Guide
North Carolina Judgments & Liens Search at a Glance
In North Carolina, money judgments come from the superior and district courts. The clerk of superior court indexes and records each judgment on the judgment docket of the county where it was entered, and it is then a lien on the debtor's real property in that county for 10 years; a transcript docketed in another county makes it a lien there. UCC financing statements are filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State.
Always confirm the official record by ordering a certified copy from the originating office when accuracy matters for closing, refinancing, or litigation.
Guide
Where to search court judgments in North Carolina
North Carolina finished moving all 100 counties to eCourts on October 13, 2025, and the Judicial Branch Portal searches court records and takes payments. Anonymous users must pass a CAPTCHA every ten minutes.
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Where liens are recorded in North Carolina
The clerk of superior court indexes and records a money judgment on the judgment docket of the county where it was entered (G.S. 1-233), and filing a transcript with the clerk of any other county dockets it there too. The judgment is a lien on the debtor's real property in each county where it is docketed, effective against third parties from the time it is indexed (G.S. 1-234). Claims of lien on real property for labor or materials are filed with the clerk of superior court, not the register of deeds, within 120 days after the last furnishing (G.S. 44A-12).
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North Carolina UCC filings
UCC financing statements are filed with the UCC Section of the North Carolina Secretary of State. Its records are open to the public and can be searched free online.
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How long a judgment lien lasts in North Carolina
The lien lasts 10 years from the entry of the judgment, not counting time when the creditor was held back by an injunction, an appeal or a statute (G.S. 1-234). An action on a judgment must be brought within ten years of its entry; it can be brought only once and does not continue the original lien (G.S. 1-47).
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Finding the debtor's assets after judgment in North Carolina
North Carolina's procedure is the supplemental proceeding in Article 31 of Chapter 1. Under G.S. 1-352, when an execution against property is returned unsatisfied in whole or in part, the judgment creditor at any time after the return, and within three years from the time of issuing the execution, is entitled to an order from the court requiring the judgment debtor to appear and answer concerning his property. The article also provides written interrogatories to the debtor and orders directed to third parties who hold the debtor's property.
Two court files may already hold the answers. A North Carolina divorce file is public under G.S. 7A-109(a), and the Equitable Distribution Inventory Affidavit, where the local rules put it in the file, lists every item of marital and separate property with a value, while the equitable distribution judgment says who received each. A bankruptcy file in the Eastern, Middle or Western District lists deposit accounts by institution and the employer by name. The North Carolina asset search page covers both.
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Court forms and self-help in North Carolina
The North Carolina Judicial Branch explains how collection works after a small claims judgment, including the 10 day wait for an appeal, and posts its court forms.
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Federal & National Authoritative Sources
By state
Judgments and liens in other states
Straight answers
North Carolina Judgments & Liens Search, questions
How long is a judgment lien enforceable in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, a money judgment is enforceable as a lien for 10 years from the date it is entered or properly docketed. Creditors who want to extend collection beyond that period must file a renewal motion with the issuing court before the lien lapses. Read the North Carolina statute.
What is the deadline for filing a mechanics lien in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, a mechanics lien (also called a construction or materialman's lien) must generally be filed within 120 days after the claimant last furnished labor or materials to the project. Different deadlines may apply to general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, so check the exact statute before relying on this window. Source: North Carolina statute.
What property is protected from judgment creditors in North Carolina?
North Carolina protects a homestead, the debtor's primary residence, up to $35,000 in equity from forced sale by most judgment creditors. Per NC Gen Stat §1C-1601 (judgment-creditor homestead). Personal property exemptions (motor vehicle, household goods, tools of trade, retirement accounts) are listed separately in the state code. Confirm the current amount on the official source.
Where do I file or search a UCC-1 in North Carolina?
UCC-1 financing statements for personal-property collateral in North Carolina are filed with the Secretary of State (or equivalent state filing office). Open the official North Carolina UCC filing portal. Real-property liens (mortgages, judgment-lien dockets, mechanics liens) are recorded at the county recorder/clerk where the property is located, not at the state level.