A no-contact order in North Carolina, often called a 50C order, is a court order that protects victims of stalking or nonconsensual sexual conduct from someone they are not in a personal relationship with. Many people search for it as a restraining order in North Carolina, but the legal term is a civil no-contact order. You start the process by filing a verified complaint in district court, and state law does not charge a filing fee or a service fee.
The relationship between you and the other person decides which order you need. If the person who harmed you is a stranger, an acquaintance, a coworker, a neighbor, or a classmate, a 50C civil no-contact order under North Carolina General Statute Chapter 50C is the right tool. If the person is a current or former spouse, someone you live with or used to live with, a family member, a co-parent, or a dating partner, you would file for a domestic violence protective order under Chapter 50B instead. Both orders are filed in district court, can be obtained quickly in an emergency, and carry real consequences when violated, but the relationship decides which one applies.
What a 50C order is and who can get one
North Carolina created the civil no-contact order in 2004 to close a gap. Domestic violence protective orders under Chapter 50B were available only to people in a “personal relationship” with the abuser, leaving victims stalked or sexually assaulted by strangers, acquaintances, or coworkers without a comparable civil remedy. Chapter 50C filled that gap.
To qualify for a no-contact order in NC, two things must be true. First, you must be a victim of “unlawful conduct.” Second, the person who committed that conduct must not be someone you have a personal relationship with as defined in NCGS 50B-1(b).
Under NCGS 50C-1, unlawful conduct means one or both of the following committed by a person 16 years of age or older, and it does not include acts of self-defense or defense of others:
- Nonconsensual sexual conduct, including a single incident. Sexual conduct is any intentional or knowing touching, fondling, or sexual penetration, directly or through clothing, of another person’s sexual organs, anus, or breast for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal.
- Stalking, which the statute defines as following or otherwise harassing another person on more than one occasion, without legal purpose, with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for their safety or the safety of immediate family or close personal associates, or to cause substantial emotional distress by placing the person in fear of death, bodily injury, or continued harassment.
A victim can file on their own behalf, and a competent adult who lives in North Carolina can file for a minor child or an incompetent adult who is a victim.
How to file a no-contact order in North Carolina
You begin a 50C case by filing a verified complaint in district court, or a motion in an existing civil action. The unlawful conduct must have occurred in North Carolina. The process moves through these steps:
- File a verified complaint for a civil no-contact order in district court
- Ask the court for a temporary ex parte order if you face an immediate threat
- Have the summons and complaint served on the respondent by the sheriff
- Attend the hearing, where the court decides whether to enter a permanent order
- Request a renewal before the order expires if you still need protection
You can file in any county where you are permitted to file under NCGS 1-82, or in the county where the unlawful conduct took place. Under NCGS 50C-2, no court costs or attorneys’ fees are charged for filing or serving the complaint and orders, except for sanctions under Rule 11 for bad-faith filings.
State law also protects your address. If disclosing it would put you or a member of your household at risk of further unlawful conduct, it can be left off the documents you file, and you designate an alternative address for notices. 50C documents can also be filed electronically.
Temporary and permanent orders
A 50C case generally moves through two stages.
Temporary (ex parte) orders
When there is an immediate threat, the court can issue a temporary order without first notifying the other person, called an ex parte order. Under NCGS 50C-6, the court can grant it only when a verified complaint or affidavit shows specific facts that immediate injury will result before the respondent can be heard, and the complainant certifies why prior notice should not be required.
A temporary order is short term. It expires within a period the court sets, not to exceed 10 days, though the court can extend it for good cause or longer if the respondent consents. It must be filed immediately with the clerk and state why it was granted without notice.
You can also seek a temporary order when the court is not in session. In each county, the chief district court judge can designate a judge or magistrate to be available after hours, who can issue a temporary order on finding an immediate and present danger of harm.
Permanent orders
A “permanent” 50C order is not truly permanent. Under NCGS 50C-7, the court can issue one only after finding that you suffered unlawful conduct and that the respondent was properly served, has answered the complaint and received notice of the hearing, or is in default. No permanent order can be entered without notice to the respondent, who then has a chance to appear and respond.
The timing is set by statute. When an ex parte order is granted and you move for a permanent order, the hearing must be set within 10 days of the motion. When an ex parte order is denied, the trial must be set within 30 days of the denial.
Under NCGS 50C-8, a permanent order is effective for a fixed period not to exceed one year. You can renew it by filing a motion before it expires, and the court can extend it for good cause without requiring a new act of unlawful conduct.
Service and what the order can require
A summons must be served on the respondent, who then has 10 days to answer. The sheriff serves it by personal delivery, or by publication if the respondent cannot be located with due diligence. If the respondent is served but fails to answer or appear, the court can enter an order by default.
Under NCGS 50C-5, the order can require the respondent to do any combination of the following:
- Stop visiting, assaulting, molesting, or otherwise interfering with you
- Stop stalking you, including at your workplace
- Stop harassing you
- Not abuse or injure you
- Not contact you by telephone, written communication, or electronic means
- Stay away from your residence, school, place of employment, or other specified places when you are present
- Comply with any other relief the court finds necessary and appropriate, which can include assessing attorneys’ fees against either party
You do not have to prove physical injury to obtain a 50C order. The order must carry a conspicuous notice that a knowing violation is punishable as contempt of court under Chapter 5A, which can mean fines or jail time. If the respondent breaks the order, document it, keep a copy accessible, and report it.
50C versus 50B: choosing the right protection
The most common point of confusion in restraining order cases in North Carolina is which statute applies, and the line is the relationship between you and the other person. A 50B domestic violence protective order is for people in a personal relationship, and a 50C civil no-contact order is for everyone else. Because a 50B order grows out of a shared household, it can also reach issues a 50C order cannot, such as custody, the home, and firearms. The table below summarizes the main differences:
| Category | 50C Civil No-Contact Order | 50B Domestic Violence Protective Order |
|---|---|---|
| Who it covers | Strangers, acquaintances, coworkers, and neighbors. | Spouses, former partners, family members, co-parents, and household members. |
| Conduct it addresses | Stalking and nonconsensual sexual conduct. | Domestic violence, threats, attempts to injure, and certain sexual offenses. |
| Governing statute | NCGS Chapter 50C | NCGS Chapter 50B |
| Filing fee | None | None |
| Maximum duration | One year, renewable. | One year, renewable for up to two years. |
| Custody, home, and firearms | No | Yes |
Filing under the wrong statute can cost you time when time matters most. If you are unsure which category fits, that is a good question to bring to a family law attorney before you file.
Frequently asked questions about 50C orders in North Carolina
What is a 50C restraining order?
A 50C restraining order, more accurately called a civil no-contact order, is a North Carolina court order under Chapter 50C that protects victims of stalking or nonconsensual sexual conduct from someone they are not in a personal relationship with. It can order the other person to stop all contact, stay away from your home, school, and workplace, and cease stalking and harassment. It is meant for situations involving people outside your household or family, such as strangers, acquaintances, or coworkers.
What proof do you need for a no-contact order in North Carolina?
You need to show that you suffered unlawful conduct, meaning stalking or nonconsensual sexual conduct, committed by the respondent. Helpful evidence includes text messages, emails, social media activity, call logs, photographs, witness statements, police reports, and a dated written record of each incident. For stalking, you generally need conduct on more than one occasion. You do not have to prove physical injury, and a rape-shield protection generally keeps your prior sexual activity and reputation out of the proceeding.
How do you drop or dismiss a no-contact order in North Carolina?
If you filed the complaint and no longer want to pursue it, you can ask the court to dismiss the case, generally by filing a voluntary dismissal or withdrawing your request at the hearing. While an order is in effect, the respondent can also move to dissolve or modify it on short notice. Because dropping or changing an order affects your safety and the other party, it is worth speaking with an attorney first.
Talk with our team
Protective order cases move quickly, and choosing the right order at the start matters. Batch, Poore & Williams handles family law throughout North Carolina, including domestic violence protective orders and related protective matters. Every case is assigned a partner, associate, and paralegal from day one, so you work with experienced counsel rather than being passed between junior staff.
The North Carolina Judicial Branch publishes the official forms and a step-by-step overview on its How to Get a Protection Order page. If you have questions about which protective order fits your situation or how to prepare for a hearing, contact Batch, Poore & Williams at (919) 870-0466 to discuss your case.
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