NC DVPO Domestic Violence / DVPO
How Chapter 50B protective orders work — who can file, ex parte vs. full hearings, firearms, and renewals.
Child Custody
Legal vs. physical custody, the best-interest standard, temporary vs. permanent orders, mediation, modification.
Child Support
The income-shares model, Worksheets A/B/C, the 123-overnight rule — plus a full calculator you can use now.
How to File
Step-by-step: what to file, where, fees and waivers, e-filing, and what to bring — tailored by county.
Served With a DVPO?
The respondent's guide: the fast hearing timeline, no-contact rules, firearms, consent orders, evidence, and your options.
Renewals & Modification
Good cause after Roy v. Martin, two-year renewals, § 50B-3(b2) modification, expiration, and firearms return.
Case Law
Key North Carolina appellate principles on DVPOs, custody, and support — with statutory anchors.
Statutes
The core statutes: Chapter 50B (DV) and Chapter 50 (custody & support), summarized and linked.
Clear answers for North Carolina families — starting in Wake County
Domestic-violence and family-law cases move fast and the paperwork is unforgiving. This guide explains North Carolina law in plain language, walks you through filing, and gives you working tools so you can understand your options before you walk into the courthouse. Use the County selector to load local court details; we start with Wake County and are expanding statewide.
Your county: Wake County
- Courthouse
- Wake County Courthouse, 316 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, NC 27601
- DVPO filing
- Room 527, 5th floor
- Filing hours
- 8:30am–3:30pm weekdays
- DV advocacy
- InterAct of Wake County
⚠️ This county's local details are a preview — confirm the room, hours, and e-filing process with the Clerk of Court.
Facing a false or exaggerated allegation?
Protective orders exist to keep people safe — and they do vital work. But the same tools can be misused to win an advantage in a custody or housing dispute. If you believe you've been falsely or unfairly accused, the worst thing you can do is panic or go silent. Understand the process, document everything, assert your rights, and get the right help.
This site supports due process for the wrongly accused. It is not a guide to evading accountability for real abuse. If you've harmed someone, get help. If you're in danger, call 911 or the National DV Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.