Carolina Investigative Research can provide county level civil record searches. Civil records are often located in different courts commonly referred to as Upper or Lower courts. In some states, these are referred to as Circuit or County courts. Upper level record searches involve monies from $5,000 and up, while Lower court, or Small Claims courts involve lesser sums in question. Divorce and marriage records may be found in Family or Domestic courts.

Civil law focuses on lawsuits in which one person sues another to recover money. Civil law is defined as a system of dispute resolution for private parties and government provided by the courts in a non-criminal setting. Civil litigation is the process by which individuals, businesses and governments resolve disputes that are neither criminal nor administrative concerning the payment of money, ownership and possession of property, marital obligations, the prevention of injury to a party, and declaration of rights and responsibilities of the various parties involved. Civil litigation tends to concern itself predominantly with the following areas of the law: contracts, torts, property, matrimonial, equity, and antitrust. (Weinstein, pg. 1-2)

Contract law is concerned with the wrongs or injuries arising from the violation of an obligation or duty created by consent of the parties involved.

Tort law involves private injuries or wrongs arising from a breach of duty created by law. Torts are harm done intentionally, negligently, and sometimes, even accidentally. Negligence is carelessness. Negligent wrongdoers do not mean to hurt others, but their lack of care results in harm despite their intentions. The general agreement is that those injured intentionally, negligently, and perhaps even accidentally should be compensated. Victims can be compensated for their injuries by tort action without branding the wrongdoers criminals.

Property law is concerned with the rights and responsibilities of ownership and possession of real personal property.

Matrimonial law involves the rights and responsibilities of marriage, divorce, custody of children, support and alimony, and division of marital property.

Equity law is concerned with providing relief and remedies for parties who would otherwise have no other recourse in law.

Antitrust law involves the protection of trade and commerce from monopolies, restraints of trade, and other anti-competitive schemes.