Yancey County Criminal History Guide

Yancey County criminal history records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court in Burnsville. The county is in the mountains of western North Carolina near Mount Mitchell. Burnsville serves as the county seat and is where all criminal case files are stored. You can access these records in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through the state online court portal. The clerk's office handles all requests and can help locate specific criminal history files during normal hours.

Yancey County Criminal Records Clerk

Tammy McEntyre is the Clerk of Superior Court for Yancey County. The courthouse is at 110 Towne Square, Room 5, Burnsville, NC 28714. Call (828) 678-5700 for questions. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Walk-in visits are welcome.

Yancey County is one of the smaller counties in North Carolina. The staff will search criminal history records by name or case number. Under NCGS § 132-1, criminal records are public. Anyone can view them. You do not need to be part of the case. Bring a photo ID when you visit. The clerk provides both plain and certified copies of Yancey County criminal records.

Yancey County courts handle cases from all parts of the county, including Burnsville, Micaville, and the surrounding mountain communities. All criminal cases are filed at this one courthouse location.

Finding Yancey County Criminal History Records

The NC eCourts portal is the best way to search Yancey County criminal cases online. Yancey County went live on eCourts in July 2025 as part of Track 9. The portal is free to use. Type in a name and choose Yancey County to narrow results. Charges, court dates, and case outcomes will appear.

Some older Yancey County records may not be in the online system. These exist on paper at the courthouse in Burnsville. Visit the clerk to search these files. Give a full name and rough date range. A case number speeds things up. The Yancey County staff can pull and review paper records for you.

To request records by mail, write to the Yancey County Clerk of Superior Court at 110 Towne Square, Room 5, Burnsville, NC 28714. Include the name you want searched, your address, and payment. Allow one to two weeks for a mailed reply from Yancey County.

Yancey County Criminal History Fees

The cost for a certified criminal record check in Yancey County is $25 under NCGS § 114-19. The clerk uses Form AOC-CR-314. Fill it out, pay, and the clerk conducts the search. You receive a certified document from Yancey County.

Plain and certified copies of court documents in Yancey County follow the fee schedule set by NCGS § 132-6.2. The per-page cost for plain copies is low. Certified copies cost more because they carry the court seal. Ask the clerk at (828) 678-5700 for exact rates. Confirm what payment forms the Yancey County courthouse accepts.

Note: Fee waivers may be available if you qualify as indigent under North Carolina court rules. Ask the Yancey County clerk for the proper form.

Yancey County Criminal Case Contents

Each criminal case file in Yancey County contains a set of core documents. The first is the charging document. For misdemeanor cases, this is often a citation or criminal summons. Felony cases may start with a warrant or grand jury indictment. The Yancey County clerk keeps all papers in one folder per case.

As the case proceeds through Yancey County court, more items go into the file. Motions from the defense and prosecution are added. Court orders are filed. Plea deals are recorded with their full terms. If a trial occurred, the verdict and any exhibits become part of the criminal record. The final judgment in Yancey County lists the sentence, fines, and any conditions of probation or release.

Post-conviction actions also appear in the Yancey County file. These include appeals, probation violations, and motions to reduce a sentence. The criminal history record provides a complete timeline from the initial charge through the final resolution of the case.

Yancey County Criminal History Expunctions

North Carolina law permits the expunction of certain criminal records. The statutes are NCGS § 15A-145 through § 15A-150. Dismissed cases can qualify. Not guilty verdicts qualify. Some first-time offenses may also be eligible for expunction in Yancey County. The NC Courts expunction page has all the categories and requirements.

To begin the process in Yancey County, obtain the correct form from the NC Courts forms page. Complete it and file it at the clerk's office in Burnsville. Most petitions require a filing fee. The district attorney reviews each petition. A judge then rules on it. If granted, the criminal history record is removed from public view in Yancey County and from the SBI state database.

Legal Aid of North Carolina may be able to help Yancey County residents with expunction petitions at no charge if you qualify based on income.

State Criminal History Tools

The NC State Bureau of Investigation maintains the central criminal record database for all of North Carolina. A statewide search under NCGS § 114-19 covers Yancey County and all other counties. Submit fingerprints and a form to the SBI. The fee is $25. This gives a full picture of someone's criminal history across the entire state, including any Yancey County records.

The NC Offender Search from the Department of Public Safety is free and open to the public. It shows people who are or have been in the state prison system. Anyone convicted in Yancey County and sentenced to state prison will be in this database. You can search by name and get basic details about the conviction and current status.

The NC Courts records help page provides additional guidance on accessing criminal history files throughout North Carolina, including Yancey County.

Nearby Counties

Yancey County is in the western North Carolina mountains. These counties border it. Verify which county covers your location before requesting criminal history records.