North Carolina Form AOC-CV-630 is the Domestic Violence Order of Protection (DVPO) that a North Carolina district court judge signs after a Chapter 50B hearing to legally restrain an abuser, set custody, address firearms, and protect a victim and their children. The form is issued by the court under N.C.G.S. Chapter 50B, and once signed it carries the full force of state law and federal full-faith-and-credit under the Violence Against Women Act.
The current revision in circulation is the Rev. 12/2023 version, and you should always confirm you are using the latest revision posted on the NC Judicial Branch forms page before filing or relying on a copy. According to the NC Administrative Office of the Courts annual statistical reports, North Carolina courts process roughly 30,000 Chapter 50B filings every year, and clerks report that around 1 in 5 ex parte petitions are rejected or delayed because the companion paperwork is filled in wrong.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📝 What every box, finding, and order field on AOC-CV-630 actually means in plain English
- ⚖️ How a judge fills it out and how plaintiffs and defendants should read it
- 👨👩👧 Three real-world walkthroughs with named filers and exact entries
- 🔫 How the firearm surrender boxes trigger federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8)
- 🚨 The mistakes, deadlines, and penalties that decide whether your order holds up
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form AOC-CV-630 is the final Domestic Violence Order of Protection entered after a noticed hearing in North Carolina district court. It is the order the judge signs at the end of the case, after the ex parte (emergency) order has expired or been replaced. The form is governed by N.C.G.S. § 50B-3, which gives the court authority to grant relief such as no-contact, exclusive possession of a residence, custody and visitation orders, child support, firearm surrender, and counseling.
The judge is the person who technically completes and signs AOC-CV-630, but the plaintiff (the victim) drives the case by filing the upstream complaint on Form AOC-CV-303. The plaintiff must be an “aggrieved party” who has a personal relationship with the defendant under N.C.G.S. § 50B-1(b), meaning a current or former spouse, a person of the opposite sex with whom the plaintiff lives or has lived, a household member, a parent, a child, a grandparent, a current or former dating partner, or someone with a child in common.
The defendant is the alleged abuser, and once AOC-CV-630 is entered against them they are subject to criminal arrest for any violation under N.C.G.S. § 50B-4.1. The order also triggers a federal firearm prohibition under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) for as long as it is in effect, which is why the firearm boxes on the form matter so much. Attorneys, victim advocates from agencies like Legal Aid of North Carolina, and pro se plaintiffs all read AOC-CV-630 closely because every checked box changes what conduct is criminal going forward.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Even though the judge signs AOC-CV-630, the plaintiff supplies almost all of the underlying facts and identifiers that go onto the form. Showing up to court without these will cause the judge to leave fields blank or check the wrong relief box. Use this pre-filing checklist before your 50B hearing.
- Full legal names of plaintiff and defendant. The clerk and the NCAWARE warrant system cross-check names, and a misspelling can stop law enforcement from enforcing the order.
- Defendant’s date of birth, race, sex, height, weight, and eye color. These identifiers populate the law-enforcement information block on page 1 so a deputy who stops the defendant can confirm identity.
- Current addresses for plaintiff, defendant, and any minor children. If you need address confidentiality, request the NC Address Confidentiality Program substitute address before the hearing.
- The county and file number of any existing 50B or custody case. Conflicting orders are the number-one reason DVPOs get modified on appeal.
- A list of firearms, ammunition, and gun permits the defendant owns. This drives the firearm surrender section and the issuance of AOC-CV-312.
- Names and dates of birth of minor children. Required for any custody or visitation paragraph.
- A written timeline of the abuse incidents. The judge uses this to draft the Findings of Fact section, and vague timelines lead to vague findings that are easier for the defendant to appeal.
- Any photos, texts, medical records, or police reports. These attach to the file and support the findings the judge checks on AOC-CV-630.
- Employer and school addresses for the plaintiff and the children. These populate the “stay away” distance boxes.
- A safety plan and a safe mailing address. The clerk will use this for service confirmation and any follow-up notices.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
AOC-CV-630 is hosted on the NC Judicial Branch forms library as a fillable PDF, and it is also stocked in paper form at every county Clerk of Superior Court office. You do not have to print the form yourself for a 50B case, because the clerk’s office and the judge’s chambers keep blank originals on hand for hearings.
If you are a plaintiff filing the underlying complaint, you will pick up the full Chapter 50B packet at the Clerk of Court, which bundles AOC-CV-303 (Complaint and Motion), AOC-CV-304 (Ex Parte DVPO), AOC-CV-306 (Civil Summons), and AOC-CV-630. Many counties also accept electronic filing through File & Serve / eCourts in the counties that have rolled out the Odyssey system.
Victim service agencies such as NCCADV and Legal Aid of North Carolina keep walk-in advocates who can hand you the form, help you draft your statement, and sit with you while you complete the packet. The form is free, the filing is free under N.C.G.S. § 50B-2(a), and no sheriff service fee is charged for Chapter 50B service.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out AOC-CV-630 Line by Line
The form is two pages of pre-printed boxes plus continuation pages for findings and relief. The judge moves top to bottom, left to right, but each field has its own logic, nuance, and consequence. Below is every field broken down at a 9th-grade level.
Caption: County, File Number, and Court Division
This is the top banner of the form. It tells the world which court owns the case and how to find it in the record.
The county block is where the name of the North Carolina county is written, such as Wake or Mecklenburg. Write the county in ALL CAPS to match how the clerk indexes the file. The file number is preprinted by the clerk when the complaint is filed, and it follows the YY-CVD-##### format, such as 26-CVD-04217. The “CVD” stands for civil district, which is the division that hears 50B cases.
A real entry looks like this for plaintiff Renee Carter in Wake County: WAKE in the county box and 26-CVD-04217 in the file number box. A nuance to watch for is that a refiled case after a dismissal gets a brand-new file number, not the old one, so always copy the number from the most recent stamped pleading.
A common mistake is leaving the file number blank because the plaintiff thinks the clerk will fill it in later. If it is left blank when the judge signs, the order can be entered against the wrong case and law enforcement cannot find it in NCAWARE. A misconception is that the county on the form must match the plaintiff’s home county, but venue under N.C.G.S. § 50B-2(a) can also be the county where the defendant lives or where the abuse happened.
Plaintiff and Defendant Name Block
The form prints “Name And Address Of Plaintiff” on the left and “Name And Address Of Defendant” on the right. This block identifies the two parties for the rest of the order.
Enter the plaintiff’s full legal name as it appears on a driver’s license or birth certificate, in First Middle Last order. Use a mailing address that is safe to publish, because the file is a public record. A specific example is Renee Marie Carter, 4421 Oak Hollow Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604 on the plaintiff side and Daniel Lee Carter, 118 Pinecrest Road, Cary, NC 27513 on the defendant side.
A nuance comes up when the plaintiff lives in a shelter or fears disclosure. In that case the plaintiff should use a P.O. box, the shelter’s business address, or an Address Confidentiality Program substitute address, and the judge will note the confidential address under seal.
A common mistake is writing a nickname like Danny Carter instead of the legal name Daniel Lee Carter. The wrong name in this box makes the order harder to enforce because a deputy running a license check sees the legal name and not the nickname. A misconception is that the plaintiff must list a current home address, but North Carolina law allows the plaintiff to withhold the address when safety is at stake.
Defendant Identifier Block (Race, Sex, DOB, Height, Weight, Eyes, Hair, SSN)
This block sits under the defendant’s name and is the law enforcement identifier panel.
Fill in each field with the defendant’s known identifiers using the abbreviations printed on the form, such as W/M for white male, B/F for Black female, and so on. Date of birth uses MM/DD/YYYY. A real example is W/M, DOB 07/14/1986, 6‘01”, 210 lbs, BRN eyes, BLK hair, SSN xxx-xx-1234.
A nuance is that the SSN line is optional under N.C.G.S. § 50B-3(d) but extremely helpful for service. If the plaintiff does not know the SSN, write UNK rather than leaving the box blank.
The common mistake is guessing on height or weight. An inaccurate physical description lets a defendant claim mistaken identity at an enforcement stop and can void the arrest. A misconception is that this block is for the plaintiff. It is only for the defendant because the order is restraining the defendant, not the plaintiff.
Hearing Information: Date, Time, Judge
Just below the identifier block is the line for the date and time of the hearing and the presiding judge’s name.
Enter the date the hearing actually occurred in MM/DD/YYYY format, the time in 24-hour or AM/PM format as the form prints it, and the judge’s full name in print, such as Hon. Lisa M. Tanaka. A sample entry reads Date: 05/20/2026, Time: 2:15 PM, Judge: Hon. Lisa M. Tanaka.
A nuance: if the case was continued and finally heard on a later day, use the day the testimony was taken, not the day the complaint was filed. A common mistake is back-dating the form to the complaint date, which creates a gap in enforcement because the one-year clock under N.C.G.S. § 50B-3(b) starts the day the order is entered, not filed. A misconception is that the judge’s initials are enough; the printed name and signature are both required.
Findings of Fact (Box 1)
Box 1 is where the judge writes the findings that justify the order. This is the legal heart of AOC-CV-630.
The judge checks the box stating that the court has jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter, that the defendant was served, and that an act of domestic violence as defined in N.C.G.S. § 50B-1(a) occurred. The judge then writes specific facts: On April 28, 2026, the defendant pushed the plaintiff against a wall, choked her for approximately ten seconds, and threatened to kill her if she called police.
A nuance is that “domestic violence” under Chapter 50B includes attempted bodily injury, placing the victim in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, continued harassment that rises to the level of substantial emotional distress, and any sexual offense. The plaintiff should make sure the testimony tracks at least one of those statutory categories.
The common mistake is letting the judge write conclusions instead of facts, such as the defendant has been abusive. An appeals court can vacate the order because conclusory findings are not specific enough under Hensey v. Hennessy and similar NC Court of Appeals cases. A misconception is that police reports prove the facts on their own. The judge must still hear sworn testimony or admit the report under a hearsay exception.
Box 2: Personal Relationship Finding
Box 2 asks the judge to identify the personal relationship between plaintiff and defendant.
The judge checks one of the listed categories: current or former spouse, persons of opposite sex who live or have lived together, related as parent and child or grandparent and grandchild, have a child in common, current or former household members, or current or former dating relationship. For Renee and Daniel Carter, the judge checks current spouse.
A nuance is the same-sex dating relationship category. Under the 2020 amendment, dating relationships are protected regardless of sex, so a same-sex former dating partner can qualify. A common mistake is checking household members when the parties are actually dating but not living together. That can sink the case at appeal because the categories are not interchangeable. A misconception is that roommates count; mere roommates without a romantic, family, or child-in-common tie do not qualify under § 50B-1(b).
Box 3: Act of Domestic Violence Finding
Box 3 records what the defendant did. The judge checks every act that the evidence supports.
Options include attempted to cause bodily injury, intentionally caused bodily injury, placed the plaintiff or a member of the plaintiff’s family in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, placed the plaintiff in fear of continued harassment that rises to such a level as to inflict substantial emotional distress, or committed a sexual offense. For our example case the judge checks intentionally caused bodily injury and placed the plaintiff in fear of imminent serious bodily injury.
A nuance is that more than one box can be checked, and checking multiple acts strengthens the record on appeal. The common mistake is checking only one box when the testimony supports two or three. Each unchecked act is a lost basis for the order if any single finding is later reversed. A misconception is that the plaintiff must have visible injuries. Fear-based findings are independently sufficient under § 50B-1(a)(2).
Box 4: It Is Ordered That the Defendant Shall Not (No-Contact Relief)
Box 4 is the no-contact and stay-away menu. The judge checks each restriction that applies.
The judge can order the defendant to not assault, threaten, abuse, follow, harass, or interfere with the plaintiff, not contact the plaintiff directly or indirectly, and stay away from the plaintiff’s residence, workplace, and school. The judge writes the protected distances and addresses. A sample entry reads Defendant shall stay at least 300 feet from 4421 Oak Hollow Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604 and from Carter Pediatrics, 600 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603.
A nuance is the “indirect contact” language, which covers third-party messages through friends, family, or social media. The common mistake is leaving the workplace address blank. Without it, a deputy cannot enforce a workplace stay-away because the order has no geographic anchor. A misconception is that “no contact” automatically blocks court-ordered child exchanges. It does not unless the judge also restricts exchanges in the custody section.
Box 5: Exclusive Possession of the Residence
Box 5 lets the judge give one party exclusive possession of the home, even if both names are on the lease or deed.
The judge checks the box and writes the address: Plaintiff is granted exclusive possession of the residence located at 4421 Oak Hollow Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604, and Defendant shall vacate by 6:00 PM on 05/21/2026. The sheriff can be ordered to assist with a one-time retrieval of personal items.
A nuance is that exclusive possession does not transfer ownership. It is a temporary right to occupy under § 50B-3(a)(2). A common mistake is failing to set a vacate deadline. Without one, the sheriff has no enforceable time to remove the defendant. A misconception is that the defendant can keep a key “just in case.” Possession of a key after a vacate order can itself violate the DVPO.
Box 6: Custody and Visitation of Minor Children
Box 6 is the temporary custody and visitation section. It controls the children for up to one year.
The judge checks the box, lists each child by full name and date of birth, and writes the custody arrangement: Temporary legal and physical custody of M.C. (DOB 03/02/2018) and J.C. (DOB 11/19/2020) is granted to Plaintiff. Defendant shall have no visitation pending further order. Supervised visitation can be ordered through a supervised visitation center.
A nuance is that a 50B custody order is temporary and can be displaced by a Chapter 50 custody order entered later. A common mistake is omitting a child’s full legal name or date of birth, which makes the order unenforceable at a school pickup. A misconception is that 50B custody automatically renews when the DVPO renews. Custody must be specifically re-ordered each time.
Box 7: Child Support
Box 7 lets the judge order temporary child support using the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines.
The judge checks the box, identifies the obligor, and sets the monthly amount and payment method. A sample entry reads Defendant shall pay $642.00 per month in child support to Plaintiff through the NC Child Support Centralized Collections, beginning 06/01/2026.
A nuance is that 50B support can be set without the long-form worksheet if the parties stipulate, but the judge should still attach a worksheet to insulate the order from appeal. A common mistake is ordering direct payment between the parties; that defeats the no-contact provision and creates enforcement gaps. A misconception is that 50B support replaces a IV-D case. It does not, and the plaintiff still needs to open or amend a Child Support Services case for long-term collection.
Box 8: Possession of Personal Property and Vehicle
Box 8 allocates personal property and a vehicle for the duration of the order.
The judge writes the items and the vehicle: Plaintiff is granted possession of the 2021 Toyota RAV4, VIN 2T3P1RFV5MW####, and all personal clothing, identification, and children’s belongings. The judge can order law enforcement to stand by for a one-time retrieval.
A nuance is that titled property is not transferred, only possessed. The common mistake is listing items without specificity, such as household goods, which gives the deputy no list to enforce. A misconception is that 50B possession beats a bank’s lien on a financed car. It does not; the lender’s rights are unaffected.
Box 9: Firearms, Ammunition, and Gun Permits
This is the section that triggers federal law. The judge checks the box if the defendant owns, possesses, or has access to firearms, used or threatened to use a deadly weapon, or if there is a serious threat to the safety of the plaintiff or a family member.
The judge orders the defendant to surrender all firearms, ammunition, and gun permits to the sheriff under § 50B-3.1, and a separate AOC-CV-312 is issued. A sample entry reads Defendant shall surrender 1 Glock 19 9mm, serial #ABX1234, 4 boxes of 9mm ammunition, and NC concealed handgun permit #CHP-557812 to the Wake County Sheriff within 24 hours.
A nuance is that the surrender obligation kicks in immediately on entry of the order, not after the appeal period. A common mistake is omitting serial numbers, which gives the defendant cover to “lose” a firearm and avoid surrender. A misconception is that a defendant can store firearms with a friend or relative. Federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) prohibits possession in any form, and “constructive possession” through a third party is still a federal crime.
Box 10: Other Relief
Box 10 is the catch-all relief box. The judge writes any additional relief authorized under § 50B-3(a)(13).
Common entries include Defendant shall complete an abuser treatment program approved by the NC Council for Women, Defendant shall not consume alcohol or controlled substances during any visitation, or Defendant shall not post about Plaintiff on any social media platform. A sample reads Defendant shall enroll in a 26-week abuser treatment program within 30 days and provide proof of enrollment to the Court.
A nuance is that “other relief” must still be tied to protecting the plaintiff or children. The common mistake is using this box to settle property or debt disputes that belong in a separate civil action. A misconception is that the judge can order anything; the relief must be reasonably related to safety.
Effective Date and Expiration Date
Near the bottom of page two are the effective date and the expiration date.
The effective date is the date the judge signs and enters the order, in MM/DD/YYYY. The expiration date is up to one year later, set by the judge under § 50B-3(b). A sample reads Effective: 05/20/2026, Expires: 05/20/2027 at 11:59 PM.
A nuance is that the order can be renewed for additional periods of up to two years on motion before expiration. A common mistake is setting an expiration date more than one year out on the first entry, which is reversible error. A misconception is that the order expires at midnight on the date stamped; it expires at 11:59 PM unless the judge writes a different time.
Judge’s Signature Block
The signature block is the legal seal of the order.
The judge signs in ink, prints their name, and writes the date and county. The clerk then file-stamps the order. A sample reads Signed: /s/ Hon. Lisa M. Tanaka, 05/20/2026, Wake County District Court.
A nuance is that an electronic signature through eCourts is valid under N.C.G.S. § 7A-49.5. The common mistake is leaving the date blank, which makes the start of the one-year period ambiguous. A misconception is that a judge’s stamp is the same as a signature; only an ink or eSign signature controls.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three named scenarios that walk through AOC-CV-630 from caption to signature. Each table shows the form section on the left and the exact entry on the right.
Scenario 1: Renee Carter, Married Spouse with a Firearm in the Home
| Form Section | What Renee’s Judge Enters |
|---|---|
| County / File Number | WAKE / 26-CVD-04217 |
| Plaintiff | Renee Marie Carter, 4421 Oak Hollow Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604 |
| Defendant | Daniel Lee Carter, 118 Pinecrest Road, Cary, NC 27513 |
| Box 2 Relationship | Current spouse |
| Box 3 Acts | Intentionally caused bodily injury; placed plaintiff in fear of imminent serious bodily injury |
| Box 4 No-Contact | No contact, stay 300 ft from home, workplace, and children’s school |
| Box 5 Residence | Plaintiff has exclusive possession; Defendant to vacate by 6:00 PM 05/21/2026 |
| Box 9 Firearms | Surrender 1 Glock 19, serial #ABX1234, plus ammo and CHP to Wake Sheriff in 24 hrs |
| Effective / Expires | 05/20/2026 to 05/20/2027 at 11:59 PM |
Scenario 2: Marcus Hill, Parent Protecting Two Children from a Former Dating Partner
| Form Section | What Marcus’s Judge Enters |
|---|---|
| County / File Number | MECKLENBURG / 26-CVD-09921 |
| Plaintiff | Marcus Antwan Hill, 812 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216 |
| Defendant | Tasha R. Greene, 4407 Sharon Amity, Charlotte, NC 28215 |
| Box 2 Relationship | Former dating relationship |
| Box 3 Acts | Attempted to cause bodily injury; continued harassment causing substantial emotional distress |
| Box 4 No-Contact | No contact direct or indirect; stay 500 ft from plaintiff and minor children |
| Box 6 Custody | Temporary legal and physical custody of A.H. (DOB 04/12/2019) and L.H. (DOB 08/30/2021) to Plaintiff; no visitation pending further order |
| Box 10 Other | Defendant shall not post about Plaintiff or the children on any social media |
| Effective / Expires | 03/11/2026 to 03/11/2027 at 11:59 PM |
Scenario 3: Linh Tran, Ex Parte Followed by Full DVPO After a Stalking Incident
| Form Section | What Linh’s Judge Enters |
|---|---|
| County / File Number | DURHAM / 26-CVD-02788 |
| Plaintiff | Linh Phuong Tran, ACP Substitute Address, Raleigh, NC 27699 |
| Defendant | Kyle Robert Bishop, 1109 Fayetteville St, Durham, NC 27701 |
| Box 2 Relationship | Former dating relationship |
| Box 3 Acts | Continued harassment rising to substantial emotional distress |
| Box 4 No-Contact | No contact direct or indirect; stay 1000 ft from plaintiff, workplace, and Duke campus |
| Box 9 Firearms | No firearms identified; defendant prohibited from acquiring during order |
| Box 10 Other | Defendant shall delete all photos and posts referring to Plaintiff within 7 days |
| Effective / Expires | 02/18/2026 to 02/18/2027 at 11:59 PM |
How to File the Completed Form
Although the judge signs AOC-CV-630, the parties still need to know how the signed order moves through the system. The clerk files the original in the case file, transmits a copy to the sheriff for service, and uploads it into NCAWARE so that any law enforcement officer in the state can see it.
If you are the plaintiff filing the underlying packet to even get to this point, the in-person channel is to walk into the Clerk of Superior Court in your county between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, hand over your completed AOC-CV-303, AOC-CV-304, and AOC-CV-306, and ask to see a district court judge that day. There is no filing fee under § 50B-2(a), the sheriff serves the defendant at no cost to the plaintiff, and the clerk gives you a date-stamped copy as proof of filing.
The eCourts channel is available in counties that have rolled out the Odyssey platform through File & Serve. Upload the PDF complaint, pay no fee, and the system routes the matter to a duty judge. The plaintiff receives an electronic file-stamped copy by email as proof of filing.
The after-hours channel runs through the magistrate when the clerk’s office is closed. A magistrate can issue an ex parte order on AOC-CV-304 under § 50B-2(c1), and the final AOC-CV-630 follows after the 10-day hearing. Keep your magistrate’s order until the AOC-CV-630 is signed; that paper is your proof of filing in the meantime.
What Happens After You File
Once AOC-CV-630 is signed, the clerk distributes copies to the sheriff, the plaintiff, the defendant, and any other agency named in the order. The sheriff serves any unserved defendant personally, and the order becomes enforceable against the defendant the moment they are served or otherwise have notice.
The order is uploaded into NCAWARE and the federal NCIC Protection Order File, giving it full-faith-and-credit across all 50 states under the Violence Against Women Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2265. The defendant must surrender firearms, ammunition, and permits within 24 hours under § 50B-3.1, and the sheriff issues a receipt.
A violation is a Class A1 misdemeanor under § 50B-4.1(a), punishable by up to 150 days in jail. If the defendant violates the order while in possession of a deadly weapon, the charge rises to a Class H felony. Federal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) can also be filed for any firearm possession during the order. The plaintiff can move to renew the order before expiration for up to two more years under § 50B-3(b).
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each of these mistakes has cost a real plaintiff or a real defendant somewhere in North Carolina. Read them as a pre-flight checklist before the judge signs.
- Leaving the file number blank. The order cannot be indexed and law enforcement cannot find it in NCAWARE.
- Misspelling the defendant’s name. Deputies will not arrest on a mismatched name during a traffic stop.
- Skipping the defendant identifier block. Without DOB and physical description, the order cannot be enforced statewide.
- Conclusory findings in Box 1. The Court of Appeals routinely vacates DVPOs that say the defendant was abusive without specific facts.
- Checking only one act in Box 3. Each unchecked act is a lost basis on appeal.
- Omitting workplace or school addresses in Box 4. Stay-away orders cannot be enforced without a geographic anchor.
- No vacate deadline in Box 5. The sheriff cannot remove the defendant without a deadline.
- Missing child DOBs in Box 6. Schools and daycares will not enforce custody without full identifiers.
- Direct child support payments. Direct pay defeats the no-contact provision and creates a perjury trap.
- Skipping firearm serial numbers in Box 9. The defendant can claim a “lost” weapon and avoid surrender.
- Setting expiration more than one year out. Reversible error on the first DVPO.
- Forgetting the judge’s signature date. Makes the start of the enforcement clock ambiguous.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s:
- Do bring a written incident timeline so the judge can write specific findings.
- Do list every firearm by make, model, and serial number when known.
- Do include indirect-contact language to cover third-party messages.
- Do request supervised visitation through a court-approved center when contact with the children is needed.
- Do ask the judge to read the order aloud before signing so corrections can be made.
- Do keep two certified copies of the signed order on you and in your car.
Don’ts:
- Don’t use nicknames for the defendant in the name block.
- Don’t leave the SSN box blank without writing UNK; blank looks like an oversight.
- Don’t let the judge skip Box 9 if any firearm was mentioned in testimony.
- Don’t write household goods in Box 8; list specific items.
- Don’t waive the firearm surrender to make the defendant cooperate; it is not waivable under federal law.
- Don’t rely on a verbal promise of “no contact” in lieu of a written paragraph.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing pro se:
- No attorney fee, which matters because many DVPO plaintiffs are leaving with limited finances.
- Speed; you can file the complaint the same day and see a judge by the next business day.
- Direct control over the narrative; nothing is filtered through a third party.
- Free help is widely available from Legal Aid of North Carolina and NCCADV.
- The Chapter 50B forms are designed for non-lawyers.
Cons of filing pro se:
- Cross-examination of an abuser is emotionally brutal without counsel.
- Custody and child support require worksheet math most filers do not know.
- The firearm and federal-law overlay is technical and easy to miss.
- Appeals are short-fused and procedurally strict.
- A poorly drafted findings paragraph can be reversed and force a new hearing.
FAQs
Is AOC-CV-630 the same as the ex parte order?
No. AOC-CV-630 is the final DVPO after a noticed hearing. The ex parte emergency order uses AOC-CV-304 and lasts only until the 10-day hearing.
Do I have to pay a filing fee?
No. Chapter 50B filings are free under N.C.G.S. § 50B-2(a), and sheriff service is also free for the plaintiff.
How long does an AOC-CV-630 order last?
No order lasts more than one year on first entry, but it can be renewed for up to two additional years under § 50B-3(b).
Do I write my maiden name or my married name in the plaintiff box?
Yes, use the legal name on your current driver’s license or ID; if recently changed, write the current legal name and add formerly known as with the prior name.
Should I list the defendant’s SSN if I only know the last four?
Yes. Write xxx-xx-1234 in the SSN line; partial digits are better than blank and help the sheriff confirm identity.
Can the judge order the defendant to surrender firearms even if no gun was used?
Yes. Under § 50B-3.1, the judge can order surrender if there is a serious threat to safety, even without weapon use.
Do I need to write specific addresses in the stay-away box?
Yes. Workplace, school, and home addresses must be specific or deputies cannot enforce the order at the scene.
Can AOC-CV-630 control custody for more than one year?
No. Custody under 50B is temporary; permanent custody must be set in a Chapter 50 action under Form AOC-CV-630-style limits.
Is this order valid in other states?
Yes. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2265, every state must give full faith and credit to a valid NC DVPO.
Can I file if my partner and I never lived together?
Yes, if you have or had a dating relationship, share a child, or are related under § 50B-1(b); cohabitation is not required.
Will the defendant know my address?
No, not if you request the Address Confidentiality Program substitute address or ask the judge to seal your address in the file.
What happens if the defendant violates the order?
Yes, it is a crime; a knowing violation is a Class A1 misdemeanor under § 50B-4.1, and a Class H felony if a deadly weapon is involved.
Can I drop the order later?
Yes, but only the judge can dismiss it on motion; you cannot end the order by telling police you “took it back.”
Does the order block the defendant from buying a gun?
Yes. Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8), it is a federal crime for the defendant to possess or acquire a firearm during the order.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out North Carolina Form AOC-CV-100 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out North Carolina Form AOC-CV-220 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out North Carolina Form AOC-CV-303 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out North Carolina Form AOC-CV-304 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out North Carolina Form AOC-CV-402 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out North Carolina Form AOC-CV-622 (w/Examples) + FAQs