Look Up Free Clay County Public Records: Court, Inmates & More

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Free Public Records Search (Clay County)

Access Clay County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

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Search free Clay County public records for information about oneself or another person. Interested parties can access a wide array of documents, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce records, as well as information on property ownership and taxes.

Obtain documentation of criminal files, court cases, prisoner statuses, arrest records, probation and active warrants via background check reports or by submitting requests to local custodians. Government agencies must make certain records publicly available and transparent under the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and North Carolina’s Public Records Law.

Understanding what information these records hold and where to locate them is key; by utilizing this streamlined resource to find contact information for local agencies and online databases, citizens will be equipped to uncover pertinent information on anyone.

How To Access Arrest Logs, Mugshots & the Reason for Detainment in Clay County

To determine if someone was arrested in Clay County, North Carolina, the Detention Center is an ideal place to start the search and contacting the Sheriff’s Office may also prove advantageous.^1,2

To streamline the search, it’s best to have as many details about the person as possible before contacting the agency — for instance, their full name is absolutely required but knowing the approximate area they were arrested, their date of birth, height and weight can help as well.

View Clay County Arrest Logs Through the Detention Center’s Inmate Search Tool

One of the biggest benefits of searching for arrest records on the county level is that it allows for a complete search that consists of towns, cities and other areas within the county. It’s much less time-consuming and complex than searching through each smaller area on its own. This is especially the case if certain areas don’t have their own jail or police department.

There are several ways you may be able to obtain arrest information via the Clay County Detention Center. The best option is to utilize the free Jail Tracker inmate search feature. Type in a first and last name, or view the complete list.

Click on “view more” next to each name to pull up a mugshot. Click on “larger image” to view the mugshot in a bigger size and “original size” to revert it back. Various other details may be available, including the person’s charges, age, booking date, appearance details, the arresting officer and agency and their arrest date.

Another option is to contact the Clay County Detention Center directly at:

Clay County Detention Center
281 Courthouse Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904

Phone: 828-389-8207
Fax: 828-389-3784

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office may be another excellent source of information on arrests and any other local incidents that they may have responded to. For arrest or incident reports, residents can reach out to them using the following contact information:

Clay County Sheriff’s Office
295 Courthouse Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904

Phone: 828-389-6354
Fax: 828-389-6375

How To Review Clay County North Carolina Criminal Cases

There are an extensive number of criminal records, including, but not limited to, information about offenses, probation, parole, warrants, and sex offender registries.

Several agencies, such as the Clay County Detention Center and the Sheriff’s Office, maintain some of these records. Some may be in charge of managing and maintaining one type of record, while others might be responsible for multiple.

Several benefits come from researching criminal records, especially when it comes to potentially protecting yourself from another person who may have harmful intent.

Looking up the information is excellent as a way to learn more information about someone or to verify details that the person gave you, whether or not they seem legitimate. It could also be a good indicator of a person’s past and possibly their current situation, although it certainly doesn’t tell the whole story.

For example, two people have been conversing for a while and they decide to go out on a date, but one person has been purposely keeping secret that they’ve recently completed a prison sentence for murder. Doing some research and possibly obtaining a background check report beforehand could reveal this information rather than it being discovered later.

Look Up Criminal Cases & Charges Through the Clay County Clerk of Court

Viewing criminal cases within Clay County requires going to the Clerk of Court office and using one of the self-service terminals available for public use.⁴

Viewing paper files may also be possible upon request. Contacting the office ahead of time before starting a search can help determine exactly what needs to be done to obtain the proper information and if there are any costs for getting copies.

For more information, visit:

Clay County Clerk of Court
Clay County Government Center
261 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1
Hayesville, NC 28904

Phone: 828-389-2300

Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Current criminal court calendars are available online for Clay County. Recent past dates may be available, as well as upcoming scheduled court dates. Click on each link for more detailed information about the individual cases.

How To Find Warrant & Absconder Details in Clay County North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction has an Absconders section that allows individuals to use a free search feature to view people who’ve absconded from probation and parole, including those from Clay County.

To view individuals from Clay County, highlight “Clay” from “County of Supervision” and press “Search.” It’s also possible to search by last name.

Click on an applicable name to pull up information that includes their offender number, probation/parole/post release status and probation/parole office. Additional information includes their gender, ethnic group, race, age and birthdate.

Scroll down to see information about their sentence history and recent incarceration summary. Individuals can contact the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction at:

North Carolina Department of Adult Correction
214 West Jones Street 
Raleigh, NC 27603

Mailing Address:

5201 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

Phone: 919-733-2126

• Community Supervision (Probation/Parole): 919-716-3100
• Post-Release Supervision & Parole Commission: 919-716-3010
• Offender information: 800-368-1985
• Prisons: 919-838-4000
• Combined Records: 919-716-3200
• Victim Support Services: 919-733-7974; 866-719-0108

How To Run a Clay County Probation Record Search

It’s possible to do a free active and inactive probation search for individuals who are part of the North Carolina system via the Department of Adult Correction.

Use the “Offender Search” feature and click on either “Active Probationer/Parolee” or “Inactive.” Searching by county isn’t an option, but it’s possible to input details and filter the results by first and last name (and middle initial), gender, race, offender number, ethnic group, age range and birth date.

The same information comes up for each individual as with the previously mentioned Absconder results. To reach the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, use the previously mentioned contact information.

How To Get a Background Check Done in Clay County North Carolina

The benefits of running a background check can vary depending on whether the purpose is for personal or professional reasons.

For instance, personal background checks are ideal for learning if a particular person has a history of violent behavior, if they’ve ever engaged in crimes against others (especially the vulnerable, like the elderly, children and/or the disabled) and determining if the history they’ve provided is actually true.

Professional background checks also run the gamut of benefits, including ensuring the safety of employees, protecting company information, safeguarding the company’s reputation and decreasing the chances of turnover.

Using third-party sites and the information from agencies within this resource is ideal for doing a background check. Citizens can utilize the guidance found throughout this article to track down and review various public records for their own purposes; consent typically isn’t needed since the search is being performed for personal reasons and the information is public.

Any person can run a background check, but there are legalities to follow, especially in the case of hiring at a business. For starters, employers must receive written consent from each prospective or current employee to run a background check on them in North Carolina.

A verbal consent doesn’t suffice. Employers are also required to tell applicants if something in their background check is a reason for not getting the job. Additionally, it’s important to note that North Carolina is a Ban the Box state, meaning that employers or other officials cannot legally ask an applicant or trainee for their criminal history status prior to offering the job or role.⁸

Another must when it comes to doing a background check is that the information a searcher obtains absolutely cannot get used in a harmful manner. For example, they can’t use it as a way to blackmail someone over their criminal history or stalk a person by finding their work or home address online.

While potential employment is a huge motivation for background checks, there are other reasons for them as well. For instance, they may be done for insurance purposes or to try to obtain a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer in North Carolina.

There are two different types of background checks available: level 1 and level 2. A level 1 background check is by name only, and it’s valid for obtaining information only from within North Carolina. The level 2 background check involves fingerprinting and provides information from North Carolina and throughout the rest of the United States.

Searchers interested in doing a non-certified background check can use the public computers at the courthouse to obtain the information. It’s typically free to use the service, although there’s usually a charge for printing any information.

It’s also possible to get a certified background check done via the Clerk of Superior Court in Clay County, North Carolina.⁹ The information provided will only be from Clay County. There’s a $25 fee involved for the certified background check. Individuals can make the request in person at the courthouse.

You may be required to show identification with a government-issued ID. However, a free non-certified (self-service) background check can be done at the Clay County Government Center by using the public computers.

Clay County Government Center
261 Courthouse Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904

Phone: 828-389-2300

Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Another option is to obtain a background check via the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.¹⁰ You can request two types of personal background checks: a “NC State Fingerprint-based Check” for $14 or a “National Fingerprint-based Check” for $18. Review each link to learn more about each specific process and how to go about it.

There’s a $25 fee to do a background check on others in Clay County. Contact the Clay County Clerk of Court for more information. Employers/licensing entities may be able to access criminal history records via The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

Contact the Access Integrity Unit for more information.

As stated, it’s essential to follow all the laws regarding background checks in North Carolina. Applicants working any job in any industry should be aware of what their background check rights are, including if they’re currently seeking a new job and will be going through one or more interviews. Reading more about the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) can also prove advantageous.

If there’s proof of discriminatory business and hiring practices, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) can help. Note that there’s a time limit for filing the complaint. There are two ways to reach the EEOC:

EEOC Headquarters
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
131 M Street NE
Washington, DC 20507

Phone: 800-669-4000

Charlotte District Office
129 West Trade Street, Suite 400
Charlotte, NC 28202

Phone: 800-669-4000
Fax: 704-954-6410

How To Check Criminal Records in North Carolina via State & Federal Agencies

Searchers in North Carolina have multiple ways to legally check criminal records on a state and federal level. As previously stated, it’s essential to not use the results in a malicious and/or illegal fashion. Some of the agencies offering free search options for criminal records include:

1. North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations — Background Checks

• • Personal background checks: NC State Fingerprint-Based Check ($14); National Fingerprint-Based Check ($18)

North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations
CIIS – Customer Service Unit
3320 Garner Road, P.O. Box 29500
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500

Phone: 919-582-8660
Fax: 919-661-5977

2. North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations — North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry

• • Find offenders by sex registration number, latitude/longitude or name. Free search feature.
  • Do a search of an address, such as a personal home that you just moved into in North Carolina, to see what offenders are living nearby. Select a search radius of 1, 3 or 5 miles. Each marker on the map indicates an offender.

Searchers can opt in to receive emails about offenders in the specified radius. Put the cursor over each marker to pull up the offender’s full name, address and photo. Click on the marker to open extensive details about the individual.

Some of the many details include any distinctive marks (such as tattoos), conviction information (including the victim’s age) and a brief description of the crime. The search feature is free to use.

3. United States Department of Justice — Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website

• • Search by name or location. When searching by location, input a search radius of 1, 2 or 3 miles. Offenders within that radius will pop up, along with their respective names, ages, aliases and addresses.

Clicking on a photo will open a separate tab with extensive additional information about that individual.

4. North Carolina Department of Adult Correction — Offender Public Information — Offender Search (Free)

• • Search the offender status, including active inmate, active probationer/parolee or inactive, or do an overall search.
  • Search by last name, first name and middle initial, offender number, race, gender, age range, ethnic group and birth date.
  • Click on each offender number to learn more details, including information about their recent incarceration and their sentence history.

5. Federal Bureau of Prisons — Find a Former or Current Federal Inmate

• • Search by name, age, race and sex.
  • Search by number.
  • Records will appear (if there is a search matching the entered information) detailing the name, register number, age, race, sex, release date (if known) and current location. Click on a search result to pull up more information. For anyone still incarcerated, an anticipated release date will be available.

How To View Clay County Court Documents & Cases

Clay County in North Carolina falls under the prosecutorial 43rd district. The county has a Superior Court (District 30A) and a District Court (District 30). There are significant differences between district courts and superior courts.

For example, felonies and other serious matters are typically tried in superior court, while lesser crimes, such as misdemeanors, are usually heard in district court. Cases involving minors will also usually be in district court.

The Clerk of Superior Court can assist with obtaining documents and learning more about cases. Individuals interested in the upcoming court cases in the county can view the Criminal Court Calendar for Clay County.¹²

Clay County Government Center
261 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1
Hayesville, NC 28904

Phone: 828-389-2300

Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How To Access Vital Records (Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death) in Clay County

Vital records are essential government documents that are part of everyone’s life. Some examples include birth certificates, death certificates and marriage licenses. County vital records departments are usually in charge of managing these documents.

These important documents are essential for a variety of reasons. For example, an individual may need one or more to apply for a passport, buy a home or change their name. They’re also useful for people looking into the history of their family, such as researching their lineage.

Note that Clay County public records and any other documentation used to verify personal information in order to receive items like birth or death certificates must be valid and legitimate. Typically, original documents are required rather than photocopies. There may be an option to receive certified or uncertified vital records.

Certified documents are usually used for legal reasons, such as records that may need to get used in court. If there’s a specific purpose the vital records are going to be used for, verify first whether certified or uncertified documents are required.

Review Marital Information & Acquire Certificates Through the Clay County Register of Deeds

The Clay County Register of Deeds is in charge of handling vital records, including marriage records.¹³

Individuals can request a certified copy of their own Clay County-based marriage license or of specific family members as long as they show proper identification. Uncertified copies are accessible by the public. Contact the Clay County Register of Deeds for more information about obtaining the records.

Clay County Register of Deeds
261 Courthouse Drive, Suite 2
Hayesville, NC 28904

Phone: 828-389-0087
Fax: 828-389-1261
E-mail: [email protected] 

The Clay County Clerk of Court handles divorce certificates only for divorces filed within the county. Contact the following for more information.

Clay County Clerk of Court
Clay County Government Center
261 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1
Hayesville, NC 28904

Phone: 828-389-2300

Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Searchers interested in records outside of Clay County, North Carolina, can use third-party platforms, such as genealogy sites, to look up the information they need. These options can be especially beneficial for nationwide and/or international searches.

Another option is to go through the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services Division of Public Health NC Office of Vital Records.¹⁴ Marriage certificates are available from 1962 to the present day.

Individuals can place an order by phone, in person or by mail. There’s a charge for ordering each certificate, and costs and processing times vary depending on the request method. Please view the fees and payment details for more information, including how much each search or service costs and any applicable fee notes.

Various forms of payment are accepted, but cash payments are only for in-person transactions. Acceptable additional forms of payment include check, money order and credit or debit card. Which payment option is allowed depends on how a searcher makes their document request.

North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services
Division of Public Health NC Office of Vital Records
225 North McDowell St.
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-1382

Mailing Address:

1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900

Phone: 919-733-3000
Phone for Certificate Inquiries: 984-236-7268
Phone for Appointments: 984-236-7268
Fax: 919-733-1511

Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Obtaining Birth & Death Records Through the Clay County Register of Deeds

The Clay County Register of Deeds also handles birth and death records. It’s a similar process to requesting a certified (must show a government ID) or uncertified copy of a marriage certificate. Perusing third-party websites can also be advantageous.

On the state level, Clay County residents can obtain records pertaining to births and deaths from the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services Division of Public Health NC Office of Vital Records.

Birth certificates are available from 1913 to the present day and death certificates from 1930 to the present. Fetal death reports are available from 2001 to the present day. You can also check the prices of individual fees by visiting their website.

The office may also be able to provide copies of an adoptee’s birth certificate.¹⁵ An adoptee, a lawyer or one of the approved members of the adoptee’s family (i.e., their children, adoptive parents, siblings or spouse) can request a copy as long as they have the proper documentation.

Interested individuals can contact the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health NC Office of Vital Records for more information at the previously mentioned address or call 984-236-7218.

How To Retrieve Property Ownership & Property Taxes in Clay County for Free

The Clay County Register of Deeds is where to go for real estate document matters, including real estate ownership information. Information may be available via the online property search feature, or interested individuals can contact the office at:¹⁶

Clay County Register of Deeds
261 Courthouse Drive, Suite 2
Hayesville, NC 28904

Phone: 828-389-0087
Fax: 828-389-1261
E-mail: [email protected]

Regarding property taxes, the Clay County Tax Office may be of assistance.¹⁷ Use the free online tax search feature to do a tax bill search or basic search. You’ll need basic information, such as the person’s first and last name, although including other details, like the property address, will also prove beneficial.

An Overview of Citizens’ Rights & Using Clay County Public Records Responsibly

Nowadays, especially with social media, access to public information abounds. There are many benefits to accessing public records about an individual, but it’s essential to use it in a responsible manner.

One downfall about so much information being accessible to the public is that it creates the potential for discriminatory practices by employers and/or for someone to turn access to the public information into a negative action, such as stalking.

Understanding the various protection and use laws regarding this information is beneficial for employees, employers and anyone who could potentially have their information used against them in a malicious way. It’s important that people, especially those in a position of power, not take advantage of the accessible information in a way that negatively impacts others.

Retrieving the county’s public records doesn’t require obtaining another person’s consent because that information is openly accessible by the public, whereas background checks do require consent from the current or potential employee.

Abiding by laws isn’t just doing so on a state and federal level, but also on a local county or even city level.

Each industry and/or job may also have specific laws requiring background checks.

For example, the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services Division of Child Development & Early Education provides information about the Child Care Law (General Statute 110-90.2) and how anyone who works in a childcare facility has to have a background check done. For more information about background checks for the childcare industry, contact:

NC DHHS – Division of Child Development and Early Education
Child Care Criminal Background Check Unit
333 East Six Forks Road
Raleigh, NC 27609

Phone: 919-814-6401
Fax: 919-715-0987
Email: [email protected]

Before starting the hiring process, employers need to be aware of the laws regarding hiring and business practices. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has important webpage on what employers must know about background checks information that’s essential for review.¹⁹ Employees should also read the details to understand what their rights are.

Employees and employers can contact the EEOC through the headquarters or the Charlotte district office:

EEOC Headquarters
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
131 M Street NE
Washington, DC 20507

Phone: 800-669-4000

Charlotte District Office
129 West Trade Street, Suite 400
Charlotte, NC 28202

Phone: 800-669-4000
Fax: 704-954-6410

An additional exceptional source of information regarding employer background checks and what employers and employees should know is the Federal Trade Commission.

Information is accessible regarding what employers are and aren’t allowed to ask about regarding an applicant’s background, what happens if the denial of a job seems suspiciously like discrimination and how to protect personal information and privacy. Details are also available regarding how to report fraud.

The primary contact information for the Federal Trade Commission is:

Federal Trade Commission (Headquarters)
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20580

Phone: 202-326-2222

Federal Trade Commission (Constitution Center)
400 7th Street SW
Washington, DC 20024

Phone: 202-326-2222

Applicants and employees who want more information about filing a discrimination complaint can contact the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at 202-326-2196 or for TTY, 202-326-3798.

Don’t let the extensive amount of available information seem daunting and like more effort than it’s worth. City, county, state and federal resources can be a wealth of information about people and could also be a way to determine if the information they initially provided checks out.

Knowing where to get each type of information, from birth certificates to criminal histories, can certainly narrow down the time and effort involved as much of the information is available online, by making a call, by sending an email or through a quick trip to each respective office.

Taking the time to search through Clay County public records online and in person can be advantageous and provide any information desired.