In North Carolina, divorce is referred to as an “absolute divorce,” To file for divorce in North Carolina, you must have lived in North Carolina for at least six months before filing for divorce. HOWEVER, even if you’ve lived in the state for six months, you must have been separated from your spouse for at least ONE YEAR AND ONE DAY.
While North Carolina offers many self-help divorce papers online, it does not provide forms for child support, alimony, or division of property and assets. In other words, the available forms are for uncontested divorces. The free forms packet offered by the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission clearly states that if you want child support, want to contest custody, want child support, or want the court to distribute assets, you need to talk to a lawyer.
North Carolina Divorce Papers Packet
The following divorce packet is offered by the North Carolina Judicial Branch.
Example of a North Carolina Divorce Paper
North Carolina Absolute Divorce Papers
To file for an absolute divorce, you will need the following North Carolina divorce papers:
- North Carolina Complaint for Absolute Divorce
- North Carolina Verification
- North Carolina Domestic Civil Action Cover Sheet
- North Carolina Civil Summons
- North Carolina Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Declaration
- North Carolina Notice of Hearing
- North Carolina Judgment of Absolute Divorce Before The Clerk
- North Carolina Certificate of Service
- North Carolina Certificate of Absolute Divorce or Annulment
You may also need the following additional North Carolina divorce papers: