Criminal and family cases from anywhere in Durham County are heard at the Durham County Courthouse, 510 South Dillard Street in downtown Durham. The District Attorney for Prosecutorial District 16 has offices on the eighth floor of the same building. Our Raleigh office serves Durham clients for DWI, criminal charges, divorce, and custody. Call (919) 925-4613.
Durham County Criminal Defense and Family Lawyers
Charged with a crime or headed to family court in Durham County?
 Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free. En español: (704) 764-1518.
Tell us about your Durham County case
QUICK ANSWER
Criminal and family cases from anywhere in Durham County are heard at the Durham County Courthouse, 510 South Dillard Street. Our Raleigh office serves Durham clients for DWI, criminal charges, divorce, and custody. Call (919) 925-4613. Criminal: Free consultation with our Director of Client Engagement.
Durham County court quick facts
| Courthouse | Durham County Courthouse, 510 South Dillard St, Durham, NC 27701. Main number (919) 808-3000. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Prosecutor | District Attorney, Prosecutorial District 16, 510 South Dillard St, 8th Floor |
| Court districts | Prosecutorial, Superior Court, and District Court District 16 |
| Traffic court | Administrative Traffic Court, 3rd floor traffic courtroom, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
| Recovery courts | Adult and mental health treatment courts (per the NC Judicial Branch) |
| Family court office | Durham Family Court, (919) 808-3015 |
| Our serving office | Raleigh office, 8024 Glenwood Ave, Suite 317 |
Check your exact court date and courtroom on the eCourts Portal. Courthouse details are from the North Carolina Judicial Branch and were current as of October 2026.
Going to court in Durham County
Everyone enters the Durham County Courthouse through the main entrance at 510 South Dillard Street. There is a parking deck next to the courthouse with accessible spaces on every level, and accessible entry to the building from the deck’s third level. A ramp is available on the Mangum Street side. If you need a spoken or sign language interpreter, Trial Court Administration arranges one, and you should ask ahead of time.
Durham’s Administrative Traffic Court runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the scheduled date, and you can arrive any time in that window. It is not a trial court, and the officer who wrote the ticket will not be there. To plead not guilty and contest the ticket, you or your lawyer must appear and have a trial date set for when the officer can attend.
Because the courthouse, the clerk, and the District Attorney’s office share one building, most Durham criminal cases move through a single location from first appearance to trial. That makes preparation simpler, but crowded calendars still mean long mornings. We tell clients what to expect for their courtroom before they arrive.
What happens after an arrest in Durham County
- Arrest and release. After an arrest by Durham Police, the Durham County Sheriff, or the Highway Patrol, a magistrate sets release conditions.
- First appearance at 510 South Dillard. Misdemeanor, DWI, and felony first appearances are held in District Court courtrooms in the county courthouse.
- Evidence review and negotiation. We review body camera video, reports, and lab results, and negotiate with District 16 prosecutors.
- Resolution or trial. Misdemeanors are tried before a judge, with an appeal right to Superior Court. Felonies are indicted and heard in Durham County Superior Court.
If you or a family member was just arrested, call (919) 925-4613 now. Have the person’s full name, date of birth, and the charge from the paperwork ready.
Criminal charges we defend in Durham County
Family law in Durham County
Durham family cases, including divorce, custody, child support, and property division, are filed in District Court at the Durham County Courthouse. Durham operates a Family Court office that assigns case managers; keep your file number, such as 00-CVD-0123, handy when you call them. Contested custody cases generally go to custody mediation before a hearing. Our Raleigh family law team handles Durham County divorce and custody cases.
Your Durham County legal team
Durham County clients work with our Raleigh office team.
Where to find us
Martine Law, Raleigh office
8024 Glenwood Ave, Suite 317
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 925-4613Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free.
Durham County FAQs
Where is the Durham County courthouse?
The Durham County Courthouse is at 510 South Dillard Street in downtown Durham, and it is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Criminal, traffic, and family cases are heard there. The District Attorney’s office is on the 8th floor. A parking deck sits next to the courthouse, with accessible entry from its third level.
Do I have to go to Durham traffic court in person?
Not always. Durham says you may appear in Administrative Traffic Court yourself or hire a lawyer to appear for you. Court runs 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The officer will not be there, so if you want to contest the ticket, a trial date must be set. Criminal traffic charges, like DWI, work differently.
Who prosecutes criminal cases in Durham County?
The District Attorney for Prosecutorial District 16 prosecutes criminal cases in Durham County. The office is on the 8th floor of the courthouse at 510 South Dillard Street. Assistant district attorneys are assigned to courtrooms, and plea offers come from them. Your lawyer negotiates directly with the prosecutor handling your courtroom and charge.
How do I reach Durham Family Court about my case?
Durham’s Family Court office can be reached at (919) 808-3015 during business hours, and your assigned case manager is your contact. Have your file number ready; it appears in the upper right corner of your court papers. Case managers can explain scheduling, but they cannot give legal advice about your custody or support case.
Can I make a partial payment on a Durham County fine?
No. Durham County’s payment page says payments must be for the full amount and partial payments are not accepted. Payments must be verified by the judgment section before the Cashier’s Office accepts them. For more information, call the Clerk of Superior Court’s office at (919) 560-6842. If you cannot pay in full, talk to a lawyer about your options before your deadline.
What court districts cover Durham County?
Durham County is its own district at each level of the court system: Prosecutorial District 16, Superior Court District 16, and District Court District 16, according to the North Carolina Judicial Branch. Misdemeanors, DWI, and family cases are heard in District Court. Felony trials happen in Superior Court.
How do I mail a payment to the Durham County court?
If you are eligible to pay by mail, send a money order or certified check payable to the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court, Durham County Courthouse, 510 S. Dillard Street, Durham, NC 27701. Include your citation number. Cash and personal checks are not accepted by mail.
Nearby counties
We also serve these nearby counties: Wake County criminal defense, Orange County criminal defense, Johnston County criminal defense, Guilford County criminal defense, Granville County criminal defense, Person County criminal defense, Chatham County criminal defense.
City pages: Durham, Chapel Hill.
See every county served by our Raleigh office.
This page provides general information about North Carolina law and local courts. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Court locations, hours, and procedures change; confirm details with the court or with us. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.