News & Events

N.C. Alienation of Affection and Criminal Conversation Laws Amended

North Carolina recently amended the Alienation of Affection and Criminal Conversation statutes by adding some new restrictions and timelines.  In summary, the Amendment, effective October 1, 2009 provides that: 

(1) Acts of alienation of affection or criminal conversation that occur AFTER THE PARTIES SEPARATE with the intent by EITHER party that the separation remain permanent shall not give rise to a cause of action for alienation of affection or criminal conversation; 

(2) Actions for alienation of affection and criminal conversation must be filed within THREE YEARS from the last act giving rise to such cause of action; and 

(3) A cause of action for alienation of affection or criminal conversation can only be brought against a NATURAL person (no businesses or corporations can be named as parties to such actions).

In summary, this new law sets forth that only acts occurring before separation are actionable, such actions must be filed within three years and that corporations and businesses can no longer be named as defendants in actions for alienation of affection and criminal conversation.  

Below is a link to the statute: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1110V7.pdf