North Carolina Domestic Violence Laws – Updated

By Steven Thomas Meier

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Criminal defense

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Last Modified on Mar 19, 2026

North Carolina takes domestic violence very seriously, so if you’re facing charges, you should do the same. The first step is to learn about the relevant North Carolina domestic violence laws so you know what to expect. If you are accused of domestic violence, Steven T. Meier, PLLC, can represent you.

What’s Considered Domestic Violence?

Domestic Violence is defined in NC General Statutes 50B as the commission of one or more violent or threatening acts against a person with whom the perpetrator of those acts has a child or a personal relationship. That can include not just spouses and partners but also roommates, parents, and other family members. Acts of domestic violence can involve:

• Intentionally causing or attempting to cause bodily injury
• Placing someone in fear of serious bodily injury
• Continued harassment
• Sex offenses
• Stalking
• Threats
• Violating a protective order
• Domestic criminal trespassing

If you’ve been accused of committing any of these acts, you need to find a domestic violence lawyer to represent you in court and pre-trial hearings as soon as possible.

Potential Domestic Violence Penalties

Because the Tar Heel State takes violent crimes against partners and family members so seriously, domestic violence penalties can be severe. The penalties you face will vary, depending on your exact charges. Some domestic violence crimes are misdemeanors, while others are felonies. Here’s what you can expect, depending on the level of the crime you’ve been charged with committing:

• Class A1 Misdemeanor: You can expect to spend up to 60 days in jail for a first offense or up to 150 days for a subsequent Class A1 misdemeanor domestic violence conviction. Your fine will be determined by a judge.
• Class 1 Misdemeanor: For a Class 1 misdemeanor, you can spend up to 45 days in jail for a first offense or up to 120 days for a subsequent offense, and you will face fines.
• Class B1 Felony: For a Class B1 felony, you could face life in prison without parole.
• Other Felony Charges: Depending on the level of felony charges you face, you could be sentenced to anywhere from three to 182 months in prison.

The most effective way to reduce your chances of facing the worst penalties is to hire a domestic violence attorney.

Domestic Violence in NC by the Numbers

If you’re facing charges for domestic violence, you’re certainly not alone. Our state has a fairly significant and currently growing problem with these crimes. From 2018 to 2024, the instances of domestic violence-related homicides surged 69.8%, with an average of one new case coming up every 5.5 days across the state. That accounts for only the most serious cases. Overall, 35.2% of women and 30.3% of men in North Carolina become victims of intimate partner violence in their lives.

Hire a Domestic Violence Lawyer

Now that you know what to expect with the North Carolina domestic violence laws, it’s time to take action and hire a domestic violence lawyer who can help. You can trust the team here at Steven T. Meier, PLLC, to handle your domestic violence case. We’ve been litigating cases in both state and federal courts for years; in that time, we’ve seen it all. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation regarding your case today.