Free legal information, aid organizations, and court resources for residents of North Carolina. Know your rights and find help.
Provides free civil legal services to low-income North Carolinians statewide in housing, family, consumer, and benefits matters.
Visit Website →Offers free legal help to low-income residents in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area in housing, public benefits, and consumer matters.
Visit Website →Provides free legal assistance to low-income residents in western North Carolina on housing, domestic violence, and immigration issues.
Visit Website →Specialized unit providing free legal services to farmworkers and their families on employment, immigration, and housing issues.
Visit Website →Non-profit advocacy organization working on poverty, health care access, and economic justice through legal and policy work.
Visit Website →Defends civil liberties through litigation and advocacy on voting rights, criminal justice, and immigrants' rights.
Visit Website →The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the court of last resort with seven justices. The Court of Appeals handles intermediate appeals with 15 judges. Superior Courts handle major civil and criminal cases across 50 judicial districts. District Courts handle lesser civil matters, small claims, family law, juvenile matters, and misdemeanors.
The Supreme Court of North Carolina has seven justices and sits in Raleigh. The Court of Appeals has 15 judges. Superior Courts handle felonies and major civil cases across 50 judicial districts in 8 divisions. District Courts handle misdemeanors, infractions, small claims (up to $10,000), family law, and juvenile matters. Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) and Wake County (Raleigh) have the busiest court systems in the state.
Governs residential rentals under N.C.G.S. Chapter 42, covering security deposits (limited to two months for month-to-month, 1.5 months for longer terms), and eviction procedures.
Prohibits employment discrimination by state agencies based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, and disability.
Broad consumer protection law under N.C.G.S. 75-1.1 allowing treble damages for unfair or deceptive business practices.
Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act protects employees from retaliation for filing workers' compensation claims, reporting safety violations, or engaging in other protected activities.
Provides for protective orders (DVPO) under Chapter 50B, including emergency orders, with provisions for custody, housing, and firearms surrender.
Gives consumers the right to place security freezes on credit reports at no charge and establishes criminal penalties for identity theft.
Establishes minimum wage requirements, overtime protections, and prohibits employers from withholding or deducting wages without written authorization.
24/7 confidential support for domestic violence victims
1-800-799-7233
Statewide DV resource and shelter referral line
1-888-997-9124
NC Attorney General consumer complaint hotline
1-877-566-7226
Call or text 988 for immediate mental health crisis support
988
North Carolina's Medicaid expansion continues enrollment, extending health coverage to approximately 600,000 additional low-income adults.
Fully implemented raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction to 18, ensuring 16- and 17-year-olds charged with misdemeanors are processed in juvenile court.
Broadened eligibility for expungement of certain criminal records, including non-violent misdemeanors and dismissed charges, reducing barriers to employment.
Statute of Limitations: 3 years
This is the maximum time after an event within which you may file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to sue.
Statute of Limitations: 3 years
This is the maximum time after an event within which you may file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to sue.
Statute of Limitations: 3 years
This is the maximum time after an event within which you may file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to sue.
Statute of Limitations: 3 years
This is the maximum time after an event within which you may file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to sue.
Statute of Limitations: 3 years
This is the maximum time after an event within which you may file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to sue.
Typical filing fee: $96 (claims up to $10,000)
Small claims court is designed for individuals to resolve minor disputes quickly and affordably without an attorney.
Typical filing fee: $150-$300
Civil court handles larger disputes including personal injury, contract breaches, and property claims. Attorney representation is common.
Typical filing fee: $150-$225
Family court handles divorce, custody, child support, adoption, and domestic violence matters. Fee waivers are often available for low-income filers.
Statewide free civil legal services for low-income residents in housing, family, consumer, and public benefits matters.
Visit Website →Free legal services in Charlotte area for low-income residents in housing, immigration, and consumer matters.
Visit Website →Free legal help for low-income residents in 18 western North Carolina counties.
Visit Website →The state's highest court with seven justices, sitting in Raleigh. Reviews decisions from the Court of Appeals on significant legal questions.
Visit Court Website →Fifteen judges handling intermediate appeals from Superior and District Courts. Access opinions, case information, and filing procedures.
Visit Court Website →Superior Courts handle felonies and major civil cases across 50 judicial districts. District Courts handle misdemeanors, small claims, family law, and juvenile matters.
Find Your Local Court →Residential Rental Agreements Act. Governs security deposits (max 2 months for month-to-month, 1.5 months for longer terms), tenant rights, landlord duties, and eviction through summary ejectment.
Unfair & Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Broad consumer protection law prohibiting unfair or deceptive business practices in commerce, with private right of action and treble damages.
Equal Employment Practices Act. Declares discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, and disability to be against the public policy of North Carolina.
Domestic Violence Protective Orders. Authorizes DVPOs including emergency orders, ex parte orders, and orders after hearing, with provisions for custody, housing, and firearms surrender.
Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act. Protects employees from retaliation for filing workers' compensation claims, reporting safety violations, or participating in investigations.
Online clinic where low-income North Carolinians can submit civil legal questions and receive free answers from volunteer attorneys.
Visit Website →Provides free legal advocacy for children in Mecklenburg County in education, juvenile justice, and child welfare matters.
Visit Website →Provides free immigration legal services including deportation defense, asylum, family petitions, and DACA renewals for low-income immigrants across North Carolina.
Visit Website →The NC AG's Consumer Protection Division investigates complaints about scams, deceptive business practices, identity theft, and data breaches. The office also handles lemon law complaints, robocall enforcement, and the Do Not Call registry.
Phone: (877) 5-NO-SCAM (877-566-7226)
Online Complaints: File at ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/
Visit AG Consumer Protection →The NCHRC promotes equal opportunity and investigates complaints of discrimination in employment and housing under state and federal civil rights laws. The Commission is a HUD-certified Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agency and serves as a deferral agency for EEOC charges.
Phone: (866) 324-7474
Filing Deadline: 180 days from the discriminatory act
Visit Civil Rights Division →