North Carolina divorce at a glance
Official source: North Carolina court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in North Carolina: step by step
North Carolina requires a full year of separation before you file for an absolute divorce — and support/property should be resolved first. Here is the path.
- Confirm you can file in North Carolina
One spouse must have lived in NC for 6 months, and you must have lived separate and apart for a full year (with at least one spouse intending it to be permanent) before you file.Source: N.C.G.S. § 50-6 - Prepare the complaint and summons
Prepare the Complaint for Absolute Divorce and the Civil Summons (AOC-CV-100), using the official North Carolina Divorce Packet.Source: NC Divorce Packet; AOC-CV-100 - File with the District Court
File with the District Court clerk (about $225), plus a Petition to Proceed as an Indigent (AOC-G-106) if needed.Source: AOC-G-106 (fee waiver) - Serve your spouse
Serve your spouse; they have 30 days to respond.Source: N.C.R. Civ. P. 4 - Resolve support and property first (important)
In North Carolina, settle child support, custody, and property division before the divorce is final — an absolute divorce can cut off some property claims if you wait.Source: N.C.G.S. § 50-11 - Get your judgment
After the 30-day answer period, ask for summary judgment or a short hearing; the judge signs the Judgment of Absolute Divorce.Source: Judgment of Absolute Divorce
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in North Carolina?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In North Carolina you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat prepares your North Carolina pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in North Carolina
Income-shares model using the NC Child Support Guidelines worksheets (AOC-CV-627/628/629).
Because North Carolina uses an income-shares approach, the exact number comes from an official table based on both parents’ combined income. Use your court’s official child-support calculator for a precise figure.
How long does a North Carolina divorce take?
No post-filing waiting period, but you must have been separated for a full year before you file; the other spouse has 30 days to answer. After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons North Carolina divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. Low–moderate. Statewide AOC forms are used, though several counties (Durham, Mecklenburg) publish their own pro-se packets. Note: child support and custody are usually handled separately from the divorce itself.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
North Carolina document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to North Carolina. In the meantime, the official North Carolina court forms are linked below.
Official North Carolina forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
North Carolina divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your North Carolina divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in North Carolina to file for divorce?
6 months in NC by either spouse
How much does it cost to file for divorce in North Carolina?
$225 absolute divorce; +$30 if sheriff serves. Fee waiver: Petition to Proceed as an Indigent (AOC-G-106). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.