Divorce Records in Bertie County

Bertie County divorce records are held at the Clerk of Superior Court in Windsor, North Carolina. The clerk handles all divorce case files for the county. Bertie County has a population of about 21,282 and sits in the 1st Congressional District and 4th Senate District. The county is named for James and Henry Bertie. You can search for divorce records in person at the courthouse or through a mail request. This guide covers how to access divorce records in Bertie County and what you need to know.

Bertie County Clerk of Superior Court

Vashti F. James is the Clerk of Superior Court for Bertie County. The office is at 108 Dundee Street in Windsor. Mail goes to PO Box 370, Windsor, NC 27983. Call (252) 794-6800 for questions about civil and criminal records. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

The Bertie County Clerk of Superior Court maintains all divorce records for the county. The Register of Deeds at (252) 794-5309, PO Box 340, handles birth, death, and marriage records. Divorce records are not at the Register of Deeds. Go to the clerk of court for any divorce record in Bertie County.

Bertie County has deep history. Divorce records from 1869 are on file at the clerk office. Court records from the same year are maintained. Probate records go back even further to 1763 in Bertie County.

Searching Bertie County Divorce Records

Visit the courthouse in Windsor to search for Bertie County divorce records. Bring your photo ID. Give staff the names of the parties and the date of divorce if known. You do the searching yourself. Staff can show you where to look but cannot give legal advice.

Written requests go to PO Box 370, Windsor, NC 27983. Include full names and any dates you know. Copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document. Send a check or money order. The Bertie County contact directory has phone numbers for the clerk office. Call ahead to confirm fees and what you need to bring.

The NC eCourts portal at nccourts.gov provides online access to basic case data. You can search Bertie County cases by name or number. Complete documents must be obtained from the clerk office in person or by mail.

Filing for Divorce in Bertie County

The divorce process in Bertie County follows North Carolina law. File a complaint with the clerk. Pay the $225 fee. Under N.C.G.S. 50-6, you must live apart for one year. One spouse must be a North Carolina resident for six months per G.S. 50-8.

Serve your spouse after filing. Use the Bertie County Sheriff, certified mail, or a private process server. Your spouse does not need to agree to the divorce. North Carolina has no-fault divorce only. Once the year of separation passes and the papers are in order, the court enters the judgment. This becomes part of the public record in Bertie County. The clerk assigns a case number when you file, and all documents go under that number.

Note: A separation agreement is not required by law in North Carolina, but if you have one, it should be in writing with both signatures notarized.

What Bertie Divorce Records Contain

Divorce records in Bertie County include the complaint, the answer, any separation agreement, and the final judgment. The complaint lists the grounds. The judgment is the court order ending the marriage. Most legal needs require a certified copy of this judgment. You may need one for name changes, property sales, or remarriage.

Under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132, these records are public in Bertie County. Anyone can ask to view a divorce file. You do not have to be named in the case. Some information about minors may be sealed. The rest is open to the public. Claims for property division under G.S. 50-20 must be filed before the divorce is final. After the judgment, those rights are waived for good in Bertie County.

Bertie County Divorce Verification

NC Vital Records issues divorce verification letters for $24. These show that a divorce took place in Bertie County. They list names, date, and county. Mail requests go to 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1903. Extra copies at the same time cost $15 each. Records are available from 1958 to the present.

For the full judgment, contact the Bertie County clerk in Windsor. Pre-1958 records are also at the clerk office. Bertie County has divorce records going back to 1869. For even older records or family history research, contact the State Archives at (919) 814-6840.

Legal Help in Bertie County

Legal Aid of North Carolina at (866) 219-5262 offers free legal help to qualifying residents of Bertie County. The North Carolina State Bar lawyer referral line at 1-800-662-7660 can connect you with a local family law attorney. The NC Judicial Branch has free forms and filing instructions for divorce.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask the Bertie County clerk about a fee waiver. File a Petition to Proceed as an Indigent with the court. You can also include a request to resume your maiden name in the divorce complaint at no extra charge. The North Carolina courts website provides all needed forms in PDF format for Bertie County residents.

The North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 50 covers all divorce and alimony law that applies in Bertie County and across the state.