§ 52C-3-312. Costs and fees. - North Carolina Statutes

§52C‑3‑312.  Costs and fees.

(a)        The petitionershall not be required to pay a filing fee or other costs.

(b)        If an obligeeprevails, a responding tribunal may assess against an obligor filing fees,reasonable attorneys' fees, other costs, and necessary travel and otherreasonable expenses incurred by the obligee and the obligee's witnesses. Thetribunal may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against the obligee or thesupport enforcement agency of either the initiating or the responding state,except as provided by other law. Attorneys' fees may be taxed as costs, and maybe ordered paid directly to the attorney, who may enforce the order in theattorney's own name. Payment of support owed to the obligee has priority overfees, costs, and expenses.

(c)        The tribunal shallorder the payment of costs and reasonable attorneys' fees if it determines thata hearing was requested primarily for delay. In a proceeding under Article 6 ofthis Chapter, a hearing is presumed to have been requested primarily for delay ifa registered support order is confirmed or enforced without change. (1995,c. 538, s. 7(c).)