NC law lets many people clear or limit old records.
County next steps
Orange · Durham · Wake · North Carolina · Adults 18+
Orange County
Legal Aid — Central Carolina office
205 West Main Street, Suite 203, Carrboro, NC 27510
919-542-0475- Use the official office directory or application to ask about adult civil legal help in Orange County.
- Visits are by appointment; confirm the location, case type, and eligibility.
- Keep notices and deadlines; contacting an office does not pause a court or appeal deadline.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Durham County
Legal Aid — Durham office
411 West Chapel Hill Road, Suite 1A, Durham, NC 27701
919-688-6396- Ask about adult civil legal help for Durham County and whether the case is eligible.
- Confirm intake and appointment arrangements before visiting.
- Keep notices and deadlines; representation and case acceptance are not guaranteed.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Wake County
Legal Aid — Raleigh office
1425 Promise Beacon Circle, Suite 201, Raleigh
- Use Legal Aid’s official office directory or application to request adult civil legal help for Wake County.
- Confirm the current address, intake arrangements, and case eligibility before visiting.
- Do not wait past a court or appeal deadline while seeking representation.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Orange County
Orange County Courthouse
106 East Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC 27278
919-644-4500- Ask the clerk which office or form applies to the matter; court staff do not act as your lawyer.
- Confirm the hearing building, filing requirements, and deadlines from the notice.
- For a protective order or guardianship matter, use the official court instructions and seek legal advice.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Durham County
Durham County Courthouse
510 South Dillard Street, Durham, NC 27701
919-808-3000- Ask the clerk which office or form applies to the matter; court staff do not act as your lawyer.
- Confirm the hearing building, filing requirements, and deadlines from the notice.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Wake County
Wake County Courthouse
316 Fayetteville Street Mall, Raleigh, NC 27601
919-792-4000- Confirm the correct building: criminal matters may be at the Wake County Justice Center rather than this courthouse.
- Ask the clerk about forms, filing, and deadlines; court staff do not provide legal representation.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Key facts
- Dismissed charges and not-guilty verdicts are often expunged automatically (since 2021).
- Some nonviolent misdemeanors and felonies can be expunged after a waiting period, and NC allows more than one expunction in some cases.
- A Certificate of Relief can reduce job and housing barriers.
- Voting rights come back automatically once someone finishes their felony sentence, including probation or parole. People on misdemeanor sentences can vote.
- Free expunction clinics are run by Legal Aid and others.
Official sources
- NC Judicial Branch: Expunctions
- NC Judicial Branch: Certificate of Relief
- NC State Board of Elections: Voting with a criminal record
Last checked October 2026. Amounts and rules change, so confirm with the official source before sharing.