Divorce Process
Filing Fees
Divorce without a lawyer
DIY-Divorce
Property Division
Division of Property

Online Divorce
in North Carolina

Divorce in North Carolina is quick and easy
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Do you know the location of your spouse?
Can you and your spouse agree to the division of property, debts and all child related issues?

Divorce Online in North Carolina

If soon-to-be-ex partners want to get a divorce, but their plans do not include paying for the services of an expensive lawyer, they can turn to NorthCarolinaOnlineDivorce for help. This user-friendly online platform generates ready-to-sign divorce forms based on specific case information. To do this, one of the spouses needs to answer questions in a special questionnaire.

Here are the main advantages of NorthCarolinaOnlineDivorce:

  • Autonomy.

    Spouses do not need to waste time driving to lawyer appointments. Instead, they work with the documents online from any device.

  • Independence.

    Spouses do not depend on a lawyer's schedule.

  • Fast result.

    The required papers will be available for download via email within two business days.

  • Comfort.

    The couple works at their own pace.

  • Simple filing with the court.

    NorthCarolinaOnlineDivorce offers detailed written instructions for filing with the court.

  • Affordable price.

    The service is several times cheaper than an attorney.

Compare Your Options for Filing for Divorce in North Carolina

Divorce With a Lawyer

Traditional legit process, where a separate lawyer protects the interests of each spouse.

  • Often the most extended proceedings;
  • Sometimes a lawyer provokes new conflicts;
  • The couple depends on the lawyer's schedule;
  • Aggressive court environment negatively affects children;
  • Divorce lawyers typically charge between $230 and $280 an hour.
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The premier uncontested divorce tool

Fast, cheap, and easy solution to file for divorce yourself.

  • All forms are generated and filled out by the system;
  • Work with papers from any convenient place;
  • Clear and straightforward platform;
  • Best for a peaceful divorce without legal battles;
  • Low cost: much cheaper than a lawyer in North Carolina.

DIY divorce

The most budget procedure, but does not guarantee efficiency.

  • May lead to an unfair outcome;
  • Spouses may receive less than expected;
  • Ignorance of the laws affects the completion of the required forms;
  • Often delayed due to incorrect filling out of forms;
  • May lead to additional financial costs.

What Forms Do I Need to File for Divorce in North Carolina?

To file for divorce in North Carolina, spouses need to collect and complete the following package of primary documents:

  • Complaint for Absolute Divorce
  • Domestic Civil Action Cover Sheet (AOC-CV-750)
  • Civil Summons (AOC-CV-100)
  • Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Affidavit (AOC-G-250)
  • Notice of Hearing
  • Judgment of Absolute Divorce
  • Waiver and Answer (optional)
  • Complaint for Absolute Divorce Verification
  • Domestic Civil Action Cover Sheet
  • Civil Summons Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Notice of Hearing
  • Judgment of Absolute Divorce Certificate of Service
  • Certificate of Absolute Divorce or Annulment
  • Affidavit of Service of Process by Registered or Certified Mail (optional)
  • Certificate of Absolute Divorce (DHHS 2089/Vital Records).

If the couple has common minor children, they sign two additional documents — the Voluntary Support Agreement (VSA) and the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSE).

Welcome to your online North Carolina divorce guide
Qualify for divorce1
Provide your case details2
Get your papers3
File for divorce4

How to Fill Out North Carolina Divorce Papers

  1. A couple starts a case for absolute divorce with the Complaint for Absolute Divorce, Domestic Civil Action Cover Sheet (AOC-CV-750), Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Affidavit (AOC-G-250), and Civil Summons (AOC-CV-100). Spouses may need other forms as they go through the process to finish the absolute separation.

  2. The spouses should correctly fill out the required fields in all the necessary papers. For example, in most forms, the couple will need to enter the following data:

    • The county's name where the applicant will be filing the case;
    • The mailing address in the box is marked "Name and Address of Attorney or Party." In addition, the plaintiff should include the telephone number if they have one;
    • The defendant's address in the box marked "Name and address of Defendant 1." An applicant should use the street address unless they are doing service by registered mail.
  3. Couples should fill out every blank unless they are sure that it does not apply to their case.

  4. The final step in filling out the documents is to bring the completed paperwork to the court and pay court filing fees. The fee for filing a divorce case is currently $225 in North Carolina. An applicant will also need $30 to have the sheriff serve the defendant or $7 to serve the defendant by certified mail. If one of the spouses includes a claim for Resumption of Maiden Name, they should pay an additional $10 fee.

File for Divorce Online in North Carolina Without a Lawyer

Filing Requirements for Online Divorce in North Carolina

To file for a divorce in North Carolina without a lawyer, a couple must meet the residency requirements and correctly state the grounds for the divorce.

North Carolina is a no-fault divorce state. So, the court does not force one spouse to accuse the other of wrong-doing that broke the marriage.

As a result, a North Carolina court can divorce spouses based on the following reasons:

  • If the spouses have been separated for more than one year;
  • If a couple lived separately for three consecutive years due to the incurable insanity of one spouse.

The couple can file for divorce in North Carolina in the following ways:

  1. Spouses can file online through the NCJB — the North Carolina Judicial Branch E-filing system;
  2. A couple can send papers by mail to the court;
  3. Spouses can come to court in person and file divorce papers;
  4. Soon-to-be-ex partners can use the additional services of NorthCarolinaOnlineDivorce for filing documents with the court.
Check if you qualify for an online divorce in North Carolina
Get your ready-to-file North Carolina divorce paperwork

Do-It-Yourself Divorce in North Carolina

A DIY divorce in the state of North Carolina has the following necessary steps:

1. Complete the court forms.

Any absolute divorce in North Carolina begins with the completion and filing of a Complaint for Absolute Divorce, Domestic Civil Action Cover Sheet (AOC-CV-750), Civil Summons (AOC-CV-100), Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Affidavit (AOC- G-250). Also, a couple might need an optional form — a Petition to Proceed as an Indigent (AOC-G106) which is used if they cannot afford the court fees.

In addition, the spouses may need these completed forms to finish their absolute divorce:

  • Notice of Hearing;
  • Judgment of Absolute Divorce;
  • Waiver and Answer (optional);
  • Affidavit of Service of Process by Registered or Certified Mail (optional);
  • Certificate of Absolute Divorce (DHHS 2089/Vital Records), which spouses will get from the courtroom clerk when they come to court for the divorce hearing.

2. File court papers in the clerk of court's office

An applicant should take three copies of the Complaint, the Domestic Civil Action Cover Sheet, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Affidavit, and four copies of the Summons to the Clerk of Court's office in the county where they will be filing.

Further, the spouses pay a fee for filing documents with the court. Currently, this amount is $225. If the couple cannot afford to pay this fee, they must file the Petition to Proceed as an Indigent.

Once the couple has paid or waived the fee, they file the original Complaint and Summons, and their case will be assigned a case number and placed in the public archives.

3. Serve the papers to the defendant.

The next step is to give copies of the divorce forms to the second spouse. An applicant may serve a respondent in four ways:

  1. By sheriff (the easiest service, costs $30);
  2. By certified mail (the defendant signs a special “green card” showing that the packet was delivered);
  3. By publication (the most expensive and time-consuming);
  4. Acceptance of service (if the defendant wants to cooperate).

4. Wait 30 days, then set a date for a hearing.

The defendant has thirty days to file an Answer. After they file this form, or if no Answer is filed after thirty days, the case can be scheduled for a hearing.

5. Go to the court with prepared Judgment for Judge's review.

If all forms are filled out correctly, the judge will begin the hearing. If not, they may dismiss the claim. The court may ask the spouses questions about marriage dissolution. After at least 30 days, the spouses will receive a final divorce order from the judge.

We provide you with:
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  • All Required North Carolina State Forms
  • North Carolina-Specific Court Filing Instructions
  • Unlimited Revisions for as long as your account is active

Getting a Divorce With Children in North Carolina

If spouses have minor children in North Carolina, they will need to resolve all child support and custody issues.

All parents are responsible for maintaining their children unless their parental rights have been terminated. The parents may be required to pay child support until the children turn 18. Otherwise, non-parents are not responsible for paying child support.

Child custody can be physical and legal (sole or joint) in North Carolina.

  • Physical custody means the right to have a child live with you, permanently or partially.
  • Legal custody is the right to make essential decisions in a child's life. Both legal and physical custody may be divided between the parents or awarded to only one parent.

A parent with sole legal custody can make important decisions about a child's life without consulting the other parent. However, if the parents have joint legal custody, they should consult and jointly make important decisions regarding the child's school, health, leisure, etc.

Check if you qualify for an online divorce in North Carolina
Get your ready-to-file North Carolina divorce paperwork

Residency Requirements in NC

In North Carolina, there are two residency requirements for couples:

  1. Before filing for divorce, the spouses must live apart for a year (and also provide the court with evidence of separation);
  2. At least one of the spouses must have resided in the state for at least six months before filing for divorce.
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How Long Does It Take to Get a Divorce in North Carolina?

The waiting period for a divorce in North Carolina is a minimum of 30 days for an uncontested divorce. This is the period between the start of the divorce proceedings (filing of documents) and the final court decision. Typically, it takes at least 45-90 days to get divorced. Then, the spouses get the final divorce decree.

The duration of any divorce directly depends on the specifics of a particular case. For example, divorces in which the couple cannot agree on alimony or child custody naturally take longer.

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Wake County
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Guilford County
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Forsyth County
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Durham County
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Union County
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New Hanover County
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Gaston County
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Orange County
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Rowan County
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Frequently Asked Questions

First, the spouses meet the residency requirements and complete the court forms. Then, the couple files court papers in the clerk of court's office. The next step is to serve the documents to the defendant. After waiting 30 days, the court sets a date for a hearing. Finally, ex-partners go to the court with prepared Judgment for Judge's review.

The cost of a DIY divorce in North Carolina starts with a $225 filing fee. On average, divorce lawyers in North Carolina charge between $230 and $280 an hour. The average total costs for divorce proceedings involving a lawyer range from $9,700 to $11,700.

If the couple cannot afford to pay the court filing fee ($225), they must file the Petition to Proceed as an Indigent.

Couples can find all the necessary blank forms on the North Carolina Judicial Branch site or can request the required documents from the court clerk of the district where they live. However, they can always contact NorthCarolinaOnlineDivorce. We will send ready-made forms focused on the specific case in two business days.

Once the paperwork is completed, it must be filed at the clerk’s office in the appropriate county or online using the North Carolina Judicial Branch E-filing system.

North Carolina is a no-fault divorce state. So, there are only two grounds:

  • If the spouses have been separated for more than one year;
  • If a couple lived separately for three consecutive years due to the incurable insanity of one of them.

In North Carolina, marital property is divided 50/50 if considered fair. However, North Carolina divorce laws consider many factors that would allow for an unequal division of property if a 50/50 distribution would be unfair.