North Carolina General Statutes 50-35. Authority and duties of a child support hearing officer
A child support hearing officer who is properly qualified and designated under this Article has the following authority and responsibilities in all child support cases:
(1) To conduct hearings and to ensure that the parties’ due process rights are protected;
Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 50-35
- child support hearing officer: means a clerk or assistant clerk of superior court or a magistrate who has been designated pursuant to this Article to hear and enter orders in child support cases. See North Carolina General Statutes 50-31
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
(2) To take testimony and establish a record;
(3) To evaluate evidence and make decisions regarding the establishment or enforcement of child support orders;
(4) To accept and approve voluntary acknowledgements of support liability and stipulated agreements setting the amount of support obligations;
(5) To accept and approve voluntary acknowledgements and affirmations of paternity;
(6) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, to enter child support orders that have the same force and effect as orders entered by a district court judge;
(7) To enter temporary child support orders pending the resolution of unusual or complicated issues by a district court judge;
(8) To enter default orders; and
(9) To subpoena witnesses and documents. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 993, s. 1.)