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NC OAH »   Hearings Division »   Hearing Process »   Filing a Contested Case

Filing a Contested Case

To begin a contested case, a Petition must be filed with OAH. Filing fees, if required, must accompany the Petition. Additional information on filing fees is available on the Contested Case Filing Fees page. You may request that OAH waive the filing fee in cases of financial hardship by filing the Indigent Status Petition Form at the same time that you file your Petition. Petition forms, including the Indigent Status Petition Form, are available on the Hearing Forms page or by contacting the Office of Administrative Hearings. It is not required that Petitions be filed on one of the forms provided on the Hearing Forms page, but use of the provided form will ensure that you include all necessary information.

OAH provides an electronic filing portal where you can register to use e-filing. To learn more about registering for OAH e-filing, please see our E-filing Registration Guide. Once your registration is accepted, you can log in to the e-filing portal, view your case information, and upload documents directly to OAH. To find out more about e-filing, click the button below. You may use standard filing via US Mail if you prefer.

OAH E-Filing Log-in

An original of the Petition must be filed at OAH, and a copy must be served on the opposing party. In serving a copy of the Petition on a State agency, be sure to follow the instructions provided in any notice received from that agency.  If you have not registered for e-filing, documents may be filed in your case via US Mail, fax, or email to oah.clerks@oah.nc.gov.  Registered e-filers must file documents by uploading a Word or PDF document to their case using OAH's e-filing system.  Registered e-filers may not file documents using fax or email.  A copy of all documents filed with OAH must be sent to the opposing party.

Hearing Process

  • Filing a Contested Case
  • Before the Hearing
  • The Hearing
  • After the Hearing
  • Appeal of a Decision

This guide is issued for informational purposes only. Nothing contained in it may bind the Office of Administrative Hearings or one of its Administrative Law Judges to any practice or procedure described in it. This site is designed to generally explain some of the procedures of the Office of Administrative Hearings in order to help you prepare for your administrative hearing. This site is not a substitute for having an attorney. It is a guide to the most common kinds of cases that come before the Office of Administrative Hearings. However, not all cases are the same. Therefore, it is very important for you to carefully read the documents sent to you by the Office of Administrative Hearings. Those documents set forth the issues, deadlines, and other matters involved in your case.

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Contact Information

NC Office of Administrative Hearings

1711 New Hope Church Road (mailing address and physical address)
Raleigh NC, 27609
 
General Inquiries: oah.postmaster@oah.nc.gov
Housing Complaints: hrc.complaints@oah.nc.gov
Comments on Rules: rrc.comments@oah.nc.gov
 

Telephone: 984-236-1850
Main Fax: 984-236-1871
Civil Rights Fax: 984-236-1946
Rules Fax: 984-236-1947

Office Hours 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday
(Closed for all State holidays)

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https://www.oah.nc.gov/hearings-division/hearing-process/filing-contested-case