Manning Law Blog
Castle Doctrine in North Carolina: Defending Your Home
08/22/2026 -North Carolina’s castle doctrine gives people who defend their home, vehicle, or workplace a powerful legal protection: a presumption that they acted out of a reasonable fear of death or serious harm. Under G.S. 14-51.2, when someone unlawfully and forcibly enters one of those places, the lawful occupant is presumed to have held a reasonable… Read more »
Is North Carolina a Stand Your Ground State?
-Yes, North Carolina is a stand your ground state. Under G.S. 14-51.3, a person who is anywhere they have a lawful right to be has no duty to retreat before using force to defend themselves or another, whether in public or at home. That does not mean force is always legal, though. The person must… Read more »
Possession of Stolen Goods in North Carolina: Penalties Explained
08/21/2026 -Whether possession of stolen goods is a felony or a misdemeanor in North Carolina comes down mostly to value. If the goods are worth more than $1,000, it is a Class H felony. If they are worth $1,000 or less, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor. And you do not have to be the person… Read more »
Carrying a Concealed Weapon Charge in North Carolina
-Carrying a concealed weapon in North Carolina, meaning carrying a handgun concealed on your person, off your own premises, without a valid permit, is a Class 2 misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class H felony for a second. The charge comes from G.S. 14-269, and it applies to concealed handguns as well as… Read more »
Gun Rights Restoration in North Carolina: How It Works
-A felony conviction in North Carolina generally means losing the right to own a firearm, and that loss is usually for life. But it is not always permanent. North Carolina law provides a limited path to restore firearm rights for people convicted of a single nonviolent felony, along with two other routes, expunction of the… Read more »
Possession of a Firearm by a Felon in North Carolina: Sentences Explained
08/20/2026 -In North Carolina, it is a Class G felony for anyone convicted of a felony to possess a firearm. The offense comes from the Felony Firearms Act, G.S. 14-415.1, and a conviction carries a prison term generally in the range of about 8 to 31 months, up to a maximum of 47 months, depending on… Read more »
Stalking and Harassment Charges in North Carolina
-Stalking in North Carolina is a Class A1 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-277.3A, but it becomes a felony when a court order is already in place or when the person has a prior stalking conviction. The charge is not about a single unpleasant encounter. It requires a course of conduct, meaning two or more acts, directed… Read more »
How Long a 50B Lasts in North Carolina and How to Drop One
-A final 50B order in North Carolina lasts up to one year, and it can be renewed for up to two years at a time. Dropping one is more complicated than many people assume: a request usually has to come from the person who filed, and only a judge can actually end it. That means… Read more »
50B Restraining Orders in North Carolina: How to Respond
08/19/2026 -A 50B is North Carolina’s domestic violence protective order, a civil order under Chapter 50B that can order you to have no contact with someone, stay away from a home, surrender firearms, and more. If you have been served with one, two things matter more than anything else: do not violate the temporary order, even… Read more »
Assault on a Government Official in North Carolina: Penalties Explained
-Assault on a government official in North Carolina is a Class A1 misdemeanor, the most serious level of misdemeanor in the state. Under G.S. 14-33(c)(4), it applies when a person assaults an officer or employee of the state or a local government while that person is discharging or attempting to discharge official duties. It is… Read more »
