Access Onslow County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Onslow County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Jacksonville. The county was formed in 1734 and court records from that era are part of the archive. Clerk Lisa Brown heads the office at 625 Court Street in Jacksonville. The clerk's staff can search for dissolution of marriage cases by party name or case number and provide certified or uncertified copies. All dissolution of marriage filings for Onslow County residents are stored at this location, including cases involving the large population near Camp Lejeune.

Onslow County Clerk of Superior Court

Clerk Lisa Brown leads the Onslow County Clerk of Superior Court office at 625 Court Street in Jacksonville. This office is the official keeper of all dissolution of marriage records in Onslow County. The clerk maintains all case files, handles filings, and provides copies of dissolution of marriage judgments and related documents. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Onslow County was created on September 29, 1734, from New Hanover County and named for Arthur Onslow, Speaker of the British House of Commons. Jacksonville is the county seat and one of the larger coastal cities in eastern North Carolina. The county is home to Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, which means dissolution of marriage cases here often involve military families. Court records at the Jacksonville courthouse date from 1915 according to the clerk's records, and the North Carolina Department of Archives in Raleigh holds earlier records that predate what the local office maintains.

The NC Courts information page for Onslow County provides contact details and hours for Clerk Lisa Brown's office in Jacksonville, which holds all dissolution of marriage records for the county.

How to Search Onslow County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

In-person searches at the Onslow County Courthouse in Jacksonville are the most direct way to find a dissolution of marriage record. You can use the public access terminal in the clerk's office to search by party name or by case number. Staff can help locate records and make copies. Bring a valid photo ID and come prepared with the full names of both parties and the approximate year the case was filed.

The NC Judicial Branch website provides basic civil case information for Onslow County dissolution of marriage cases. The online system can confirm that a case exists and provide a case number. However, online access does not include actual document images. For the full court file or certified copies of dissolution of marriage judgments, you must visit the Jacksonville courthouse or send a mail request. The FamilySearch Onslow County genealogy page notes that the register of deeds has records going back to 1734, though the clerk's court records for dissolutions start from 1915.

To request records by mail, contact the Onslow County Clerk of Superior Court at 625 Court Street, Jacksonville, NC 28540. Include the names of both parties, the case number if available, the approximate year of the dissolution of marriage, and payment for applicable fees. Phone inquiries can be directed to (910) 478-3600.

Note: Estates and special proceedings matters at the Onslow County clerk's office require an appointment; call (910) 478-3604 to schedule if your research involves those records.

Onslow County Register of Deeds

The Onslow County Register of Deeds handles marriage certificates, property deeds, and vital records that often relate to dissolution of marriage cases. Deputy Register of Deeds Andrea Williams oversees this office, which is located at the Onslow County Government Center, 234 NW Corridor Boulevard, Jacksonville, NC 28540. The mailing address is 109 Old Bridge Street, Jacksonville, NC 28540. Phone is (910) 989-3000.

Marriage certificates from the Register of Deeds cost $10.00 per certified copy. If you need to prove a marriage before a dissolution of marriage in Onslow County, the register's office has marriage records going back to 1893. Property deeds recorded after a dissolution can show how real estate was divided between former spouses. The Register of Deeds is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and handles questions about vital records and land records for all of Onslow County.

Historical Onslow County Dissolution Records

For older dissolution of marriage cases and genealogical research in Onslow County, the NCGenWeb project maintains a page with historical records and indexes. This can supplement what is available at the courthouse in Jacksonville for cases from earlier periods.

The Onslow County NCGenWeb page links to historical records and transcriptions that can help locate dissolution of marriage filings from the county's earlier history before local records were systematically maintained.

For records before 1958, the NC Vital Records office does not hold divorce certificates. Those cases are found at the county clerk's office or at the North Carolina Department of Archives in Raleigh, which holds earlier Onslow County records. The NC Vital Records website notes that the state archives in Raleigh is the proper source for dissolution of marriage cases that predate the state's records program.

Note: The NC Department of Archives in Raleigh holds Onslow County court records that predate those available at the Jacksonville courthouse, so very early dissolution of marriage research may require a query to that office.

Onslow County Dissolution Of Marriage Fees

The filing fee for a dissolution of marriage complaint in Onslow County is $225, consistent with the North Carolina standard. You pay this at the Jacksonville courthouse when you file. Call (910) 478-3600 before visiting to confirm current rates.

For copies of dissolution of marriage records, the Onslow County clerk charges a $5.00 record search fee per name. Individual page copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies of court documents cost $5.00 per document. These fees are specific to Onslow County court records and apply in addition to any search fees. For a state-issued divorce certificate, NC Vital Records charges $24 for the first copy with a three-year search window. Their current processing time runs several months, so the Onslow County clerk's office is a faster option for most requests. People with low income can ask about a fee waiver at the Jacksonville courthouse.

Dissolution Of Marriage Filing Process in Onslow County

Filing for dissolution of marriage in Onslow County begins at the clerk's office in Jacksonville. Under N.C.G.S. § 50-6, the spouses must have lived separate and apart for at least one year. Under N.C.G.S. § 50-8, one spouse must be a six-month North Carolina resident. Onslow County residents file at 625 Court Street in Jacksonville.

After filing the complaint, you serve the other party. The Onslow County Sheriff can do this, or you may hire a process server or use certified mail. Proof of service is filed with the clerk and becomes part of the dissolution of marriage record in Onslow County. The NC Courts self-help page at nccourts.gov provides all forms and instructions for filing in Onslow County without an attorney.

Nearby Counties

These counties surround Onslow County. Each has its own clerk of superior court for dissolution of marriage cases. File your case in the county where you or your spouse lives.