Searching Pender County: what to expect

Pender County publishes some records directly — 3 local sources below — and leans on state systems for the rest. No online docket is listed for the county itself; the North Carolina court records page maps the alternatives, and the clerk fills direct requests. The standout local source is gis.pendercountync.gov, covering parcel and property-tax data. One gap: criminal records aren't published by the county itself. Use the North Carolina criminal records page for those.

SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Pender County record-source URLs verified against the official local and North Carolina state publishers on the review date. 7 primary .gov / official sources cited below.

Pender County — Key Numbers (2026)

Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Pender County, North Carolina — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
70,077
Population
Census estimate
23,258
Households
Census estimate
$74,538
Median income
Annual household
$240,800
Median home value
Census ACS
Burgaw
County seat
In North Carolina
Pender County Records Availability Map
Criminal records
2 sources
Court records
2 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
3 sources
Vital records
2 sources
Voter records
2 sources
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
1 source
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources   One source   Use state portal

Pender County Records at a Glance

Record typePender County verified sources
Court recordsJudgment Search
Pender County | North Carolina Judicial Branch
Criminal recordsPender County, North Carolina Criminal Records | PenderRecor…
Pender County, North Carolina Inmate Search | PenderRecords.…
Wants & warrantsPender Correctional Institution | NC DAC
Property recordsPendercountync
Real Estate Property Taxes
Vital recordsPender County NC Birth Certificate, Marriage & Death Rec…
Pender County, North Carolina Public Records Lookup | Pender…
Voter recordsPender County Board of Elections | Pender County, NC
Voting Information | Pender County, NC
Professional licensesRequest a Public Record | North Carolina Judicial Branch
Recorded documentsPender County, North Carolina Property Records | PenderRecor…
Pender County — Verified Record Sources by Type (2026)
Court records2Criminal records2Wants & warrants0Property records3Vital records2Voter records2Licenses0Recorded docs1
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Pender County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.

What Changed in 2026 — Pender County Records

2026
Pender County official government portal active
The official Pender County government website at www.pendercountync.gov continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Pender County court records portal verified
State court system links for Pender County verified against the North Carolina judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Pender County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Pender County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Pender County property records online
Pender County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.

The 4-Step Pender County Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Start at the Pender County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Pender County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the North Carolina statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the North Carolina state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Pender County Records

MYTH"Pender County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Pender County are held by the North Carolina state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Pender County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have Pender County data."
FACTOnly the official North Carolina state repository has verified, current Pender County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Pender County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Pender County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related — Pender County & North Carolina Records

For records not specific to Pender County, use North Carolina's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 North Carolina statewide record systems:
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Other counties in North Carolina: Pamlico · Pasquotank · Perquimans · Person · Pitt
Looking for a person, not a database? Start with the North Carolina guides:

About Pender County, North Carolina

Pender County is located in the southeastern coast of North Carolina. The county seat is Burgaw (official site: https://www.pendercountync.gov/).

  • Population: 70,077
  • Households: 23,258
  • Median household income: $74,538
  • Median home value: $240,800
  • Below poverty line: 11.7%
  • Land area: 871.3 sq mi
  • Population density: 80.4 people / sq mi
  • Public libraries indexed: 2
  • NCES schools indexed: 16
PR
Pendercountync
Official Free
Please note that creating presentations is not supported in Internet Explorer versions 6, 7. We recommend upgrading to the latest Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Firefox. If you are using IE 8 or later, make sure you turn off "Compatibility View"
🌐 gis.pendercountync.gov
PR
Real Estate Property Taxes
Official Free
You do NOT need to fill out all fields. For best results, use Parcel Identification (PIN/PID) or Tax Bill number. If you do not have those numbers, use the name or address search. Limit your fields to one or two entries for maximum results · Your session will expire in seconds.
🌐 mss.pendercountync.gov
PR
Land Records / Mapping | Pender County, NC
Official Free
Official Pender County, North Carolina government source (www.pendercountync.gov).
🌐 pendercountync.gov
CT
Judgment Search
Official Free
Statewide search of civil judgments entered in North Carolina courts, part of the eCourts rollout. Judgments follow people and businesses for years — this is where to confirm one exists before assuming a debt is collectible.
🌐 portal-nc.tylertech.cloud
CT
Pender County | North Carolina Judicial Branch
Official Free
Find out more information about the Pender County Courthouse. View civil court calendars. View criminal court calendars. Find your local GAL program. Search Portal by name, citation number, county, and more. Search statewide judicial forms by keyword, form number, and more. Find online services for court records, File & Serve, Guide & File, make payments, request interpreter, and more.
🌐 nccourts.gov
CR
Sex Offenders
Official Free
North Carolina's sex offender registry from the SBI. Accept the disclaimer to search by name or address, or map registrants near any location in the state.
🌐 sexoffender.ncsbi.gov
VR
Pender County NC Birth Certificate, Marriage & Death Records
Official Free
Vital-record certificates connected to Pender County are ordered here. Searching the official side is free.
🌐 citydirectory.us
VT
NCDHHS: DPH: NC Vital Records: Research
Official Free
See the National Center for Health for Vital Records. Born Outside the United States: If a person was born outside the United States, but their parents were United States citizens at the time of the birth, see U.S. Department of State. For records dated earlier than those found in our office: Birth Certificates: For births before 1913, contact the Register of Deeds office in the county where the birth occurred. Do not contact North Carolina Vital
🌐 vitalrecords.nc.gov
VT
Pender County Board of Elections | Pender County, NC
Official Free
The Board of Elections has the legal and moral responsibility for protecting the will of the people; protecting democracy as a concept and form of government; and for establishing fairness and equity for all in the process of self governance. This department is the first step in democracy by providing efficient, fair, and open elections. The Board of Elections has the overall responsibility for the administration of voter registration, the electoral process, and campaign finance disclosure.
🌐 pendercountync.gov
VT
Voting Information | Pender County, NC
Official Free
Any person who is registered to vote in North Carolina can vote an absentee-by-mail ballot or an absentee-in person ballot at an Early voting site in their county during the designated absentee voting periods before the day of the Election. Voters will be asked to show photo ID when voting in North Carolina.
🌐 pendercountync.gov
VR
Voter Search - NCSBE
Official Free
Search for voter details, including jurisdictions, polling place, sample ballot when available, absentee ballot information, and voter history · If you've tried the hints above and cannot find your registration, please contact your county board of elections.
🌐 vt.ncsbe.gov
RD
North Carolina Registers of Deeds – North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds
Official Free
North Carolina Registers of Deeds – North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds
🌐 ncard.us
BZ
North Carolina Secretary of State Business Registration ...
Business, Voter & Other
.gov

Business filing records for North Carolina. Officer and organizer names, where filed, are public in most states. Name availability checks run through the same search before new registrations.

WW
Pender Correctional Institution | NC DAC
Official Free
Custody roster covering Pender County — who is currently held, with booking dates. If a link breaks, the office homepage at dac.nc.gov carries the new path.
🌐 dac.nc.gov
LC
Request a Public Record | North Carolina Judicial Branch
Official Free
Find options to make a Judicial Branch records request depending on the type of record. Options may include online, by mail, or in person.
🌐 nccourts.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up court cases in Pender County?
Pender County court cases are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court. Search the Pender County | North Carolina Judicial Branch portal: https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/pender-county. For federal matters, see PACER.
Does an active warrant show up on a background check in North Carolina?
Yes. Active warrants in North Carolina appear on name-based criminal background checks through the North Carolina SBI system the moment they are entered. Some employers also run a separate NCIC warrant query, which catches federal warrants as well.
Are North Carolina marriage records public?
Marriage records in North Carolina are generally public — anyone can verify that a marriage occurred and request a non-certified copy. Certified copies (needed for legal purposes like name changes or immigration) may be restricted to the spouses, immediate family, or those with a court order.
Are Pender County records free to search?
Yes — every link on this page goes to an official government source. Basic searches are free. Certified copies and formal background checks carry the standard government fee.