English
EspañolWhat are the steps involved with getting a civil no-contact order?
The steps to get a civil no-contact order are similar to the steps to get a domestic violence protective order. If you have any questions, call the clerk of court. You can find the contact information for your courthouse’s clerk on the NC Courthouse Locations page .
In general, you have to file a complaint for a civil no-contact order in the district court in the county where you live, in the county where the abuser/stalker lives, or in the county where the unlawful conduct took place.1 Service upon the respondent will be done via “personal service” by the sheriff’s department. If the sheriff cannot locate the respondent, s/he can be served by publication, which is explained in the law in subsection (j)(1).2 The respondent has the option of filing a written answer with the court to respond to your allegations in the complaint within ten days of service. If s/he does not answer and does not appear in court, the judge may grant you the order on “default.”3
1 NCGS § 50C-2(a)
2 NCGS §§ 50C-3(b); 1A-4(j)
3 NCGS § 50C-3(a), (c)
