North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 110. Child Welfare § 110-130. Action by the designated representatives of the county commissioners

(a) A county interested in the paternity or support of a dependent child may commence a civil or criminal action against the responsible parent of the child or may intervene in any paternity or support action concerning the child.  The designated representative of the county commissioners in the county where the mother resides or is found, in the county where the father resides or is found, or in the county where the child resides or is found may commence or intervene in an action under this section.  An action commenced under this section may be based upon information or belief.

(b) A parent of the child may be subpoenaed for testimony at the trial of an action commenced or intervened in by a county under this section.  The husband-wife privilege is not a ground for excusing the mother or father from testifying at the trial nor is the privilege a ground for the exclusion of confidential communications between husband and wife.  If a parent called for examination declines to answer upon the ground that his or her testimony may tend to incriminate him or her, the court may require the parent to answer.  The parent shall not thereafter be prosecuted for any criminal act involved in the conception of the child whose paternity is in issue or for whom support is sought, except for perjury committed in this testimony.