknown. The statute requires that the notice provide a full description of the livestock and when and where the animal was taken up. After three days of public notice, a notice for public auction will be advertised.
Per North Carolina General Statute 68-20, the Wake County Sheriff's Office is to notify the public of sale of impounded livestock when the owner fails to redeem or is unknown. The statute requires that the notice provide a full description of the livestock and the place, date and hour of sale. After 10 days of the public notice, the impounder shall sell the livestock at public auction.