updates to NC laws during covid-19

The North Carolina General Assembly recently passed a COVID-19 relief bill, which was then signed by Governor Cooper. Included in this bill was nearly $1.6 billion in relief for public health and safety, educational needs, small business assistance, and continuing state government operations.  Following the passage of those monetary relief measures, the General Assembly also…

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common law marriage

Does North Carolina recognize Common Law marriages? The short answer is no. The long answer is maybe. Several states still recognize common law marriage, North Carolina is not one those states. A Common Law marriage is a term used for a marriage that is considered to exist between two parties but was not performed by…

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alienation of affection

You’ve just found out your spouse cheated on you while you were married. What’s your next step? While most states have done away with this common law tort, North Carolina is one of the few states that still recognizes alienation of affection and other heart balm actions. Alienation of Affection allows a spouse to sue…

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same-sex marriage

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges today, settling the score and guaranteeing the equal protection of law to same-sex marriage. The Court held by a vote of 5-4 that the 14th Amendment requires states to license marriages between two people of the same sex. The decision means…

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