Chapel Hill has its own courthouse at 179 East Franklin Street, part of the Orange County court system based in Hillsborough. Most of the town is in Orange County, but a small part lies in Durham County, where cases go to the Durham County Courthouse. Our Raleigh office serves Chapel Hill clients. Call (919) 925-4613. Phones and chat answered 24/7.
Chapel Hill Criminal Defense Lawyers
Arrested or charged in Chapel Hill?
 Phones and chat answered 24/7. En español: (704) 764-1518.
Tell us about your Chapel Hill case
Which courthouse hears a Chapel Hill case
| Orange County part (most of town) | Chapel Hill Courthouse, 179 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekdays; or the Orange County Courthouse, 106 E Margaret Ln, Hillsborough, (919) 644-4500 |
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| Durham County part | Durham County Courthouse, 510 S Dillard St, Durham, NC 27701, (919) 808-3000 |
The county is set by where the offense happened. Check your court date and courtroom on the eCourts Portal. Court details are from the North Carolina Judicial Branch, current as of October 2026.
Police agencies in Chapel Hill
| Chapel Hill Police Department | Headquarters moved to 7300 Millhouse Rd, Suite 150, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (the former Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. building closed). Phone (919) 968-2760. |
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| Campus | UNC-Chapel Hill has its own police department. A campus arrest is still an Orange County criminal case. |
| Carrboro | Carrboro has a separate police department; Carrboro cases are also Orange County cases. |
Agency details are from each agency’s official website as of October 2026. In an emergency, call 911.
What to know about a Chapel Hill charge
Being charged in Chapel Hill does not always mean court in Chapel Hill. Orange County hears cases both at the Chapel Hill Courthouse on East Franklin Street and at the main courthouse in Hillsborough, and the setting on your paperwork controls. If your offense happened in the small Durham County part of town, the case goes to Durham.
For UNC students, a charge like underage possession, a fake ID, or DWI can also start a university conduct process. Parents often call us first. We help the student plan for both before any statement is made, and explain options such as deferred prosecution that can lead to dismissal.
DWI checking stations
North Carolina law (G.S. 20-16.3A) lets officers run DWI checking stations, but only under a written policy and a pattern for which vehicles are stopped that is set in advance. A checkpoint that does not follow those rules can be challenged in court.
Police video
Body camera and dash camera video is not a public record in North Carolina. Under G.S. 132-1.4A, a person shown in a recording may ask the agency to let them view it, and getting a copy released requires a court order. A defense lawyer can ask the court to order release when the video matters to the case.
Areas we serve
We represent people from across Chapel Hill.
For county court details, recovery courts, and family law, see our Orange County and Durham County pages.
Family law
Our Raleigh family law team handles divorce, custody, and support cases for Chapel Hill families.
Your Chapel Hill legal team
Chapel Hill clients work with our Raleigh office team.
Where to find us
Martine Law, Raleigh office
8024 Glenwood Ave, Suite 317
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 925-4613, phones and chat answered 24/7
Chapel Hill FAQs
Is my Chapel Hill case in Chapel Hill or Hillsborough?
Orange County hears cases at both the Chapel Hill Courthouse, 179 East Franklin Street, and the Orange County Courthouse in Hillsborough. Your citation, summons, or the eCourts Portal shows which. Offenses in the Durham County part of Chapel Hill go to the Durham County Courthouse instead.
Where is the Chapel Hill Police Department now?
The town reports that police headquarters moved to 7300 Millhouse Road, Suite 150, and that the former building on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard closed. The phone number is (919) 968-2760. Confirm the location before going in person for a report or property.
My child is a UNC student charged in Chapel Hill. What should we do?
Keep the paperwork, ask your child not to discuss the facts with police or university officials yet, and call a lawyer. Many first offenses may qualify for deferred prosecution or a conditional discharge, which can lead to dismissal. A lawyer can also prepare your child for any conduct meeting.
More local information
County page: Orange County and Durham County.
Nearby cities: Durham.
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.