Brunswick County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Brunswick County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Bolivia. The county is in the southeastern corner of North Carolina along the Cape Fear Coast and borders South Carolina. Court records in Brunswick County date back to 1764. These are public records that anyone can request. Brunswick County has grown rapidly in recent decades as one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. Whether you need a recent dissolution of marriage judgment or want to research an older case, the Bolivia courthouse is where Clerk of Superior Court files are stored.

Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court in Bolivia holds all dissolution of marriage records for Brunswick County. The office maintains civil court files from 1764. Staff can search by name or case number and provide copies of documents on request. The courthouse at 310 Government Center Dr NE in Bolivia serves the entire county, including communities along the coast and inland areas.

Brunswick County was created in 1764 from Bladen and New Hanover counties. The county seat is Bolivia, and the county itself was named for the town of Brunswick. That town was named in honor of King George I of England, who came from the German province of Brunswick. The county stretches from the Cape Fear River south to the South Carolina border. It includes beach communities such as Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, Holden Beach, Oak Island, and Southport. The Register of Deeds holds marriage records and land records from 1764. Brunswick County records going back to the colonial era are available at the courthouse, with older materials also preserved through the State Archives.

The Brunswick County Court Information page on the NC Courts website lists current hours and contact details for the Brunswick County clerk's office.

This NC Courts page gives current location and contact information for the Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court.

For historical and genealogy research on Brunswick County dissolution of marriage cases, the Brunswick County NCGenWeb page has county history and record guides.

The NCGenWeb page for Brunswick County covers local history and includes links to available court and genealogy records for the county.

Searching Brunswick County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

You can search Brunswick County dissolution of marriage records in person at the clerk's office in Bolivia or by submitting a mail request. In-person visits give you direct access to case files. Staff can pull the file, let you review it, and make copies while you are there. Bring a photo ID. The courthouse is at 310 Government Center Dr NE in Bolivia.

The NC Courts online system provides basic civil case information. You can search by name or case number to find dissolution of marriage cases filed in Brunswick County. The online tool confirms whether a case exists and gives you the filing date and case status. For actual documents from the court file, contact the clerk in Bolivia. The NC Courts separation and divorce help page walks through what records are created throughout the process.

For older Brunswick County records from the 1700s and 1800s, the North Carolina State Archives has microfilm of early court records including dissolution of marriage cases. The Brunswick County Historical Society and the Southport Historical Society also maintain historical materials that may be useful for genealogy research. The FamilySearch guide to North Carolina divorce records explains how records from different periods are organized and where they can be found.

Note: For dissolution of marriage records from the geographic areas that became Brunswick County in 1764, earlier records from Bladen and New Hanover counties may be relevant for cases filed before that date.

Dissolution Of Marriage Filing in Brunswick County

Filing for dissolution of marriage in Brunswick County follows the same rules that govern all North Carolina divorce cases. One spouse must have lived in the state for at least six months before filing. You must also have been living apart from your spouse for a full year. The complaint is filed with the Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court at 310 Government Center Dr NE in Bolivia. The filing fee is $225.

Once filed, the clerk assigns a case number. Your spouse must be served with the divorce papers. Service can be done through the Brunswick County Sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail with return receipt. Each step in the process creates a document that becomes part of the permanent case file. The final judgment of dissolution of marriage is the court order that ends the marriage. It is entered into the public record and certified copies can be requested from the Brunswick County clerk at any time after it is entered.

Property division and alimony claims must be filed before the final dissolution of marriage judgment is entered. Once the court enters that final order, those claims are no longer available under North Carolina law. The NC Judicial Branch divorce page provides a full overview of all filing requirements.

Brunswick County Dissolution Of Marriage Certificates

NC Vital Records at vitalrecords.nc.gov holds dissolution of marriage certificates for North Carolina from 1958 forward. If you need to verify a divorce that occurred in Brunswick County after that date, a certificate from this office is an option. The certificate shows the names of both parties, the date, and the county. It does not contain the full court judgment or any financial settlement details.

The fee is $24 for a three-year search period. Processing can take more than 100 business days. If you need faster service or the full court judgment, contact the Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court in Bolivia directly. For divorces that occurred before 1958, the county clerk's office in Bolivia or the North Carolina State Archives microfilm collection are your only sources for those older records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Brunswick County in southeastern North Carolina. Dissolution of marriage cases are filed in the county where either spouse lives. Verify the correct county before submitting a records request.