Beaufort County Genealogical Society
May Meeting
President – Ann Basnight
Vice-President – Terria Baynor
Treasurer – Louise Cowell
Corresponding Secretary – Mary Disharoon
Recording Secretary – Vernetta Lange
The Beaufort County Genealogical Society met at 7:00 p.m. on 5/6/03 in
the Office of the Clerk of Court with 29 members and guests present.
The minutes of the previous meeting and the treasurer’s report were
dispensed with.
Mr. Tom Payne related the general mission of the Clerk’s Office. The office is responsible for scheduling and
maintaining records of civil and criminal cases; probation of wills and
division of estates; ligitimation (establishing paternity); issuing passports;
assisting in child support collection; juvenile court cases and special
proceedings which includes land records, land disputes, name changes and
adoptions.
Of particular interest was the discussion of adoptions. The Clerk’s Office is essentially
responsible for processing paper work as required by law. When Social Services or an adoption agency
presents required and completed documents, the Clerk’s Office follows
regulations established by the Legislature, forwards appropriate forms to
Raleigh where a new birth certificated is issued reflecting the names of
adoptive parents. The original birth
certificate is then destroyed.
The civil and criminal records from 1996 forward are available on
computer in the office. Prior to 1996
records are in the log books also in the office. All records are on microfilm at Archives with 1 copy retained for
in-house use.
Most records are available for public use; some proceedings concerning
juveniles are closed to the public.
Mr. Payne requested that when we want to do research, let someone in the
office know who we are and what we’re doing.
He explained how to utilize the records available for public use and
assisted those present in researching the records until 8:30 p.m.
BCGS thanks him for adding to our “education”.
Respectfully submitted by Vernetta Lange –
Recording Secretary
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