Legal Separation Agreements

Separation Agreements in North Carolina and South Carolina

Many separating couples choose to address issues of custody, child support, alimony, and equitable distribution by way of a separation agreement. This is a written, notarized, and legally enforceable contract signed by both people involved that outlines how a couple will deal with their assets, children, and more, once they divorce. 

Separation agreements have many benefits over litigation. Most importantly, they allow the parties involved to resolve their issues through a private contract and come to mutually beneficial terms rather than bringing the case to a judge for third-party resolution.

No matter your circumstances, it is important to enlist the help of an experienced attorney while in the midst of a legal separation in NC or SC. At Collins Family & Elder Law Group, we know that financial, property, and custody issues can be overwhelming. With the right legal assistance from our team, however, you can resolve these issues in a way that ensures the protection of everything that matters to you.

Is a Separation Agreement Right for You?

Separation agreements are an excellent alternative to litigation for those who are parting ways amicably, but they aren’t for everyone. These agreements are not meant for those who need to create complicated child custody provisions or divide high-value property. The mechanisms for doing so are relatively weak, are not typically not enforced by local police, and are not always binding in court. 

A separation agreement is ideal for two people who are splitting up peacefully and have already separated or intend to separate after the agreement is finalized. In a best-case scenario, there would also be mutual trust between the parties as well as decent credit scores and a level of financial independence on both sides.  

The following are the conditions you must meet for a separation agreement in NC to become legally valid:

• The agreement must be in written form
• The document must be signed by both parties, without coercion, and notarized
• Those involved must not yet be divorced
• The document must be created without undue influence, fraud, force, false disclosure of assets, inability to consent, or mistakes

Advantages and Disadvantages of Separation Agreements in North and South Carolina

One of the primary draws of separation agreements is that they aren’t as expensive as consent decrees, which usually land in court. While separation agreements can still be costly if you have extensive negotiations or revisions to make, they still won’t cost as much as the litigation associated with consent decrees. 

Another reason people prefer separation agreements to alternative solutions is that the parties involved have more control over the outcome. If you opt for litigation, you won’t have any say in the matter. Your case will be turned over to an uninvolved third party who doesn’t fully know the conditions of their case as well as you do, and the litigation can take years to resolve. Separation agreements, on the other hand, give you direct input on the terms of the settlement, and in turn, the agreement can be finalized faster so you can move on with your life sooner. 

You know your situation better than any judge, so don’t put your case in the hands of a stranger. Work with Collins Family & Elder Law Group to create a separation agreement that works out favorably for everyone involved.

Qualification for a North or South Carolina Separation Agreement

Laws surrounding legal separation differ from state to state. In NC, you are considered legally separated when you no longer live with your spouse and do not intend to cohabit again in the future. You cannot live in the same household or have plans to reconcile, and you must be living in different homes in separate locations. As long as you meet these conditions, there are no other qualifying conditions for a legal separation in NC.

There is no such thing as legal separation in SC, as the state does not differentiate between separation and divorce. If you reside in SC and are separating from your spouse, you can request an Order of Separation and Maintenance from the court, which serves to protect both parties during the separation period. This court action is different from a separation agreement in that it does not require that you divorce your partner in the end.