Pasquotank County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Pasquotank County dissolution of marriage records are held at the Clerk of Superior Court in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. This northeastern coastal county is one of the oldest in the state, having been established as a precinct in 1668. Clerk Katherine Cartwright oversees the office at 206 East Main Street in Elizabeth City. The clerk's office maintains all dissolution of marriage filings for Pasquotank County and staff can help the public search for records, make copies, or obtain certified copies of dissolution of marriage judgments. Court records at this office go back many generations.

Pasquotank County Clerk of Superior Court

Clerk Katherine Cartwright oversees the Pasquotank County Clerk of Superior Court at 206 East Main Street in Elizabeth City. This office is the official keeper of all dissolution of marriage records in Pasquotank County. The courthouse holds divorce and court records going back to 1700. The clerk's staff handles filings, case searches, and certified copy requests for dissolution of marriage judgments.

Pasquotank County was created in 1668 as a precinct in Albemarle County. The county name comes from an Indian word said to mean "where the current divides." Elizabeth City is the county seat and serves as a regional center in northeastern North Carolina near the Albemarle Sound. The county includes Elizabeth City, South Mills, and other communities in this coastal Albemarle region. All dissolution of marriage cases for Pasquotank County residents are filed at the Elizabeth City courthouse regardless of the specific community you live in.

The NC Courts information page for Pasquotank County lists current contact details and office hours for Clerk Katherine Cartwright's office in Elizabeth City, where all dissolution of marriage records for the county are held and open to the public.

Searching Pasquotank County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

You can search Pasquotank County dissolution of marriage records in person at the courthouse in Elizabeth City. The clerk's office has a self-service terminal where you can search by case number or party name at no charge. Staff are also available to assist. This is the most direct way to find a dissolution of marriage record in Pasquotank County and get copies the same day.

The eCourts portal for North Carolina provides basic case information for Pasquotank County dissolution of marriage cases online. You can search by party name to find whether a case exists and obtain the case number. For the full file and certified copies, you will need to visit the Elizabeth City courthouse or submit a mail request. The FamilySearch Pasquotank County genealogy page notes that court records go back to 1700 and land records to the 1700s, making this one of the oldest county archives in all of North Carolina. The State Archives in Raleigh also holds court records for the county from 1737 to 1922.

Mail requests should be sent to PO Box 449, Elizabeth City, NC 27907. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the dissolution of marriage, and the case number if you have it. Include payment for applicable copy fees. Call (252) 331-4600 before mailing to confirm the current fee schedule and what identification or information to provide.

Note: Certified copies of dissolution of marriage judgments from Pasquotank County require proper identification at the time of the request, whether in person or by mail.

Pasquotank County Register of Deeds

The Pasquotank County Register of Deeds handles marriage certificates, land records, and vital records that often connect to dissolution of marriage cases. Register Joyce Pritchard's office is at 206 East Main Street, PO Box 154, Elizabeth City, NC 27907. Phone is (252) 335-4367.

Marriage records from the Register of Deeds can confirm the existence of a marriage before a dissolution of marriage was filed. The Pasquotank County Register of Deeds has marriage records going back to 1867 and land records from the 1700s. After a dissolution of marriage, property transfers between former spouses or to new owners are recorded with this office. If you need birth or death records that relate to a dissolution of marriage case in Pasquotank County, the Register of Deeds has those records from 1913 onward. The fax for the Register of Deeds is (252) 335-5106.

Historical Pasquotank County Dissolution Records

Pasquotank County's history as one of North Carolina's oldest counties means its archive of dissolution of marriage records spans several centuries. For the very earliest records, the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh holds Pasquotank County court records from 1737 to 1922. These materials supplement what the Elizabeth City courthouse currently holds and are an important resource for genealogical research on old dissolution cases.

The Pasquotank County NCGenWeb page provides links to historical records, indexes, and research guides useful for tracing dissolution of marriage cases from earlier periods in the county's centuries-long history.

For dissolution of marriage certificates from 1958 onward, NC Vital Records at vitalrecords.nc.gov can issue a certificate for $24. For cases before 1958, the Elizabeth City courthouse or the State Archives are the right sources. The FamilySearch North Carolina Divorce Records guide explains that before 1868, many North Carolina divorces were granted by the General Assembly rather than by courts, and those records are in the State Archives.

Note: Pasquotank County dissolution of marriage records that predate the local clerk's current holdings can often be found through the North Carolina State Archives, which has court records for the county going back to 1737.

Pasquotank County Dissolution Of Marriage Fees and Process

The filing fee for a dissolution of marriage complaint in Pasquotank County is $225, the standard North Carolina rate. You pay this to the Clerk of Superior Court in Elizabeth City when you file. Call (252) 331-4600 to confirm current fees before visiting.

Copies of dissolution of marriage records from the Pasquotank County courthouse are $0.25 per page for non-certified copies. Certified copies cost more. The clerk's staff can tell you exact current rates. For a state-issued divorce certificate, contact NC Vital Records for divorces from 1958 onward. State processing times currently run several months, so the Pasquotank County clerk in Elizabeth City is the faster source for most record requests.

To file for dissolution of marriage in Pasquotank County, you must meet the requirements set by North Carolina law. Under N.C.G.S. § 50-6, the parties 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. After filing at the Elizabeth City courthouse, you serve the other party and file proof of service. The final judgment of dissolution of marriage becomes a permanent part of the Pasquotank County court record. The NC Courts self-help page at nccourts.gov has all forms needed to file in Pasquotank County.

Dissolution of marriage records in Pasquotank County are public documents under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132. Anyone can inspect these records at the Elizabeth City courthouse. You do not have to be a party to the case to request them.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Pasquotank County in the Albemarle region of northeastern North Carolina. Each has its own clerk of superior court for dissolution of marriage filings. File in the county where you or your spouse lives.