Franklin County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Franklin County dissolution of marriage records are held by the Clerk of Superior Court in Louisburg. Court records in Franklin County go back to 1774, giving this small but historic county one of the longer records collections in North Carolina. Anyone searching for a divorce case filed in Franklin County can reach the clerk's office by phone or in person at the Louisburg courthouse. The clerk stores all dissolution of marriage filings and can provide certified copies of final judgments on request.

Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court in Louisburg is the official records custodian for all dissolution of marriage cases in Franklin County. This office manages everything from initial filing to the entry of the final judgment. You can visit the courthouse at 102 South Main Street, call the clerk's office, or submit a written records request to obtain dissolution of marriage records from Franklin County.

Franklin County was created on April 14, 1778, from Bute County. It was named for Benjamin Franklin. The county seat is Louisburg, a small town in the central part of the state, situated between the Research Triangle and the Virginia border. Court records go back to 1774, and land records date to 1779. Marriage bonds from 1779 are located at the NC State Archives, which is a useful resource for historical researchers. Franklin County sits near several larger counties, but it maintains its own courthouse and clerk's office for all court matters including dissolution of marriage.

Visit the Franklin County Court Information page for current hours, contact details, and directions to the Louisburg courthouse.

The court location page above, published by the NC Judicial Branch, lists the current contact information for the Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court.

How to Search Franklin County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

You can search Franklin County dissolution of marriage records online through the NC courts portal or in person at the Louisburg courthouse. Online searches give you free access to basic case information using a party name or case number. For full case documents and certified copies, you need to contact the Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court directly.

When visiting in person, bring a valid photo ID and the name of at least one party in the case you are looking for. The clerk can search by name and pull the file for you to review. The Franklin County NCGenWeb page is a good source for historical records research, connecting researchers to indexes and resources for older dissolution of marriage cases in Franklin County.

The NCGenWeb resource shown above covers Franklin County's historical records and is useful for anyone researching dissolution of marriage cases from the 1800s and early 1900s.

The NC courts separation and divorce help page explains how the dissolution of marriage process works in North Carolina, including what records are generated at each step.

Note: Franklin County court records go back to 1774. Records before 1958 are not held at the state level and must be requested from the Franklin County Clerk in Louisburg.

Dissolution Of Marriage Filing in Franklin County

To file for dissolution of marriage in Franklin County, you go to the Clerk of Superior Court at 102 South Main Street in Louisburg. The filing fee is $225. Under N.C.G.S. § 50-8, at least one spouse must have lived in North Carolina for six months before filing. If you or your spouse live in Franklin County, you file here.

North Carolina law under N.C.G.S. § 50-6 requires one year of separation before a dissolution of marriage can be granted. The parties must live apart, with at least one intending the separation to be permanent. Once that year passes, you file in Franklin County and serve your spouse. The clerk assigns a case number. All papers filed in the case become part of the permanent court record in Franklin County. The final judgment of dissolution of marriage closes the case and is stored with the Louisburg courthouse records.

Key documents that get filed in a Franklin County dissolution of marriage case include:

• Complaint for absolute divorce
• Summons issued by the clerk
• Proof of service on the other spouse
• Any answer or response filed
• Final judgment of dissolution of marriage

Franklin County Dissolution Of Marriage Verification

If you only need to confirm that a dissolution of marriage took place and do not need the full court file, you have two options in Franklin County. First, you can request a basic case search from the clerk's office in Louisburg. Second, for divorces from 1958 onward, you can contact NC Vital Records to request a divorce certificate. The certificate confirms the divorce happened but does not include terms from any settlement.

For historical dissolution of marriage research in Franklin County, the FamilySearch Franklin County genealogy page connects to historical records and microfilm collections for this county. Franklin County records going back to 1774 are a valuable resource for genealogists and legal researchers alike.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County is surrounded by several North Carolina counties. Each has its own clerk's office for dissolution of marriage filings. Check your home address to confirm which county handles your case.