Bertie County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Bertie County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Windsor. The county is in the northeastern corner of North Carolina along the Roanoke River. Court records for divorce and civil cases in Bertie County date back to 1722. This is one of the oldest court record collections in North Carolina. These records are public and available to anyone. If you need to search for a dissolution of marriage case, view a court file, or get a copy of a final judgment in Bertie County, the Windsor courthouse is the right place to start your search.

Bertie County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court in Windsor maintains all dissolution of marriage records for Bertie County. The office holds civil court files from 1722. This is one of the longest continuous court record collections in North Carolina. Staff can search by name or case number and provide copies on request. The courthouse at 108 Dundee St in Windsor serves the entire county.

Bertie County was created in 1722 from Chowan County. It was named for James Bertie, a Lord Proprietor and brother of Henry Bertie. The county has some of the oldest continuous court records in the state. Dissolution of marriage records from the colonial period are preserved at the North Carolina State Archives. The Register of Deeds holds marriage records from 1762 and land records from 1722. Many Bertie County families moved to other parts of North Carolina and other states over the centuries. Researchers tracing ancestors who may have divorced in Bertie County before moving elsewhere should check the county's records even if the family later settled somewhere else.

The Bertie County Court Information page on the NC Courts website lists current contact details and hours for the Bertie County courthouse.

This NC Courts page provides current location, phone, and hours information for the Bertie County Clerk of Superior Court in Windsor.

How to Find Dissolution Of Marriage Records in Bertie County

In-person visits to the Clerk of Superior Court in Windsor are the most direct way to search Bertie County dissolution of marriage records. The clerk's office can search by name or case number and make copies of any documents in the file. Bring a photo ID. Mail requests are also accepted with a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for copy fees.

The NC Courts online tool offers basic case lookup for civil matters including dissolution of marriage cases in Bertie County. You can search by name to find a case number, see the filing date, and check the case status. For the full court file, you need to contact the clerk in Windsor. The NC Courts separation and divorce page explains what records are created throughout the divorce process.

For older Bertie County dissolution of marriage records from the 1700s and 1800s, the North Carolina State Archives holds microfilm of early court files. The FamilySearch guide to North Carolina divorce records covers how to access records from different periods. Before 1868, many divorces were granted by special acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, so researchers looking at early Bertie County cases should be aware of that process.

Note: Many Bertie County families migrated to other parts of North Carolina and beyond. Researchers tracing ancestors should check Bertie records even when the family later lived elsewhere, as a dissolution of marriage may have been filed before the move.

Filing for Dissolution Of Marriage in Bertie County

To file for dissolution of marriage in Bertie County, you must meet North Carolina's residency and separation requirements. One spouse must have lived in North Carolina for at least six months before filing. You must also have been living apart from your spouse for a full year. File the divorce complaint with the Clerk of Superior Court at 108 Dundee St in Windsor. The filing fee is $225 for a new divorce complaint.

After filing, the clerk assigns a case number and the records become public. Your spouse must be served with the divorce papers using the Bertie County Sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail with return receipt. Each document in the case becomes a permanent part of the public record at the Bertie County courthouse. The final judgment of dissolution of marriage is the court order that ends the marriage. Certified copies can be requested from the Bertie County clerk at any time after the judgment is entered.

Bertie County Dissolution Of Marriage Certificates

NC Vital Records at vitalrecords.nc.gov maintains dissolution of marriage certificates for North Carolina from 1958 forward. If you need to confirm a divorce that took place in Bertie County after that date, you can request a certificate from this state office. The certificate shows the names of both parties, the date of the divorce, and the county. It does not include the full judgment terms or financial details from the court file.

The fee is $24 per three-year search period. Processing times are currently over 100 business days. For faster access, the full court judgment, or divorces that occurred before 1958, contact the Bertie County Clerk of Superior Court in Windsor directly. Pre-1958 records are not held by NC Vital Records and must be obtained from the county clerk or from State Archives microfilm collections.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bertie County in northeastern North Carolina. Dissolution of marriage cases are filed in the county where either spouse lives. Confirm the right county before making your request.