{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-7a-292","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-292","heading":"Additional powers of magistrates.","body":"(a)\tIn addition to the jurisdiction and powers assigned in this Chapter to the magistrate in civil and criminal actions, each magistrate has the following additional powers:\n(1)\tTo administer oaths.\n(2)\tTo punish for direct criminal contempt subject to the limitations contained in Chapter 5A of the General Statutes of North Carolina.\n(3)\tWhen authorized by the chief district judge, to take depositions and examinations before trial.\n(4)\tTo issue subpoenas and capiases valid throughout the county.\n(5)\tTo take affidavits for the verification of pleadings.\n(6)\tTo issue writs of habeas corpus ad testificandum, as provided in G.S. 17-41.\n(7)\tTo assign a year's allowance to the surviving spouse and a child's allowance to the children as provided in Chapter 30, Article 4, of the General Statutes.\n(8)\tTo take acknowledgments of instruments, as provided in G.S. 47-1.\n(9)\tTo perform the marriage ceremony, as provided in G.S. 51-1.\n(10)\tTo take acknowledgment of a written contract or separation agreement between husband and wife.\n(11)\tRepealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 503, s. 9.\n(12)\tTo assess contribution for damages or for work done on a dam, canal, or ditch, as provided in G.S. 156-15.\n(13)\tRepealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 503, s. 9.\n(14)\tTo accept the filing of complaints and to issue summons pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 42A of the General Statutes in expedited eviction proceedings when the office of the clerk of superior court is closed.\n(15)\tWhen authorized by the chief district judge, as permitted in G.S. 7A-146(11), to provide for appointment of counsel and acceptance of waivers of counsel pursuant to Article 36 of this Chapter.\n(16)\tTo appoint an umpire to determine motor vehicle liability policy diminution in value, as provided in G.S. 20-279.21(d1).\n(b)\tThe authority granted to magistrates under G.S. 51-1 and subdivision (a)(9) of this section is a responsibility given collectively to the magistrates in a county and is not a duty imposed upon each individual magistrate. The chief district court judge shall ensure that marriages before a magistrate are available to be performed at least a total of 10 hours per week, over at least three business days per week. (1965, c. 310, s. 1; 1967, c. 691, s. 25; 1971, c. 377, s. 17; 1973, c. 503, s. 9; 1977, c. 375, s. 4; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1080, s. 6; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 4, s. 4; 1999-420, s. 4; 1999-456, s. 9(a), (b); 2009-419, s. 1; 2009-440, s. 2; 2009-566, s. 28; 2009-570, s. 48.2; 2015-75, s. 4; 2015-247, s. 3(b).)","path":["Chapter 7A. Judicial Department.","SUBCHAPTER V. JURISDICTION AND POWERS OF THE TRIAL DIVISIONS OF THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE.","Article 26. Additional Powers of District Court Judges and Magistrates."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_7A/GS_7A-292.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T17:55:27Z","sha256":"2b00b1513849d0c4af65b974bcccfe5df196fffc68eebefabe397c6312f6d1e8","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-7a-291","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-7a-293"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}