Dare County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Dare County dissolution of marriage records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Manteo. Dare County covers the Outer Banks barrier islands along with part of the mainland, making it one of North Carolina's most geographically distinct counties. The courthouse is located at 400 Budleigh Street in Manteo. Records go back to 1870, when the county was formed. Whether you need a recent dissolution of marriage case or an older filing from the Outer Banks area, the clerk's office in Manteo is the main source. This page covers how to search Dare County dissolution of marriage records and how the filing process works in this coastal county.

Dare County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court in Dare County maintains all dissolution of marriage records for the county. This includes case filings, judgments, and supporting documents. Staff can search by party name or case number and provide copies on request. The courthouse is at 400 Budleigh Street, PO Box 70 in Manteo. Phone the clerk at (252) 473-3438 before visiting to confirm hours and what you need to bring.

Dare County was created on February 3, 1870, from Currituck, Tyrrell, and Hyde counties. The county seat is Manteo, located on Roanoke Island. The county was named for Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America. Dare County is home to the Outer Banks communities, including Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Hatteras, and Ocracoke. Court, probate, and dissolution of marriage records all date from 1870. Marriage records start in 1870 as well. Land records are available from 1804. The county has no known history of courthouse disasters, so its records have remained intact since formation.

The NC Courts location page for Dare County provides current hours, address, and contact information for the Clerk of Court in Manteo where dissolution of marriage records are maintained.

How to Access Dare County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

The North Carolina eCourts portal at nccourts.gov/services lets you search civil case records online across all North Carolina counties, including Dare. You can search by party name or case number at no cost. The portal shows case status and key dates but not the full documents. For actual filings and certified copies of judgments, you need to contact the clerk in Manteo.

Visiting the Dare County courthouse at 400 Budleigh Street in Manteo gives you direct access to the case file. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can pull records and make copies. For cases from before the 1980s, physical archives may require extra retrieval time. Call the clerk at (252) 473-3438 before making the trip if you are looking for older dissolution of marriage records. The Outer Banks location means planning your visit is especially important if you are traveling from off the island.

To search dissolution of marriage records in Dare County, it helps to have:

• Full name of at least one spouse at time of filing
• Approximate year the case was filed or the judgment was entered
• Case number, if you have it
• Any name changes or prior surnames that may apply

Note: Dare County dissolution of marriage records date from 1870 and are all on file at the Manteo courthouse. The state vital records office in Raleigh holds certificates only from 1958 forward.

Filing Dissolution Of Marriage Cases in Dare County

To file a dissolution of marriage in Dare County, you submit a complaint for absolute divorce to the Clerk of Court at 400 Budleigh Street in Manteo. North Carolina law under N.C.G.S. 50-8 requires that at least one spouse has lived in the state for six months before filing. You must file in the county where either spouse lives. If you or your spouse lives in Dare County, you file in Manteo.

The one-year separation requirement under N.C.G.S. 50-6 also applies. Both spouses must have lived separately for at least one full year before the complaint is filed. At least one spouse must have intended the separation to be permanent during that time. Once the complaint is filed, the case is assigned a number and moves through the Dare County court system. The judge signs the final dissolution of marriage judgment, and it is then recorded by the clerk as a permanent public record in Dare County.

Claims for property division and alimony must be filed before the final judgment is entered in Dare County. North Carolina law does not allow those claims to be raised after the dissolution judgment is signed.

Vital Records and Legal Help for Dare County

The NC Vital Records office at vitalrecords.nc.gov/divorce.htm holds dissolution of marriage certificates from 1958 to the present for all North Carolina counties. The fee is $24 for a three-year search period with one copy included. Processing takes approximately 110 to 115 business days from the date of receipt. For the full court file or for records before 1958, the Dare County Clerk of Court in Manteo is the correct source.

The NC Judicial Branch at nccourts.gov has forms and plain-language guidance for people filing for dissolution of marriage in Dare County. Legal Aid of North Carolina can also help residents with low income who need assistance with family law matters, including dissolution of marriage cases. Reach their statewide helpline at (866) 219-5262.

The Dare County Register of Deeds maintains marriage records from 1870 and land records that may be relevant in dissolution of marriage cases involving property in the Outer Banks area. Contact the Register of Deeds for information on marriage certificates and real estate records that may connect to a dissolution case in Dare County.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Dare County in northeastern North Carolina. If your dissolution of marriage case was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county's clerk of court for the records you need.