Burke County

Burke County is located in the western Piedmont region of North Carolina, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Burke County seat is Morganton, which is the governmental and commercial hub for Burke County's approximately 90,000 residents spread across 515 square miles. Established in 1777 and named after Thomas Burke, a member of the Continental Congress and Governor of North Carolina, Burke County has a rich colonial and industrial heritage. Burke County is home to significant landmarks including South Mountains State Park, Lake James State Park, and Table Rock Mountain, making it a destination for outdoor recreation. The Historic Morganton Festival and Burke County Heritage Museum preserve Burke County's cultural legacy. Major governmental offices are concentrated in Morganton at Burke County Government Center located at 110 North Green Street. Burke County Register of Deeds maintains property records and is accessible at the same Government Center address. Burke County Tax Assessor's Office, responsible for property valuations and tax assessments, operates from 110 North Green Street as well, phone. Burke County Manager's Office coordinates administrative functions across departments. Burke County's economy historically relied on furniture manufacturing and textiles, though healthcare, education, and tourism now play increasingly important roles. Burke County benefits from its proximity to Interstate 40 and the larger metropolitan areas of Hickory and Asheville while maintaining its distinctive mountain character and small-town appeal.

• Burke County Register of Deeds maintains property records and is accessible at the same Government Center address.

Burke County North Carolina Court is located at 200 South Green Street, Morganton, NC 28655. It is a General Court of Justice, District Court Division. It is a trial court of limited jurisdiction and handles civil and criminal cases. It also handles juvenile, domestic, and mental health cases.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• Mugshots and booking photographs are typically included in jail records and can be viewed through the online inmate search portal or requested directly from the detention center.
• Processing fees may apply for copies of records.
• For historical arrest records or case dispositions, requesters should contact the appropriate law enforcement agency or Burke County Clerk of Superior Court.

Criminal Records

• The sex offender registry is also publicly accessible, providing information on registered offenders residing in Burke County.

Jail & Inmate Records

• The bond and bail process in North Carolina allows for the release of detainees through cash bonds, property bonds, or bail bondsmen, depending on the charges and court decisions.

• The North Carolina Judicial Branch operates an online case search system at www.nccourts.gov allowing users to search civil and criminal cases by party name, case number, or file date across all counties including Burke.
• The system provides case summaries, party information, and disposition details, though certified copies must be requested from the Clerk of Superior Court.
• Fees for certified copies typically range from $3 for the first page to $1 for each additional page.
• Traffic citations and infractions are also processed through District Court.

• Burke County offers a free online search tool for land records through the Register of Deeds website, allowing users to search by grantor, grantee, book and page, instrument type, or date range.
• Images of recorded documents can be viewed and printed online at no charge, though certified copies require a fee of $5 for the first page and $3 for each additional page.
• Recording fees are established by North Carolina General Statute § 161-10 and vary based on document type and page count.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Valid government-issued photo identification is required when requesting records in person.
• Processing time for in-person requests is typically immediate if records are available; mail requests generally take 7-10 business days.
• Marriage licenses are issued by Burke County Register of Deeds and require both parties to appear in person with valid identification and social security numbers.
• The marriage license fee is $60 and there is no waiting period in North Carolina.
• Online ordering of vital records is available through VitalChek, an authorized third-party vendor, at vitalrecords.nc.gov, though additional service fees apply.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• Assumed name certificates (also known as DBAs or fictitious names) for businesses operating in Burke County must be filed with Burke County Register of Deeds at 110 North Green Street, Suite 30, Morganton
• The filing fee for an assumed name certificate is approximately $26.
• Burke County Chamber of Commerce, located at 110 East Meeting Street, Morganton, operates a website at www.burkechamber.org and provides business networking, economic development information, and member directories.