North Carolina Judgment Interest 2026: How the 8% Rate Works

8% Since 1980: North Carolina's Fixed Judgment Interest Rate

N.C.G.S. § 24-1 sets North Carolina's post-judgment interest rate for civil money judgments at 8% per year. Before July 1, 1980, the statutory rate was 6%. The General Assembly raised it to 8% effective that date, and the rate has remained unchanged for more than four decades — through recessions, inflation spikes, and every Federal Reserve tightening cycle since.

What "fixed at 8% since 1980" means in practice: — No Federal Reserve prime lookup on the judgment date — No annual recertification or biannual Treasury-yield adjustment — No need to ask whether this month's market rate changed the statutory percentage — A judgment entered in 1985, 2005, or 2026 carries the same 8% post-judgment rate under § 24-1

Why North Carolina chose a fixed rate: Predictability. Creditors can forecast interest growth without market data. Debtors can calculate payoff without arguing about which index applied on which date. Courts can apply one number across decades of docket entries. The tradeoff is that 8% can sit above or below market-linked rates in any given year — but the statute chose certainty over volatility.

How North Carolina compares to variable-rate states: — Georgia keys post-judgment interest to the Federal Reserve prime on the judgment date plus 3% under O.C.G.A. § 7-4-12 — a rate that moves with the market — Michigan certifies a Treasury-note-based rate twice yearly under MCL § 600.6013 — North Carolina uses one number: 8%, unchanged since July 1, 1980

Critical differential — North Carolina vs Georgia vs Michigan on $100,000 for one year (planning rates): — North Carolina: 8% fixed (§ 24-1) → $8,000 per year — Georgia: prime on entry + 3% (about 10.50% mid-2026 if prime ≈ 7.50%) → about $10,500 per year — Michigan: certified T-note + 1% (4.725% for 2026 planning under MCL § 600.6013) → $4,725 per year

Gap North Carolina vs Georgia on $100,000: about $2,500 per year — Georgia's entry-date variable rate can exceed North Carolina's fixed 8% in high-prime environments.

Gap North Carolina vs Michigan on $100,000: about $3,275 per year — North Carolina's fixed 8% sits well above Michigan's 2026 certified rate, even though Michigan's framework can produce higher rates in other years.

Regional snapshot on $100,000 for one year: — Maryland 10%: $10,000 — Georgia ~10.50%: ~$10,500 — South Carolina 8.75%: $8,750 — North Carolina 8%: $8,000 — Virginia 6%: $6,000 — Michigan 4.725%: $4,725

On $25,000 for one year at 8%: Annual interest = $2,000 Daily interest ≈ $5.48

The 8% rate under § 24-1 is the default for most civil money judgments. It applies automatically from judgment entry until satisfaction. But § 24-5 creates two important exceptions that every practitioner must understand: contract rates that survive into the judgment under subsection (a), and tort pre-judgment interest from the filing date under subsection (b). Those lanes are covered in the sections below.

Official orientation: — N.C.G.S. § 24-1 (8% post-judgment interest; raised from 6% effective July 1, 1980) — N.C.G.S. § 24-5 (contract rate and tort pre-judgment interest) — North Carolina General Assembly: https://www.ncleg.gov — North Carolina Judicial Branch: https://www.nccourts.gov

TheLegalCalc North Carolina calculator: /judgment-interest-calculator/north-carolina

The Calculation: Simple Interest on Principal Only

North Carolina post-judgment interest under N.C.G.S. § 24-1 is modeled as simple interest on the unpaid principal at 8% per year. It does not compound annually in the ordinary teaching model. Interest accrues only on the principal amount of the judgment, not on accumulated interest from prior periods.

Formula: Interest = Principal × 0.08 × Years Or: Interest = Principal × 0.08 × (Days ÷ 365)

Daily rate on any principal: Daily = Principal × 0.08 ÷ 365

Examples:

A) $25,000 × 8% × 365 days (one year): Annual interest = $2,000 Daily interest ≈ $5.48

B) $25,000 × 8% × 3 years = $6,000 Total with principal: $31,000

C) $100,000 × 8% × 3 years = $24,000 interest Total with principal: $124,000

D) $100,000 for 365 days: Annual interest = $8,000 Daily interest ≈ $21.92

E) $100,000 for 180 days: $100,000 × 0.08 × (180 ÷ 365) ≈ $3,945.21

F) $200,000 for 5 years: Interest = $200,000 × 0.08 × 5 = $80,000 Total with principal: $280,000

G) $50,000 for 730 days (two years): $50,000 × 0.08 × 2 = $8,000 interest Total with principal: $58,000

What simple interest means: Year 2 interest is calculated on unpaid principal, not on Year 1 interest already accrued. If $8,000 of interest accrued in Year 1 on a still-unpaid $100,000 judgment, Year 2 still uses the $100,000 principal base for the statutory simple-interest model (absent a different court order).

Partial payments: Credits reduce principal. Recalculate remaining interest after each payment. Document dates carefully — on $100,000, each day is about $21.92 at 8%. On $25,000, each day is about $5.48. Even modest delays add measurable cost on large balances.

Contrast with compounding states: If a tool silently compounds 8% for three years on $100,000, it will overstate North Carolina's simple-interest statutory model. Always confirm the calculator uses simple interest on principal only.

Contract-rate example: If the underlying agreement specified 10% and N.C.G.S. § 24-5(a) applies, replace 0.08 with 0.10 in every formula above. On $100,000 for three years at 10%: $30,000 interest instead of $24,000 — a $6,000 difference driven entirely by the contract rate, not the statutory default.

Why North Carolina's fixed 8% is straightforward to model: Unlike Georgia, you never need to look up the Federal Reserve prime rate for the judgment date. Unlike Michigan, you never need to check a twice-yearly certified rate. The annual percentage is always 8% for the statutory default lane — one number, one formula, every year since July 1, 1980.

Tort pre-judgment interest uses the same 8% rate and the same simple-interest formula, but the start date differs. Under N.C.G.S. § 24-5(b), compensatory damages in tort actions accrue interest from the date the action was filed. On $50,000 in compensatory damages with two years from filing to judgment: $50,000 × 0.08 × 2 = $8,000 in pre-judgment interest before post-judgment interest even begins.

Contract Judgments: When the Contract Rate Applies

Critical differential for North Carolina contract actions: the statutory 8% default under N.C.G.S. § 24-1 is not necessarily the ceiling when the parties agreed in writing to a higher rate. N.C.G.S. § 24-5(a) provides that when a judgment is entered on a contract action and the parties agreed in writing to an interest rate, the judgment carries the contract rate through the post-judgment period.

What § 24-5(a) means in practice: — A loan agreement charging 10% continues at 10% after judgment entry — A promissory note at 12% continues at 12% — A commercial contract with a default rate of 15% may carry 15% on the judgment (subject to North Carolina's other legal limits on usury and enforceability) — The contract rate survives into the judgment — it does not revert to 8% simply because the case reached a verdict or default judgment

What § 24-5(a) does not mean: — Every contract automatically overrides 8%. The judgment must arise from a contract action in which the parties agreed in writing to an interest rate. — A contract rate below 8% does not force the creditor down further — § 24-1 sets 8% as the statutory post-judgment rate for judgments not governed by a higher contract rate under § 24-5(a). — Oral agreements to interest rates do not trigger § 24-5(a)'s contract-rate lane. The statute requires a written agreement.

Modeling discipline: 1) Read the judgment for any rate stated on its face. 2) Read the underlying written instrument if the claim is contractual. 3) Determine whether § 24-1's 8% default controls or whether § 24-5(a) points to the contract rate. 4) Only then run the simple-interest formula.

Modeling error example — contract at 10%, mistakenly applied statutory 8%: On $100,000 for one year, the understatement is $2,000 ($10,000 vs $8,000). On $100,000 for three years, the understatement is $6,000 ($30,000 vs $24,000).

Reverse error — applying 10% when no contract rate controls: On $100,000 for one year, the overstatement is $2,000.

Common contract scenarios in North Carolina practice: — Bank loans and lines of credit with stated annual percentage rates — Commercial leases with default interest clauses — Promissory notes between private parties — Vendor agreements with late-payment interest terms — Real estate purchase contracts with financing contingencies and stated default rates

Practice sequence for contract judgments: 1) Locate the written agreement that gave rise to the claim. 2) Find the interest rate clause — including any default or post-maturity rate. 3) Confirm the rate was agreed to in writing as § 24-5(a) requires. 4) Compare the contract rate to 8%. 5) If the contract rate is higher, use the contract rate for all post-judgment interest calculations under § 24-5(a). 6) If no written contract rate applies or the contract rate is at or below 8%, use the statutory 8% default under § 24-1.

Worked comparison — $100,000 contract judgment, three years unpaid: Statutory 8% under § 24-1: $100,000 × 0.08 × 3 = $24,000 interest Contract 10% under § 24-5(a): $100,000 × 0.10 × 3 = $30,000 interest Difference: $6,000 over three years — the cost of applying the wrong rate lane.

For the common case — an ordinary civil money judgment without a superseding written contractual rate — use 8%. That is the rate this guide and the North Carolina calculator are built to explain for the default lane.

Do not assume that because Georgia requires a prime lookup, North Carolina does too. Do not assume that because North Carolina's rate is fixed at 8%, contract judgments are capped at 8% — § 24-5(a) explicitly preserves higher written contract rates. The correct North Carolina planning defaults are: fixed 8% for non-contract judgments under § 24-1, contract rate when higher under § 24-5(a), simple interest, judgment-date start for post-judgment interest on contract actions.

Tort Judgments and Pre-Judgment Interest Under § 24-5(b)

Critical differential for North Carolina tort actions: N.C.G.S. § 24-5(b) provides that in actions for personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death, interest on compensatory damages accrues from the date the action was filed — not from the date of judgment. This filing-date start rule makes North Carolina one of the more plaintiff-friendly states in the Southeast for tort interest recovery, because interest begins running during litigation, not only after the verdict.

What § 24-5(b) covers: — Personal injury actions (automobile accidents, slip-and-fall, medical malpractice, product liability) — Property damage actions (damage to real or personal property) — Wrongful death actions (survival and wrongful death claims under North Carolina's wrongful death statutes) — Compensatory damages — the economic and non-economic losses the jury or court awards

What § 24-5(b) does not cover: — Contract actions (those follow § 24-5(a) for contract rates, and post-judgment interest under § 24-1 from judgment entry) — Punitive damages (pre-judgment interest under § 24-5(b) applies to compensatory damages, not punitive awards) — Cases where no action was filed (interest cannot begin before filing)

The rate for tort pre-judgment interest: 8% per year — the same fixed rate under N.C.G.S. § 24-1. Simple interest on the compensatory damages base recognized for pre-judgment purposes.

Core tort pre-judgment example: $50,000 in compensatory damages, action filed January 1, 2024, judgment entered January 1, 2026 (two years later): Pre-judgment interest = $50,000 × 0.08 × 2 = $8,000 Post-judgment interest then begins at judgment entry on the judgment amount (including any pre-judgment interest the court orders included in the judgment total — confirm with counsel how your specific order treats this).

Larger tort example: $200,000 in compensatory damages, three years from filing to judgment: Pre-judgment: $200,000 × 0.08 × 3 = $48,000 Post-judgment (two years after entry): $200,000 × 0.08 × 2 = $32,000 Total interest: $80,000 Total with principal: $280,000

Why tort pre-judgment interest matters for settlement planning: A personal injury case that takes four years from filing to trial accumulates significant pre-judgment interest before post-judgment interest even begins. On a $100,000 compensatory damages base over four pre-judgment years at 8%: $32,000 in pre-judgment interest alone. A defendant who delays resolution faces interest accrual during litigation, not just after judgment — a feature that distinguishes North Carolina tort practice from states where pre-judgment interest is unavailable or harder to obtain.

Contrast with Virginia: Virginia allows pre-judgment interest at 6% under Va. Code § 8.01-382 when the jury has not made a specific award. North Carolina's tort pre-judgment interest under § 24-5(b) is automatic from filing date at 8% — a higher rate and an earlier start date for tort claimants.

Contrast with contract actions: Contract judgments do not get tort pre-judgment interest under § 24-5(b). Contract actions follow § 24-5(a) for the contract rate and § 24-1 for post-judgment interest from judgment entry. Mixing the two lanes — applying tort filing-date interest to a contract claim, or applying contract-rate logic to a tort claim — produces wrong payoff estimates.

Practical checklist for tort pre-judgment interest: 1) Confirm the claim is a tort action (personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death). 2) Identify the filing date — this is the pre-judgment interest start date under § 24-5(b). 3) Determine the compensatory damages base (the amount on which interest accrues). 4) Apply 8% simple interest from filing date to judgment entry. 5) Calculate post-judgment interest from judgment entry forward at 8% under § 24-1. 6) Sum for total interest exposure.

Settlement planning tip: When negotiating a tort case before trial, model both pre-judgment interest from the filing date and post-judgment interest from a projected judgment date. On $50,000 with two years elapsed since filing, the pre-judgment interest alone is $8,000 — real money that should appear in any serious settlement analysis.

Step-by-Step: Calculating NC Judgment Interest

Use this sequence for every North Carolina money-judgment interest estimate.

Step 1 — Identify the claim type: contract action or tort action. This determines which § 24-5 subsection applies and whether pre-judgment interest from filing date is available.

Step 2 — For contract actions, read the underlying written agreement. If the parties agreed in writing to a rate higher than 8%, § 24-5(a) may control instead of § 24-1's default.

Step 3 — For tort actions, confirm the filing date. Under § 24-5(b), compensatory damages accrue interest from filing date at 8% per year.

Step 4 — Confirm the judgment entry date. Post-judgment interest under § 24-1 begins at judgment entry for all money judgments.

Step 5 — Confirm unpaid principal after credits, partial payments, and any court-ordered adjustments.

Step 6 — Count days for each interest phase: — Tort pre-judgment: filing date to judgment entry — Post-judgment: judgment entry to proposed payoff date

Step 7 — Apply the simple-interest formula for each phase: Interest = Principal × Rate × (Days ÷ 365) Use 0.08 for the statutory rate, or the contract rate if § 24-5(a) applies.

Step 8 — Add all interest phases to principal for a total payoff estimate.

Step 9 — Run the same inputs in /judgment-interest-calculator/north-carolina as a check.

Worked walkthrough — contract judgment, $100,000 unpaid for three years post-judgment (§ 24-1 default): $100,000 × 0.08 × 3 = $24,000 interest Daily burn ≈ $21.92 Payoff estimate before extra costs: $124,000

Worked walkthrough — contract judgment, $25,000 unpaid for one year: $25,000 × 0.08 × 1 = $2,000 interest Daily burn ≈ $5.48 Payoff estimate before extra costs: $27,000

Worked walkthrough — tort judgment, $50,000 compensatory damages, two years pre-judgment (§ 24-5(b)): Pre-judgment: $50,000 × 0.08 × 2 = $8,000 If unpaid one additional year post-judgment: $50,000 × 0.08 × 1 = $4,000 Total interest: $12,000 Payoff estimate before extra costs: $62,000

Worked walkthrough — contract at 10% under § 24-5(a), $100,000 for three years: $100,000 × 0.10 × 3 = $30,000 interest Compare to statutory 8%: $24,000 Difference: $6,000 over three years — the cost of applying the wrong rate lane.

Worked walkthrough — $100,000 unpaid for 90 days post-judgment: $100,000 × 0.08 × (90 ÷ 365) ≈ $1,972.60

Worked walkthrough — tort case, $200,000 compensatory, filed 1,095 days before judgment (three years): Pre-judgment: $200,000 × 0.08 × 3 = $48,000 Post-judgment one year: $200,000 × 0.08 × 1 = $16,000 Total interest: $64,000

Document every input: claim type, filing date (if tort), judgment date, principal, rate lane (statutory 8% vs contract rate), day count, and payment credits. North Carolina's fixed 8% makes the arithmetic straightforward, but wrong start dates or wrong rate lanes still produce bad payoff estimates.

NC vs Neighboring States: SC 8.75%, VA 6%, MD 10%

North Carolina sits in a region where neighboring states carry a mix of fixed and variable post-judgment rates. Understanding the regional map helps creditors, debtors, and counsel avoid importing the wrong state's rate into a North Carolina file.

South Carolina — 8.75% fixed: Under S.C. Code Ann. § 34-31-20(B), South Carolina post-judgment interest is 8.75% per year. On $100,000 for one year: $8,750 — $750 more than North Carolina's $8,000. South Carolina also restricts wage garnishment for many private debts under § 37-5-104, but interest still accrues at 8.75%.

Virginia — 6% fixed: Under Va. Code Ann. § 6.2-302, Virginia post-judgment interest is 6% per year. On $100,000 for one year: $6,000 — $2,000 less than North Carolina. Virginia also allows pre-judgment interest at 6% under § 8.01-382 when the jury has not made a specific award, but at a lower rate than North Carolina's 8% tort pre-judgment interest under § 24-5(b).

Maryland — 10% fixed: Under Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-107, Maryland post-judgment interest is 10% per year. On $100,000 for one year: $10,000 — $2,000 more than North Carolina. Maryland's rate is among the highest fixed statutory rates in the mid-Atlantic.

Georgia — variable (prime + 3%): Under O.C.G.A. § 7-4-12, Georgia's rate equals the Federal Reserve prime on the judgment date plus 3%. Mid-2026 planning rate: about 10.50% (prime ≈ 7.50%). On $100,000: about $10,500 — $2,500 more than North Carolina. Georgia's rate locks at entry and can exceed North Carolina significantly in high-prime environments.

Regional snapshot on $100,000 for one year: — Maryland 10%: $10,000 — Georgia ~10.50%: ~$10,500 — South Carolina 8.75%: $8,750 — North Carolina 8%: $8,000 — Virginia 6%: $6,000

On $100,000 for three years (simple interest teaching model): — Maryland 10%: $30,000 — North Carolina 8%: $24,000 — Virginia 6%: $18,000 Gap MD vs NC: $6,000 over three years Gap NC vs VA: $6,000 over three years

On $25,000 for one year: — Maryland 10%: $2,500 — South Carolina 8.75%: $2,187.50 — North Carolina 8%: $2,000 (≈ $5.48/day) — Virginia 6%: $1,500

Why North Carolina's tort pre-judgment interest under § 24-5(b) matters in regional comparison: A Virginia tort plaintiff may recover pre-judgment interest at 6% under § 8.01-382, but North Carolina tort plaintiffs recover 8% from the filing date under § 24-5(b). On $50,000 over two years, North Carolina yields $8,000 in tort pre-judgment interest versus $6,000 in Virginia — a $2,000 gap driven by both rate and start-date rules.

Multi-state litigation caution: When a dispute touches North Carolina and a neighbor state, calculate each judgment under its own statute. Do not apply Maryland's 10% to a North Carolina state-court judgment, and do not apply North Carolina's 8% to a Maryland judgment. Venue and governing law determine which rate applies.

Federal judgments in North Carolina: Federal-court money judgments follow 28 U.S.C. § 1961 (about 4.02% mid-2026), not N.C.G.S. § 24-1. A case in the Eastern District of North Carolina or Middle District of North Carolina uses the federal rate unless a specific rule or contract provides otherwise — not the North Carolina state statutory 8%.

The point of the comparison: North Carolina's 8% fixed rate sits in the middle of its neighbors — above Virginia's 6%, below Maryland's 10% and South Carolina's 8.75%, and below Georgia's variable rate in high-prime environments. But § 24-5(b)'s tort pre-judgment interest from filing date at 8% can meaningfully increase total recovery for tort plaintiffs in long pre-judgment periods. Model both rate and timing for any serious payoff or settlement analysis.

When Does NC Judgment Interest Start Accruing?

North Carolina judgment interest start dates depend on the claim type and the statutory subsection that governs. There is no single start date for all North Carolina money judgments — contract actions and tort actions follow different rules under § 24-5.

Post-judgment interest — all money judgments (§ 24-1): Post-judgment interest at 8% per year begins accruing on the date the judgment is entered. It continues until the judgment is paid or otherwise satisfied. Simple interest applies on unpaid principal throughout.

Contract actions — post-judgment only from entry (§ 24-5(a)): For contract judgments, post-judgment interest begins at judgment entry. If § 24-5(a) applies a higher written contract rate, that rate governs from judgment entry forward. Contract actions do not receive tort pre-judgment interest under § 24-5(b).

Tort actions — pre-judgment from filing date (§ 24-5(b)): For personal injury, property damage, and wrongful death actions, compensatory damages accrue interest at 8% per year from the date the action was filed — not from the date of injury, and not from the date of judgment. Post-judgment interest then begins at judgment entry on the judgment amount.

Timeline for a tort action: 1) Action filed — tort pre-judgment interest begins at 8% on compensatory damages under § 24-5(b) 2) Litigation proceeds — interest accrues daily during the case 3) Judgment entered — post-judgment interest begins at 8% under § 24-1 4) Interest continues until satisfaction

Timeline for a contract action: 1) Breach occurs — no statutory pre-judgment interest under § 24-5(b) (that subsection is tort-only) 2) Judgment entered — post-judgment interest begins at 8% under § 24-1 (or the contract rate under § 24-5(a)) 3) Interest continues until satisfaction

Appeals: Filing a notice of appeal does not automatically stop post-judgment interest from accruing. Stays, supersedeas bonds, and specific court orders can affect enforceability and collection — read the order before assuming the clock paused.

Partial payments: When a payment is received, it typically reduces the principal base for future interest accrual. Document the payment date and amount. Recalculate remaining interest from the payment date forward on the reduced principal.

Extended example — tort judgment, filed January 1, 2023, judgment entered January 1, 2026: Compensatory damages: $100,000 Pre-judgment (3 years): $100,000 × 0.08 × 3 = $24,000 Post-judgment (if unpaid through January 1, 2027, one year): $100,000 × 0.08 × 1 = $8,000 Total interest: $32,000 Total with principal: $132,000

Same tort judgment with partial payment of $25,000 on January 1, 2025: Pre-judgment Years 1–2 (2023–2024): $100,000 × 0.08 × 2 = $16,000 accrued After payment: principal reduced to $75,000 Pre-judgment Year 3 (2025): $75,000 × 0.08 × 1 = $6,000 accrued Post-judgment Year 1 (2026): $75,000 × 0.08 × 1 = $6,000 accrued Total interest: $28,000 (not $32,000 — partial payment reduced the base)

Practical timeline checklist: 1) Claim type: contract or tort 2) Filing date (tort pre-judgment start under § 24-5(b)) 3) Judgment entry date (post-judgment start under § 24-1) 4) Rate: 8% default or contract rate under § 24-5(a) 5) Unpaid principal after credits 6) Day count from each start date to payoff 7) Simple interest only — no compounding

If you are comparing a Virginia judgment-date-only model to a North Carolina tort filing-date model in the same multi-state dispute, apply each state's start-date rule separately. Importing Virginia's judgment-date-only habit into a North Carolina tort file understates total interest; importing North Carolina's filing-date tort rule into a Virginia contract file overstates it.

The key takeaway: North Carolina post-judgment interest starts at judgment entry at 8% per year under § 24-1. Tort pre-judgment interest starts at the filing date at 8% under § 24-5(b). Contract actions follow § 24-5(a) for the contract rate from judgment entry forward.

North Carolina Courts and the Calculator

North Carolina judgment interest is one of the cleaner state models to calculate — fixed 8% since July 1, 1980, simple interest on principal, with contract and tort layers that require careful lane selection under § 24-5.

Primary authorities: — N.C.G.S. § 24-1 (8% post-judgment interest; raised from 6% effective July 1, 1980) — N.C.G.S. § 24-5(a) (contract rate survives into judgment when parties agreed in writing) — N.C.G.S. § 24-5(b) (tort pre-judgment interest from filing date on compensatory damages) — North Carolina General Assembly (statute text): https://www.ncleg.gov — North Carolina Judicial Branch: https://www.nccourts.gov

Free planning calculator: /judgment-interest-calculator/north-carolina

How to use this page with the calculator: 1) Identify claim type: contract or tort. 2) For tort actions, confirm filing date (pre-judgment start under § 24-5(b)). 3) Confirm judgment entry date (post-judgment start under § 24-1). 4) Determine rate lane: statutory 8% default, or contract rate under § 24-5(a) if higher. 5) Apply 8% simple interest for each phase (pre-judgment if tort, post-judgment for all). 6) Estimate payoff — then verify against the judgment, docket, and counsel.

Remember the three critical differentials: — North Carolina 8% fixed since 1980 vs Virginia 6% vs Maryland 10% vs South Carolina 8.75%: on $100,000, NC yields $8,000/year, VA $6,000, MD $10,000, SC $8,750 — § 24-5(b) gives tort plaintiffs pre-judgment interest at 8% from filing date — § 24-5(a) preserves higher written contract rates into the judgment

Quick reference examples for the calculator: — $25,000 × 8% × 365 days: $2,000/year, ≈ $5.48/day — $100,000 × 8% × 3 years: $24,000 interest — Tort pre-judgment $50,000 × 8% × 2 years: $8,000 interest

North Carolina's judicial system spans superior courts, district courts, and specialized tribunals across 100 counties. Judgment interest rules apply broadly to civil money judgments, but always confirm your specific court order and claim type before relying on a planning estimate.

If you only remember one sentence: North Carolina makes the arithmetic straightforward — 8% simple interest from judgment entry under § 24-1, tort pre-judgment interest from filing date at 8% under § 24-5(b), and contract judgments carrying a higher written rate when § 24-5(a) applies. Use the calculator to model your dates and principal, then verify the rate lane before treating any figure as a payoff amount.