Transylvania County Background Check Records

Transylvania County is in the mountains of western North Carolina. The county seat is Brevard. Known for its waterfalls and dense forests, the county has a population of roughly 34,000 residents. Public records here are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court, the Sheriff's Office, and the Register of Deeds. Criminal history searches can be done at the local level or through state agencies. This guide walks through the offices and processes involved in obtaining background check records in Transylvania County, including both free and certified options available to the public.

Transylvania County Government Overview

The county government oversees several departments relevant to public records. Offices are located in and around the courthouse in downtown Brevard. The county maintains an active online presence with information about each department and their services.

Below is the Transylvania County government website where you can find department contacts and service details.

This site provides a helpful starting point. You can locate phone numbers, office hours, and directions from here. Many county services are accessible online as well.

Background Check at the Clerk of Court

The Transylvania County Clerk of Superior Court handles all court records. This includes criminal case files, civil matters, and special proceedings. The office is in the Transylvania County Courthouse in Brevard. Staff can help you request a certified criminal record search using Form AOC-CR-314. The fee for this service is $25.

Free self-service terminals are available at the courthouse. These terminals let anyone search criminal case records without paying a fee. Results from these terminals are not certified, but they provide a quick way to look up case information.

The image below shows the Transylvania County Clerk of Court page on the NC Courts website.

Visit this page for hours, phone numbers, and mailing addresses. The clerk's staff can answer questions about how to submit a records request.

Note: A certified search covers only Transylvania County records. For statewide results, contact the SBI.

Transylvania County Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds maintains property records, vital records, and other public documents. This office is separate from criminal records but can be useful for verifying personal details. Land deeds, marriage licenses, and birth certificates are all stored here.

Here is the Transylvania County Register of Deeds website.

Property records in Transylvania County go back many decades. The office follows North Carolina Chapter 132 public records law, which grants the public broad access to government documents.

Transylvania County's mountain setting and small population of about 34,000 mean the courthouse in Brevard processes a modest number of cases compared to urban counties. Wait times for self-service terminal searches or certified record requests tend to be short. The county attracts visitors and seasonal residents due to its natural beauty, including hundreds of waterfalls in the Pisgah National Forest. Cases involving visitors or seasonal residents are still filed at the Brevard courthouse and would appear in a Transylvania County background check. For records involving incidents in the national forest, federal authorities may have jurisdiction, and those cases would go through the federal court system instead.

Statewide Criminal History Search

The NC State Bureau of Investigation operates the central criminal records repository in Raleigh. The SBI was established in 1937. It manages the Computerized Criminal History file, or CCH, which pulls data from law enforcement agencies across all 100 counties. A name-based search returns results quickly. A fingerprint-based search takes longer but is far more accurate.

The SBI uses SAFIS, the Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System, to match prints. This system reduces the chance of misidentification. Fingerprint checks are governed by Chapter 114 of the NC General Statutes.

The NC Courts background check page outlines both options clearly. It also explains the difference between certified and non-certified results.

Sex Offender and Inmate Lookups

Two free state tools can supplement a Transylvania County background check. The NC Sex Offender Registry allows searches by name, address, or geographic area. Results include registered offenders living in or near Transylvania County.

The NC DPS Offender Search covers inmates in the state prison system. You can search by name or offender number. Both tools are free and open to anyone.

Note: The sex offender registry is updated regularly by the SBI and reflects current registrations statewide.

Transylvania County Background Check Steps

Here is a summary of how to run a background check in Transylvania County:

• Visit the courthouse in Brevard and use a free self-service terminal
• Submit Form AOC-CR-314 with a $25 fee for a certified county search
• Contact the SBI for a statewide name-based or fingerprint-based check
• Search the NC Sex Offender Registry online
• Use the NC DPS offender search for state prison records

Each option covers a different scope. Local searches are limited to Transylvania County. The SBI search spans the entire state. Combining both gives you the most complete picture.

Transylvania County borders South Carolina to the south and several North Carolina counties including Henderson and Jackson. People who live in the Brevard area frequently travel to Hendersonville or Asheville for services and shopping. If someone has ties to those areas, a single-county search from Transylvania County will not capture records filed in Henderson or Buncombe counties. The SBI statewide search resolves this by pulling records from all 100 counties at once. This broader approach is especially useful in mountain communities where county lines are not always obvious to residents.

Expunctions and Record Clearing

Some records in Transylvania County may be eligible for expunction. This process removes a charge or conviction from public view. The NC Courts expunction page explains the eligibility rules. The filing fee is $175 in most cases. Dismissed charges may qualify for a fee waiver.

Legal Aid of North Carolina offers free assistance to those who qualify. Call 1-866-219-5262 for help with the application. Once a record is expunged, it will not show up in standard background check searches.