Which North Carolina court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Magistrate (Small Claims) | Up to $10,000 | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-210 |
| Limited civil | District Court | Up to $25,000 | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-243 |
| General civil | Superior Court Over $25,000. | No limit | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-240 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 30 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (N.C. R. Civ. P. 12(a)).
Estimates from the statutory answer period; service-method extensions and local rules can change these dates. Verify before relying on them. Not legal advice.
19 North Carolina forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to North Carolina practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- 10-day demand for rent(pattern) N.C.G.S. § 42-3: pre-filing notice; verify service method
- Complaint in summary ejectment(pattern) N.C.G.S. ch. 42, art. 3: Small Claims (Magistrate); pattern of AOC-CVM-201
- Notice of Appearance(pattern) Appearance of counsel; service on undersigned requested
- Motion for Continuance(pattern) Good-cause continuance with proposed order
- Notice of Deposition(pattern) Oral deposition with optional duces tecum; recording method per rule
- Civil Subpoena(pattern) Testimony and/or production (duces tecum); issuance and witness-fee rules vary
- Answer(pattern) Responsive pleading: denials and affirmative defenses
- Satisfaction of Judgment(pattern) acknowledgment of satisfaction for entry on the docket
- Civil Summons (AOC-CV-100)NCRCP Rule 4: 30-day answer
- Civil Cover Sheet (AOC-CV-751)Required for case assignment
- Proof of ServiceNCRCP Rule 4: return of service
- Petition to Proceed as IndigentN.C.G.S. § 1-110: fee waiver
- Voluntary DismissalNCRCP Rule 41(a)
- Motion for Default JudgmentNCRCP Rule 55: 30-day default
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentProposed judgment for judge/clerk signature
- Notice of Right to Exemptions (AOC-CV-406)MANDATORY before execution: N.C.G.S. § 1C-1603
- Writ of ExecutionN.C.G.S. § 1-313: levy on property (no wage garnishment)
- Post-Judgment InterrogatoriesN.C.G.S. § 1-352.1: unlimited asset discovery
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a North Carolina matter typically needs at each stage.
Eviction: Notice & Filing
10-day demand for rent · Complaint in summary ejectment
General Civil
Civil Summons (AOC-CV-100) · Civil Cover Sheet (AOC-CV-751) · Proof of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Civil Summons (AOC-CV-100) · Civil Cover Sheet (AOC-CV-751) · Proof of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Satisfaction of Judgment · Notice of Right to Exemptions (AOC-CV-406) · Writ of Execution · Post-Judgment Interrogatories
Indigent Petition
Petition to Proceed as Indigent
Voluntary Dismissal
Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every North Carolina county are in the 1Court Directory: North Carolina.
How it works
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Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
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Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.