NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026

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The following definitions apply in this Subchapter:

(1) Autism - A physical disorder of the brain which causes disturbances in the developmental rate of physical, social, and language skills; abnormal responses to sensations; absence of or delay in speech or language; or abnormal ways of relating to people, objects, and events. Autism occurs sometimes by itself and sometimes in conjunction with other brain-functioning disorders.

(2) Cerebral palsy. - A muscle dysfunction, characterized by impairment of movement, often combined with speech impairment, and caused by abnormality of or damage to the brain.

(3) Clerk. - The clerk of superior court.

(4) Designated agency. - The State or local human services agency designated by the clerk in the clerk's order to prepare, cause to be prepared, or assemble a multidisciplinary evaluation and to perform other functions as the clerk may order. A designated agency includes, without limitation, State, local, regional, or area mental health, intellectual disability, vocational rehabilitation, public health, social service, and developmental disabilities agencies, and diagnostic evaluation centers.

(5) Epilepsy. - A group of neurological conditions characterized by abnormal electrical-chemical discharge in the brain. This discharge is manifested in various forms of physical activity called seizures, which range from momentary lapses of consciousness to convulsive movements.

(6) Guardian ad litem. - A guardian appointed pursuant to G.S. 1A-1, Rule 17, Rules of Civil Procedure.

(7) Incompetent adult. - An adult or emancipated minor who lacks sufficient capacity to manage the adult's own affairs or to make or communicate important decisions concerning the adult's person, family, or property whether the lack of capacity is due to mental illness, intellectual disability, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism, inebriety, senility, disease, injury, or similar cause or condition. An adult or emancipated minor does not lack capacity if, by means of a less restrictive alternative, he or she is able to sufficiently (i) manage his or her affairs and (ii) communicate important decisions concerning his or her person, family, and property.

(8) Incompetent child. - A minor who is at least 17 1/2 years of age and who, other than by reason of minority, lacks sufficient capacity to make or communicate important decisions concerning the child's person, family, or property whether the lack of capacity is due to mental illness, intellectual disability, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism, inebriety, disease, injury, or similar cause or condition. An incompetent child does not lack capacity if, by means of a less restrictive alternative, he or she is able to sufficiently (i) manage his or her affairs and (ii) communicate important decisions concerning his or her person, family, and property.

(9) Indigent. - Unable to pay for legal representation and other necessary expenses of a proceeding brought under this Subchapter.

(10) Inebriety. - The habitual use of alcohol or drugs rendering a person incompetent to transact ordinary business concerning the person's estate, dangerous to person or property, cruel and intolerable to family, or unable to provide for family.

(10a) Intellectual disability. - Significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested before age 22.

(11) Interim guardian. - A guardian, appointed prior to adjudication of incompetence and for a temporary period, for a person who requires immediate intervention to address conditions that constitute imminent or foreseeable risk of harm to the person's physical well-being or to the person's estate.

(11a) Less restrictive alternative. - An arrangement enabling a respondent to manage his or her affairs or to make or communicate important decisions concerning his or her person, property, and family that restricts fewer rights of the respondent than would the adjudication of incompetency and appointment of a guardian. The term includes supported decision making, appropriate and available technological assistance, appointment of a representative payee, and appointment of an agent by the respondent, including appointment under a power of attorney for health care or power of attorney for finances.

(12) Mental illness. - An illness that so lessens the capacity of a person to use self-control, judgment, and discretion in the conduct of the person's affairs and social relations as to make it necessary or advisable for the person to be under treatment, care, supervision, guidance, or control. The term "mental illness" encompasses "mental disease", "mental disorder", "unsoundness of mind", and "insanity".

(13) Repealed by Session Laws 2018-47, s. 1(b), effective October 1, 2018.

(14) Multidisciplinary evaluation. - An evaluation that contains current medical, psychological, and social work evaluations as directed by the clerk and that may include current evaluations by professionals in other disciplines, including without limitation education, vocational rehabilitation, occupational therapy, vocational therapy, psychiatry, speech-and-hearing, and communications disorders. The evaluation is current if made not more than one year from the date on which it is presented to or considered by the court. The evaluation shall set forth the nature and extent of the disability and recommend a guardianship plan and program.

(15) Respondent. - A person who is alleged to be incompetent in a proceeding under this Subchapter.

(16) Treatment facility. - Has the same meaning as "facility" in G.S. 122C-3(14), and includes group homes, halfway houses, and other community-based residential facilities.

(17) Ward. - A person who has been adjudicated incompetent or an adult or minor for whom a guardian has been appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction. (1987, c. 550, s. 1; 1989, c. 473, s. 11; 1997-443, s. 11A.11; 2018-47, s. 1(b); 2023-124, s. 7.1.)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 66 cases (22 in the last 5 years), 1989–2026 · leading case: Soderlund v. Kuch, 546 S.E.2d 632 (N.C. Ct. App. 2001).

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Soderlund v. Kuch, 546 S.E.2d 632 (N.C. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 16× “In our previous opinion, this Court found that defendants had sufficient notice from the allegations in plaintiff’s complaint that he may have been prevented from filing his claims due to his alleged incompetence, as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(7) (1999). Soderlund ,…”

In re J.A.A., 623 S.E.2d 45 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 6× “§ 7B-1111(a)(6) serves as a triggering mechanism, alerting the trial court that it should conduct a hearing to determine whether a guardian ad litem should be appointed.”

Fox v. Sara Lee Corp., 709 S.E.2d 496 (N.C. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 22× “N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(7) (2009) provides the following definition of “incompetent adult”: “Incompetent adult” means an adult or emancipated minor who lacks sufficient capacity to manage the adult’s own affairs or to make or communicate important decisions concerning the…”

In re T.L.H., 772 S.E.2d 451 (N.C. 2015). · cites it 4× “In other words, while the test for incompetence is whether the parent “lacks sufficient capacity to manage [her] own affairs or to make or communicate important decisions concerning [her] person, family, or property,” N.C.G.S. § 35A-1101(7), the trial court is allowed to…”

State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Darsie, 589 S.E.2d 391 (N.C. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 5× “§ 1-17 (a) (2001); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(7) (2001). We hold that the record supports no findings of fact or con- *548 elusions of law that Mrs.”

McKoy v. McKoy, 689 S.E.2d 590 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “…retardation, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism, inebriety, senility, disease, injury, or similar cause or condition.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(7) (2009).”

Leonard v. England, 445 S.E.2d 50 (N.C. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 10× “N.C.G.S. § 35A-1101(7) (1987). Dr. Humphrey states that plaintiff was, until 25 April 1990, mentally ill and suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, causing her to repress memories of abuse and to lack “sufficient capacity to make or communicate important decisions…”

Johnson v. Jones Grp., Inc., 472 S.E.2d 587 (N.C. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 3× “N.C.G.S. § 35A-1101(7) (1995); N.C.G.S. § 35A-1112 (1995).”

Soderlund v. North Carolina Sch. of the Arts, 481 S.E.2d 336 (N.C. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 8× “Plaintiff alleged in his complaint and argues on appeal that his mental illness rendered him incompetent as defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(7) (1995) and therefore tolled the applicable statute of limitations in accordance with N.”

In re D.H., 629 S.E.2d 920 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “" N.C. Gen.Stat. § 35A-1101 (2005). Here, respondent did not request a GAL be appointed.”

In re: Cranor, 786 S.E.2d 379 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “She alleged, “The Petition fails to state any facts tending to support a finding that the Respondent is an ‘Incompetent Adult’ as defined by NCGS 35A-1101(7). The Petition contains no factual allegations tending to show that the Respondent lacks sufficient capacity to manage her…”

In re L.B., 653 S.E.2d 240 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “The 2005 statute did away with the provision requiring that a guardian "shall be appointed" where an allegation of incapability is contained in the petition. As noted in J.”

Show all 66 citing cases →

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(14) — 1 case

Nicholson v. Zimmerman (M.D.N.C. 2020).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(17) — 1 case

In re Clark, 688 S.E.2d 484 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(6) — 1 case

Culton v. Culton, 386 S.E.2d 592 (N.C. Ct. App. 1989).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(7) — 53 cases

Soderlund v. Kuch, 546 S.E.2d 632 (N.C. Ct. App. 2001). “In our previous opinion, this Court found that defendants had sufficient notice from the allegations in plaintiff’s complaint that he may have been prevented from filing his claims due to his alleged incompetence, as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(7) (1999). Soderlund ,…”

Fox v. Sara Lee Corp., 709 S.E.2d 496 (N.C. Ct. App. 2011). “N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(7) (2009) provides the following definition of “incompetent adult”: “Incompetent adult” means an adult or emancipated minor who lacks sufficient capacity to manage the adult’s own affairs or to make or communicate important decisions concerning the…”

In re T.L.H., 772 S.E.2d 451 (N.C. 2015). “In other words, while the test for incompetence is whether the parent “lacks sufficient capacity to manage [her] own affairs or to make or communicate important decisions concerning [her] person, family, or property,” N.C.G.S. § 35A-1101(7), the trial court is allowed to…”

State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Darsie, 589 S.E.2d 391 (N.C. Ct. App. 2003). “§ 1-17 (a) (2001); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(7) (2001). We hold that the record supports no findings of fact or con- *548 elusions of law that Mrs.”

McKoy v. McKoy, 689 S.E.2d 590 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010). “…retardation, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism, inebriety, senility, disease, injury, or similar cause or condition.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 35A-1101(7) (2009).”

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