Restraining Orders

A civil no-contact order (also known as a 50C order), is a court order that aims to protect you from unwanted sexual conduct or stalking by someone you do NOT have an intimate or familial relationship with¹ (such as an acquaintance, co-worker, neighbor, or stranger).  If you have one of the intimate or familial relationships with the offender that is described in Who can get a domestic violence protection order (DVPO)?, then you would need to file for a domestic violence protective order (DVPO), not a civil no-contact order.

In a civil no-contact order, a judge can order the abuser or stalker to stop all nonconsensual sexual conduct, to stop stalking you and to stay away from you.²  You may receive a temporary order, which will last until you can have a full court hearing (usually within 10 days)³ and a permanent order, which will last up to one year.⁴

¹ NCGS § 50C-1(8)
² NCGS § 50C-5(b)
³ NCGS § 50C-6(b)(4)
⁴ NCGS § 50C-8(b)