Civil Division

The Office of Sheriff is written into North Carolina's Constitution and has the responsibility of serving legal processes. The Sheriff's duties and authority were carried over from the Common Law of England. Common Law carried forward until the need to specifically say how certain duties were to be performed, these changes were made through our General Statutes. Some of the Statutes that govern how deputies do their job date back to over 100 years ago. Several of these statues direct only the Sheriff and his deputies' the authority to serve or enforce certain legal processes.

Today, Civil Deputies handle many different duties, types of legal processes, and situations that vary from repetitious service to extremely complex orders. Each Civil Deputy must be BLET certified, sworn full time, must go to Basic Civil Process and Advanced Civil Process schools and complete training with a Field Training Officer. They continue training throughout their career and some are assigned specifically to the more complex process services. The Civil Division is divided into four groups:

Process Service

The Sergeant and three Deputies cover service of Subpoenas, Civil Summons, and Magistrate Summons, Orders to Show Cause, Juvenile Summons, Juvenile Orders, Child Custody Orders and Serving Involuntary Commitments. Transporting of Involuntary Commitments out of county is shared by all civil deputies

Execution of Writs (Enforcement of Court Orders)

A Corporal and one Deputy are responsible for the enforcement of judgments through the Evictions, Collection of Taxes, Money Owed, both Real and Personal Property, by seizing and returning the property to its rightful owner or by seizing and selling real and personal property for repayment of debt.

Domestic Violence Enforcement

One Deputy covers the service and enforcement of Chapter 50-B (Domestic Violence Protective Orders) and 50-C Orders (Non-Contact Order). In some orders, weapons must be seized, children are removed from parental custody and/or the defendant is temporarily removed from his or her residence.

Child Support Enforcement

A Corporal and one Deputy serve all Establishment Summons, Orders to Show Cause and Civil Orders for Arrest. These deputies work closely with the Randolph County Child Support Enforcement Agency case workers.