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How to Get a Domestic Violence Protective Order in North Carolina

Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · North Carolina · Last updated September 17, 2026

In North Carolina, a domestic violence protective order (DVPO), commonly called a 50B order after Chapter 50B of the General Statutes, is a civil court order that directs someone in a personal relationship with you to stop the abuse and stay away from you. You seek one when a current or former spouse, partner, household member, co-parent, or close relative has hurt you, threatened you, or put you in fear of serious harm. You start by filing a Complaint and Motion for Domestic Violence Protective Order (Form AOC-CV-303) in the district court division in the county where you live, where the defendant lives, or where the abuse happened. No court costs are charged for a protective order (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(a)). A judge can grant an ex parte temporary order the same day, without the other person present, if you show a danger of serious and immediate injury (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(c)). A hearing is then held within 10 days of the order, or within 7 days of service, whichever is later. At the hearing the judge decides whether to enter a final DVPO, which lasts for a fixed period of up to one year and can be renewed for up to two years (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-3(b)). If you are in immediate danger, call 911; the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233. Attorney review of your petition is available through DocDraft.

Find out where you stand in North Carolina

Where are you in getting a restraining order?

DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.

How do I get a domestic violence protective order in North Carolina?

File a Complaint and Motion for Domestic Violence Protective Order (Form AOC-CV-303) in the district court in your county. There are no court costs (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(a)). A judge can grant a same-day ex parte order, and a hearing is set within about 10 days.

How long does it take to get a restraining order in North Carolina?

A judge can issue an ex parte temporary DVPO the same day you file, without the other person present, if you show a danger of serious and immediate injury (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(c)). A full hearing is then held within 10 days of the order, or 7 days after service, whichever is later.

How long does a domestic violence protective order last in North Carolina?

An ex parte temporary order lasts only until your hearing, held within about 10 days. After the hearing, a final DVPO can last for a fixed period of up to one year (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-3(b)). You can ask the court to renew it for up to two more years before it expires.

Which court handles restraining orders in North Carolina?

You file in the district court division of the General Court of Justice, in the county where you live, where the defendant lives, or where the abuse happened. The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides the forms and self-help guidance for filing a domestic violence protective order without a lawyer.

North Carolina protective order law at a glance

In North Carolina, a domestic violence protective order (DVPO), often called a 50B order, is a civil court order that requires someone in a personal relationship with you to stop the abuse and stay away, under N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 50B. You ask for one by filing a Complaint and Motion for Domestic Violence Protective Order (Form AOC-CV-303) in the district court, and no court costs are charged (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(a)). A judge can grant an ex parte temporary order the same day, without notice to the defendant, if you show a danger of serious and immediate injury (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(c)). A hearing follows within 10 days, or 7 days after service, whichever is later. A final DVPO lasts up to one year and can be renewed for up to two years (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-3(b)).

Getting a North Carolina DVPO after threats from a former partner

Suppose your former partner in North Carolina, someone you used to live with, has been showing up at your home and sending threatening messages. You complete a Complaint and Motion for a Domestic Violence Protective Order (Form AOC-CV-303), describe the threats with dates, and file it in district court at no cost (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(a)). That day, a judge signs an ex parte temporary DVPO because you show a danger of immediate injury (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(c)), and a hearing is set within 10 days. The sheriff serves your former partner for free. At the hearing you show the screenshots and testify. The judge enters a one-year DVPO ordering no contact and to stay away (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-3(b)). You keep a copy with you and calendar the expiration to renew. Attorney review of your petition is available through DocDraft.

Relevant Laws

N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(c) (ex parte temporary order and hearing)

Allows a district court judge to issue an ex parte protective order when there is a danger of acts of domestic violence, and requires a hearing within 10 days from issuance of the order or within seven days from service of process on the other party, whichever occurs later.

N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(a) (no court costs)

Provides that no court costs or attorneys' fees shall be assessed for the filing, issuance, registration, or service of a protective order or petition for a protective order or witness subpoena, in compliance with the Violence Against Women Act.

N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-3(b) (duration and renewal)

Provides that protective orders entered under this Chapter shall be for a fixed period of time not to exceed one year, and that the court may renew a protective order for a fixed period of time not to exceed two years, upon a motion by the aggrieved party filed before the order expires.

N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-1 (domestic violence and personal relationship)

Defines domestic violence as certain acts committed by a person with whom the aggrieved party has a personal relationship, including attempting to cause or intentionally causing bodily injury, or placing a person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury or continued harassment causing substantial emotional distress.

Regional Variances

North Carolina protective order rules at a glance

Order name

Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVPO), often called a 50B order, issued under N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 50B. A separate 50C civil no-contact order covers stalking or harassment by someone you do not have a personal relationship with.

Where to file

The district court division of the General Court of Justice, in the county where you live, where the defendant lives, or where the abuse occurred. No court costs are charged for a protective order (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(a)).

Emergency and temporary orders

A district court judge can issue an ex parte temporary DVPO the same day you file, without the defendant present, if you show a danger of serious and immediate injury. A hearing follows within 10 days, or 7 days after service, whichever is later (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(c)).

Final order duration

After a hearing, a final DVPO lasts for a fixed period of up to one year and can be renewed for a fixed period of up to two years, upon a motion filed before it expires (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-3(b)).

Main form

Form AOC-CV-303, Complaint and Motion for Domestic Violence Protective Order, followed by AOC-CV-304 (ex parte order) and AOC-CV-306 (final DVPO). Forms are free through the North Carolina Judicial Branch.

Suggested Compliance Checklist

Complete the Complaint and Motion for a DVPO (AOC-CV-303)

As soon as possible after the abuse days after starting

Fill out Form AOC-CV-303, describing your personal relationship with the defendant and each act of abuse with dates, and ask for an ex parte temporary order if you need same-day protection. Use the free North Carolina Judicial Branch forms. Attorney review of your petition is available through DocDraft.

File your complaint with the clerk of court

Same day you finish the forms days after starting

File Form AOC-CV-303 with the clerk of superior court in the county where you live, where the defendant lives, or where the abuse occurred. There are no court costs (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(a)). Ask the clerk when a district court judge will review your ex parte request.

Get and carry the ex parte temporary order

Same day the judge signs it days after starting

If the judge grants an ex parte temporary DVPO (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(c)), get the signed AOC-CV-304 and keep a copy with you. It protects you until your hearing, which is set within 10 days of the order or 7 days after service.

Confirm the sheriff served the defendant

Before the hearing days after starting

The sheriff serves the defendant with your complaint, any ex parte order, and the notice of hearing at no cost to you (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(a)). Confirm service was completed, because the judge needs it to enter a final DVPO at the hearing.

Attend the hearing with your evidence

On the hearing date in your notice days after starting

Go to the hearing and bring photos, messages, and any witnesses. Both sides can testify, and the judge decides whether to enter a final DVPO (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-3(a)). If you miss the hearing, your ex parte order can expire without a final order.

Track the expiration and renew if needed

Before the order expires (up to 1 year out) days after starting

A final DVPO lasts for a fixed period of up to one year (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-3(b)). Calendar the expiration date and file a motion to renew before it ends. The court may renew a protective order for a fixed period of up to two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. North Carolina charges no court costs for a domestic violence protective order. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(a) provides that no court costs or attorneys' fees shall be assessed for the filing, issuance, registration, or service of a protective order. The sheriff also serves the defendant at no cost to you.

Before a full hearing, a district court judge can grant an ex parte temporary DVPO the same day you file, without the defendant present, if you show a danger of serious and immediate injury (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-2(c)). It protects you until the hearing, which is set within about 10 days.

You can file if you have a personal relationship with the abuser. That includes a current or former spouse, someone you live or lived with, a person you have a child with, a current or former dating partner, or a parent, child, or grandparent. For abuse by someone outside these relationships, you would use a 50C civil no-contact order instead.

You start with Form AOC-CV-303, the Complaint and Motion for Domestic Violence Protective Order, and ask for an ex parte order if you need same-day protection. If granted, the judge signs AOC-CV-304 (ex parte order) and later AOC-CV-306 (the final DVPO). The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides these forms free.

At the hearing, both you and the defendant can attend, present evidence, and testify. The judge decides whether an act of domestic violence occurred and, if so, what protection to order, such as no contact and stay-away terms (N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-3(a)). If the defendant was served and does not appear, the judge can still enter the order.

Yes. A final DVPO lasts for a fixed period of up to one year, and you can move to renew it before it expires. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-3(b) lets the court renew a protective order for a fixed period of up to two years, upon a motion filed before the current order expires.

Violating a DVPO is a crime in North Carolina. Call the police, who can arrest the defendant, and the court can also hold the person in contempt. Some knowing violations are a Class A1 misdemeanor, and repeat or armed violations can be charged as felonies. Keep a copy of your order with you and report every violation.

No. North Carolina lets you seek a domestic violence protective order on your own, and the Judicial Branch provides free forms and self-help guidance. Many people file pro se, especially for an ex parte order. Legal help can be useful if the case is contested or the defendant has an attorney.

Other North Carolina guides

Asset Protection Planning in North Carolina (2026)

Dealing With Debt Collectors in North Carolina (2026)

Expunging a Criminal Record in North Carolina (2026)

Filing a Workplace Harassment Complaint in North Carolina

Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in North Carolina (2026)

Firing an Employee in North Carolina (2026)

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