Find Apex Criminal Court Records
Apex criminal court records are filed at the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court in Raleigh. The town of Apex is in Wake County, south of the state capital. Apex does not have its own criminal court. All criminal cases from the town go through the Wake County court system. You can search for records at the Wake County Justice Center or use the NC eCourts portal from home. This page explains how to access criminal court records for cases that started in Apex.
Apex Quick Facts
Apex Criminal Court Records Cases
North Carolina does not give towns or cities the authority to hold criminal trials. Apex has no local criminal court. When Apex police charge someone with a crime, the case goes to Wake County court. Wake County is one of the busiest court systems in the state. The courthouse is the Wake County Justice Center at 300 S. Salisbury Street in Raleigh.
District Court hears misdemeanors. A judge decides these without a jury. Superior Court handles felonies. Defendants facing felony charges get a jury of 12. Appeals from District Court also go to Superior Court. All of these records are kept by the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court.
| Court | Wake County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 S. Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27601 |
| Phone | (919) 792-4000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/wake-county |
The courthouse is about 15 miles from Apex. Plan for the drive and parking. The Justice Center is in downtown Raleigh near other government buildings.
How to Search Apex Criminal Court Records
The NC eCourts Portal is the easiest way to search for Apex criminal court records. It is free and open around the clock. You can look up cases by name, case number, or citation number. The portal covers Wake County and all other NC counties.
At the Wake County Justice Center, public terminals are set up in the clerk's office. You can search there for free. Staff will help you find paper files if needed. Copies of documents cost $2.00 for the first page and $0.25 per page after that. Certified copies are $3.00 each.
The Town of Apex has a town clerk office at 73 Hunter Street. The town clerk handles public records requests for town records, but criminal court records are not town records. For those, you must go through Wake County.
The Town of Apex clerk's office can point you in the right direction if you are not sure where to start. Call them at (919) 249-3400.
The town clerk handles town council records and other municipal documents. Criminal court records are managed only at the county level through the Wake County clerk.
Note: Wake County handles a large number of cases each year, so be specific with names and dates when searching.
Apex Criminal Court Records Sources
The Apex Police Department patrols the town limits. Their office is at 205 Saunders Street. The records division can be reached at (919) 249-3447. The non-emergency number is (919) 362-8661. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Police reports from Apex are separate from court records. A police report documents the arrest or incident. The court record tracks the legal case from charge to outcome. If you need the court file, go to Wake County. If you need the police report, contact the Apex Police Department.
Wake County Sheriff and Criminal Records
The Wake County Sheriff's Office serves the broader county, including areas near Apex. Their office is at 330 S. Salisbury Street in Raleigh. The main phone is (919) 856-6900. They manage the county jail and handle inmate searches.
For inmate information, call (919) 773-4170. The sheriff also handles fingerprinting at (919) 856-6952. If you need fingerprints for a state or national background check, the sheriff's office is one option. You can also go through the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a broader search.
The SBI keeps criminal records going back to 1937. A state check costs $14. A national FBI check costs $18. These are fingerprint-based and cover more than a single-county search at the Wake County courthouse.
Restricted Criminal Records in Apex
Some Apex criminal court records are not public. Juvenile cases are sealed under N.C.G.S. 7B-3000. Expunged records are removed from all searches. Grand jury proceedings are kept secret under G.S. 15A-623. Active investigation files from Apex police or the Wake County Sheriff are exempt under G.S. 132-1.4.
Sealed and expunged records will not appear on the eCourts portal or on courthouse terminals. The Wake County clerk cannot provide these records to the public. If you believe a record has been expunged, the clerk can confirm that the case exists but cannot share its details.
Apex is one of the fastest growing towns in North Carolina. Its location in Wake County means cases from the town are part of a large court system. Wake County handles thousands of criminal cases each year. Be as specific as possible with names and dates when searching for Apex records.
Under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132, most court records are public. This includes criminal case files, docket entries, and sentencing records. You can view public Apex criminal court records at the Wake County Justice Center during business hours. No reason is needed. Just visit the clerk's office and ask for the file you want to see.
Apex Criminal Court Records Fees
Fees for Apex criminal court records follow the North Carolina fee schedule set by the Administrative Office of the Courts. All payments go through the Wake County clerk.
- Certified criminal record check: $25 per name
- Uncertified copy: $2.00 first page, $0.25 each added page
- Certified copy: $3.00 per document
- Exemplified copy: $10.00
- Self-service terminal search: free
The eCourts portal accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover for online fine and fee payments. Call (919) 792-4000 to verify current fees at Wake County before visiting.
Wake County Criminal Court Records
Apex is entirely within Wake County. All criminal court records from the town are part of the Wake County system. For the full county overview, sheriff contacts, and additional resources, visit the Wake County page.