State Democratic Senator Woodson Bradley, joined by North Carolina‑based labor‑and‑delivery nurse and social‑media influencer Jen Hamilton, is leading a renewed effort to reform the state’s divorce laws. The proposal would reduce the current 12‑month separation requirement to six months and ban the controversial alienation‑of‑affection lawsuits that allow a spouse to sue a third party for “ruining” a marriage.
Background and proposed changes
North Carolina’s divorce statutes date back to the 1930s, mandating that couples live apart for a full year before a divorce can be granted. In the 2025‑2026 fiscal year, the state recorded 33,392 divorce cases. Senate Bill 626, introduced by Sen. Bradley in March 2025, seeks to cut the separation period in half. The bill also allows couples to waive the six‑month waiting period when the divorce is uncontested and no minor children are involved, and it includes a specific exemption for victims of domestic violence.
Support and rationale
Bradley described the bill as “very kind,” emphasizing that an abusive or cruel relationship should not force individuals to remain legally bound to a harmful partner for an arbitrary length of time. The North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence endorsed the changes, noting that waiting periods can keep survivors tied to abusers, extending economic, emotional, and physical harm.
Hamilton, who publicly announced her own separation, has used her platform to highlight how financial constraints trap many women in dangerous relationships. “There are so many women who are stuck with the person that hurts them because they do not have the resources or finances to leave,” she wrote.
Alienation‑of‑affection lawsuits
The current law also permits alienation‑of‑affection suits, allowing a spouse to sue a third party for interfering in the marriage. Some juries have awarded millions in damages. Bradley said the bill would ban these “homewrecker” lawsuits, removing a legal tool that can further victimize divorcees.
Legislative outlook
Republican leaders did not bring the original bill to a vote before the 2025 legislative deadline, halting its progress for the session. A revised version, Senate Bill 836, was re‑introduced in April 2026 and referred to the Senate appropriations/base budget committee, but it has not yet advanced. The issue is expected to reappear as lawmakers head toward the 2026 elections, with Bradley seeking reelection.
Bradley has reported receiving threats from opponents of the reform, yet she maintains her stance: “I am not pro‑divorce. I am happily remarried. I love being married. But no one should be trapped any longer than necessary to the wrong person.”
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
