Cost to file lawsuit in North Carolina

I am not sure which question you are asking.  If you are asking about the court costs, costs imposed by the State of North Carolina, to file a lawsuit, you would likely file this action in District Court, which is a $150.00 filing fee.  The sheriff charges $30.00 per person for service.  There are additional small fees if you are unable to obtain service of the summons the first time. The filing of any motion which requires a hearing is $20.00.  Once a judgment is obtained, there are additional court fees for writs of execution and other post-judgment procedures.  Most are in the $20-30 range.  If you are an individual, you can file the suit and represent yourself.  If you an incorporated business, the business must be represented by counsel.  If you asking how much an attorney will cost, the answer varies. Some attorneys handle matters on hourly basis some on a contingency basis, which is a percentage of the amount collected.  You will need to contact individual attorneys to determine their hourly rate or other fee arrangements.  If the person previously resided in California, you can file suit there, obtain your judgment and then domesticate the judgment in North Carolina. This may be more cost-efficient for you.