If you find yourself residing in Chapel Hill after a divorce, whether you lived here before or this is new territory, you will need access to information about government resources. You will need to explore tax information like property tax, vehicle tax, or maybe even just information about filing income taxes on your own for the first time. You will need to know how to setup services like public utilities. You may be looking for phone numbers for the local police station or fire department. Whatever you are looking for, if it is a government resource in Chapel Hill or Orange County you will find it here.
Tax Information
228 S. Churton St.
Suite 200
Hillsborough NC 27278
(919) 245 – 2100
The website listed above provides a wealth of tax information. You can find information about tax bills, pay taxes, research relief programs, and even find information about tax options. Perhaps in the post-separation or divorce move you lost your vehicle tax bill and you know the due date is approaching. You can easily log on to this website and locate an electronic version of the bill, and pay the bill in a matter of minutes.
Postal Service
Whether you are new to Chapel Hill, or simply changing residences in Chapel Hill, you will need to remember to update your address with the local post office. You should also update your address directly for certain accounts and services, like your bank, credit cards, health insurance providers and the like. In addition to updating your address directly with certain entities, you should notify your local post office as well.
Inevitably we forget to change a billing or shipping address somewhere, and by updating your address at the post office you will be sure you don’t miss any correspondence after you have moved. This will forward any mail delivered to your previous address on a short-term basis, allowing you time to update your address everywhere you need to. You can fill out the form at any local post office, or you can submit this request online.
The USPS office locations convenient to Chapel Hill are listed here:
- 1500 W Main St.
Carrboro, NC 27510
- 179 E. Franklin St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
- 125 S. Estes Dr.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
- 1129 Weaver Dairy Rd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Drivers License Information
This is an important resource for a newly divorced individual; our clients have needed to access the DMV website, or visit an office in person to complete the following divorce-related tasks:
- To obtain a NC Drivers license
- To change your address on your existing NC license
- To change your name on your NC license after a divorce
- To obtain a NC Identification card
- Obtain information about vehicle registration and renewal
- Obtain a new vehicle title
Before making a trip to the DMV to handle the above matters, be sure to look at the website listed above as some services can be completed online. . For instance, you may update your address, order a duplicate ID if yours was lost or stolen, or order a duplicate registration card without having to set foot in a DMV office.
However, other services, such as changing your name on your license, will require a trip to the DMV. If you do have to visit a DMV office, use their office locator search engine available on their website. Not every office offers every DMV service, so be sure to call in advance and make sure the office you plan to visit may take care of your DMV need. Additionally, you may download any number of forms on their website that you may be able to fill out in advance. There are two DMV offices in the Chapel Hill area that can handle most drivers license needs; those locations are listed here:
- Carrboro Office
NC 54 Bypass & NC 54 Business
104 V Carrboro Plaza
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 929 – 4161
- Hillsborough Office
1201 Cornelius St.
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732 – 2427
You may find one of the Durham DMV locations more convenient, for those addresses use out the DMV locator on the website we provided above, or simply visit the government resources article in our Durham Center.
Social Security Information
3004 Tower Blvd
Durham, NC 27702
1-888-759-3908
There is no social security office in Orange County; however there is an office in Durham and also an office in Raleigh. For details about the Raleigh office please visit our Government Resources article in the Raleigh Center.
As a recent divorcee, you may find yourself needing to visit the local social security office. If you have legally changed your name, you will need to apply for a new social security card. Or, if you have lost an original social security card (for you or your children) in the move, you will need to get a replacement card. Both of these actions require a visit to the local Social Security office.
To obtain a new social security card reflective of a name change after a divorce, you must go to the local Social Security Office and provide them with documentation that proves you are a US citizen (i.e., birth certificate or passport), and documentation of your legal name change (i.e., the divorce decree). You will also need to fill out and print an application for a correction to your social security card.
If you need a duplicate card because the original has been lost or stolen, bring documentation of U.S. citizenship (i.e., passport or birth certificate), and proof of Identity (i.e., drivers license, military ID card, or passport), and the printed application form.
City and County Resources
(919) 732 – 8181
The website can answer most questions you may have, it includes sections related to searching for lost pets, checking voter registration, looking for job opportunities, as well as where to locate public libraries and parks and how to obtain a building permit. Should you not find what you are looking for, feel free to pick up the phone and give them a call at the number listed above.
Town of Chapel Hill – Trash Collection
Chapel Hill Town Hall
405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 968 – 2743
The Town of Chapel Hill does provide weekly curbside garbage collection to residents living inside the city limits. The website above provides information about the services, as well as a trash collection schedule and map.
Orange County Solid Waste Management Department
1207 Eubanks Road
Chapel Hill, NC 2756
(919) 968 – 2788
The link above provides information regarding solid waste, including curbside recycling and hazardous waste collection.
Orange Water and Sewer Authority
400 Jones Ferry Road
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 968 – 4464
Referred to by locals as “OWASA,” Orange Water and Sewer Authority is a public agency that provides water, sewer, and reclaimed water services to Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Their website allows for easy bill paying, and also includes a function that allows you to check your water usage.
Emergency Services
828 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 968 – 2760
As always, if experiencing an emergency or ongoing incident please dial 911 and a dispatcher will direct your call to the appropriate authority. For non-emergencies or other crimes, however, the appropriate phone number and email address can be found here.
403 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 968 – 2781
The Chapel Hill Fire department is prepared to handle fire suppression and extinguishing, vehicle extraction, basic response, first responder emergency medical services as well as other functions. Again, in case of an emergency always call 911, but if you have a question or concern involving a non-emergency feel free to call the number listed above.
