Grounds for Divorce in North Carolina

The first step in the divorce process is figuring out if you have grounds. Each state has requirements when it comes to filing for divorce. Those specific to North Carolina include:

Residency Requirements

North Carolina law requires that a person must be a resident of the state for at least six months. Proceedings will happen in the county where the party filing for divorce is currently living. If the spouse has been a resident for less than six months, they will either have to wait to file or file with their previous state of residence.

Is Mediation or Counseling Required?

There are certain situations in which mediation is required by the court. Most often those situations involve disputes regarding child custody or any issues pertaining to minor children that resulted from the union of the couple. Under fairly rare circumstances, North Carolina courts may waive the mediation proceedings.

How Long Will Divorce Proceedings Take?

The length of proceedings can vary depending on the cooperation of both spouses. It will take at least a year due to the fact that the couple needs to be separated for at least a year before proceedings can begin to permanently end the marriage. Another factor is how backlogged the courts are with these kinds of cases.

If you’re interested in speeding up the process, the best thing you can do is fully cooperate and do all you can to meet your ex halfway. The smoother the mediation and decision making processes go regarding child custody and visitation, division of the assets, and alimony, the quicker your marriage will be dissolved.  

When facing divorce, the best thing you can do is get advice from a professional. Contact the law office of John C. Fitzpatrick for a consultation. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and help you get through your divorce quickly and smoothly.  

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