Lincoln County, North Carolina: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Lincoln County Small Claims Court (Magistrate) in Lincolnton. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claim limit varies by court. North Carolina return time: 30 calendar days or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $852. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Lincoln County Small Claims Court (Magistrate)
City	Lincolnton
Address	120 Justice Drive, Lincolnton, NC 28092
Phone	(704) 742-7800 (listed in the state court directory 2026-09-21; not confirmed by the court)
Hours	Monday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Tuesday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Wednesday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Thursday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday Closed; Sunday Closed
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
Small claims limit	$10,000 (statewide maximum for magistrate small claims; some counties set lower local limit (as low as $5,000)); $5,000 (some counties (local rules; confirm with clerk))
State deposit return deadline	30 calendar days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession of the premises to the landlord. 30 calendar days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. Applies when: landlord cannot determine the full claim within 30 days; interim accounting required by day 30. 60 calendar days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. Applies when: final accounting when full claim could not be determined within 30 days. 30 calendar days after termination when tenant address is unknown; landlord may apply deposit as permitted, then hold balance. Applies when: tenant address is unknown; balance must be held for collection by the tenant for at least six months.
Time limit to sue	3 years
Deposit statute	N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-50 to 42-56 (Tenant Security Deposit Act); principal return rule § 42-52

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $10,000 (statewide maximum for magistrate small claims; some counties set lower local limit (as low as $5,000)); $5,000 (some counties (local rules; confirm with clerk)).

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Details of the return rules

North Carolina statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
None of these; I'm waiting for my deposit and the landlord has my address	30 days	after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession of the premises to the landlord
The landlord sent that notice, so the final accounting is due within 60 days	60 days	after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession

North Carolina return rule: 30 calendar days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Lincoln County Small Claims Court (Magistrate). Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Lincoln County.
The North Carolina business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. North Carolina Secretary of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Lincoln County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$864	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
2	$852	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
3	$1,147	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
4	$1,633	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Lincoln County compare with other North Carolina counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $852: rank 45 of 99 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 21.5% of households rent in Lincoln County.

Lincoln County two-bedroom rent $852, rank 45 of 99 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Nash County	$878
Catawba County	$862
Lincoln County	$852
Alleghany County	$843
Avery County	$836
Duplin County	$833

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 99 of 100 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Lincoln County

Lincolnton
Maiden

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Legal Aid of North Carolina: Free civil legal assistance for eligible North Carolina tenants, including eviction and other housing problems. County names follow the office directory verbatim, including its spelling 'Cabbarus'.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Lincoln County?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in Lincoln County?

Lincoln County Small Claims Court (Magistrate) is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.