AOC-CVM-200 Instructions

Form AOC-CVM-200 is the official complaint form for money-owed claims in North Carolina small claims court. It is the starting complaint for a money-owed case — and getting a field wrong can mean a rejected filing or a case that stalls at the hearing.

What AOC-CVM-200 Is

Form AOC-CVM-200, titled "Complaint for Money Owed," is the standard pleading for any small claims case seeking money damages under N.C.G.S. § 7A-210. It covers breach of contract, property damage, unpaid debts, security deposit claims, and other money claims within the applicable county limit, which ranges from $5,000 to $10,000.

Download the form from nccourts.gov or pick up a copy at the Clerk of Superior Court office. If you use eCourts Guide & File, the system generates the form from your answers — but you still need to understand what each section asks for.

Key Sections to Get Right

Plaintiff information. Your full legal name, mailing address, and phone number. If you are filing on behalf of a business you own, use the entity's legal name with your name as the authorized representative.

Defendant information. The defendant's full legal name — not a nickname, not a trade name, not "the landlord." For an LLC or corporation, use the exact name from the NC Secretary of State Business Registration database. Include the registered agent's name and physical address if serving a business entity.

Claim amount. The amount you are owed, not including interest or court costs. If your actual damages exceed the applicable county limit, you can voluntarily waive the excess on this form and cap your claim at that limit.

Statement of claim. A brief, factual description of what the defendant owes and why. Stick to dates, amounts, and the basis for the obligation (breach of contract, property damage, security deposit withholding). You do not need legal citations here — just plain facts.

Form AOC-CVM-100: The Summons

When you file AOC-CVM-200, the Clerk issues Form AOC-CVM-100 (Magistrate Summons). This form notifies the defendant of the lawsuit, the hearing date, and where to appear. You do not fill this one out yourself — the clerk generates it.

The summons is valid for 60 days. If the defendant is not served within that window, you need an alias or pluries summons to keep the case alive.

Form AOC-G-250: The Military Affidavit

Form AOC-G-250 is the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act affidavit addressing the defendant's military status. It is required before a court enters a default judgment against a defendant who has not appeared; it is not a prerequisite to filing the complaint. Check the defendant's status through the Department of Defense SCRA website and include the result in the affidavit.

Common Mistakes on AOC-CVM-200

Naming the wrong defendant. "Mike's Auto Shop" gets rejected. The LLC's registered name — "M. Thompson Automotive Services, LLC" — does not.

Leaving the claim amount vague. "Various unpaid invoices" is not a claim amount. State the exact dollar figure.

Filing in the wrong county. The form asks for filing county. If no defendant resides in that county, the magistrate cannot hear the case.

Forgetting the military affidavit. If the defendant does not appear, the court needs AOC-G-250 before it can enter a default judgment.

Our North Carolina Small Claims Filing Guide includes line-by-line instructions for completing every required form, with examples for each common claim type.

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