North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 1. Civil Procedure § 1-394. Contested special proceedings;  commencement;  summons

Special proceedings against adverse parties shall be commenced as is prescribed for civil actions.  The summons shall notify the defendant or defendants to appear and answer the complaint, or petition, of the plaintiff within 10 days after its service upon the defendant or defendants, and must contain a notice stating in substance that if the defendant or defendants fail to answer the complaint, or petition, within the time specified, plaintiff will apply to the court for the relief demanded in the complaint, or petition.  The summons must run in the name of the State, and be dated and signed by the clerk, assistant clerk or deputy clerk of the superior court having jurisdiction in the special proceeding, and be directed to the defendant or defendants, and be delivered for service to some proper person, as defined by Rule 4(a) of the Rules of Civil Procedure.  The clerk shall indicate on the summons by appropriate words that the summons is issued in a special proceeding and not in a civil action.  The manner of service shall be as is prescribed for summons in civil actions by Rule 4 of the Rules of Civil Procedure:  1  Provided, in partition proceedings under Chapter 46 of the General Statutes or where the defendant is an agency of the federal government, or an agency of the State, or a local government, or an agency of a local government, the time for filing answer or other plea shall be within 30 days after the date of service of summons or after the final determination of any motion required to be made prior to the filing of an answer.