 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
What is the AOC?
The Administrative Office of the Courts was created when the courts were unified in
1963. The primary functions of the AOC include providing support to court officials
statewide, administering the budget for the entire judicial branch of government, and
providing public information about the court system. If you have access to the internet, the General Assembly’s home page will provide
this information for you. (
Who can I contact if I have a problem receiving child support payments?
Effective October 1, 1999, all child support payments that were previously paid to the
Clerks of Court for North Carolina will be paid to a centralized child support collection
center which is maintained by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
The centralization of child support collection was developed in accordance with state and
federal law, and it is anticipated that it will allow for more efficient and timely
collection and distribution of child support. The Clerks of Superior Court will no longer
accept child support payments. The Department of Health and Human Services has created a
website to share information with the public about the new automated system it is using to
collect child support. Please visit the site for more information:
Please direct all collections inquiries to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Child Support Enforcement Central Collections office by emailing them at CSE.Central.Collect@ncmail.net or by calling toll free 1-877-531-1818; 1-800-735-2962 (TTY); or in the Raleigh area at 919-881-2346.
What is the difference between District Court and Superior Court?
District Courts are the entry level trial court, and the proper division for civil
cases involving less than $10,000, all juvenile matters, and criminal cases involving
infractions or misdemeanors. If the parties involved in the case do not object, District
Court can conduct civil jury trials, or hear civil matters with more than $10,000 in
controversy. However, Superior Court is the proper division for civil cases involving more
than $10,000, as well as all felony criminal cases. Both courts have jurisdiction over
cases regardless of the amount of money in controversy. Public terminals at the offices of most Clerks of Superior Court (in each county) are
available and will allow you to conduct these types of searches. Criminal Calendars are set by the District Attorney's office in each district. Copies
are distributed by the Clerk of Superior Court in each county. It is possible to conduct a
search of criminal calendars for some districts at the following AOC web site:
http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/public/html/trial_courts.htm Contact the North Carolina State Bar. The State Bar handles attorney complaints and, in
appropriate cases, will pursue grievances against attorneys. The number is (919) 828-4620.
**Note: The law imposes time limits within which you must take certain actions. You
therefore should contact an attorney immediately if you have any questions concerning your
legal rights and remedies. If your complaint is about a public defender, you should
first contact the Public Defender in your district. Contact the Judicial Standards Committee. The Commission handles complaints regarding
judges and, in appropriate cases, will pursue grievances against judges. The number is
(919) 733-2690. The mailing address is Post Office Box 1122, Raleigh, NC 27602. **Note:
The law imposes time limits within which you must take certain actions. You therefore
should contact an attorney immediately if you have any questions concerning your legal
rights and remedies. A complaint may be filed with the Chief District Court Judge in the District where the
magistrate works. For more information about magistrates, visit the homepage of the North
Carolina Magistrate's Association, at
How do I file a complaint about the conditions of the local jail?
Local jails are managed by the individual county and not the State of NC; a complaint
should be filed with the Sheriff and the County Manager of the particular county. The Administrative Office of the Courts cannot give legal advice to the public. You
should contact an attorney. If you need an attorney referral, you can contact the North
Carolina Bar Association Lawyer Referral at 1-800-662-7660. Or, you may contact the local
legal services office. To find the local legal services office in your area contact Legal
Services of North Carolina (LSNC) at (919) 856-2564.
How can I become a foreign language interpreter for the court system?
The Administrative Office of the Courts has secured grant funds from the IOLTA Board of
the North Carolina State Bar and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation for a statewide Foreign
Language Services Project that will aid in certifying skilled, professional interpreters
to work in our court system. Unfortunately, we are not accepting applications for interpreters at this time. For more information, please access these documents or the
National Center for State Courts' web site :
Guidelines for the use of Foreign Language
Interpreting and Translating Services in the Court System
Please visit our Foreign Language Services website at: "http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/public/aoc/f_lang_services.htm"
Where can I find information on legal rights for the developmentally disabled?
Information on the legal rights for the developmentally disabled can be found by calling Carolina Legal Assistance at (919) 856-2195.
Contact the Register of Deeds' offices of county in which the license or certificate was issued.
Some AOC forms are currently available for download at
AOC staff are currently working to make more forms available online.
