[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/how-long-does-uncontested-divorce-take#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/how-long-does-uncontested-divorce-take","headline":"How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce Take?","name":"How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce Take?","description":"To divorce in North Carolina, a couple must live physically apart for a year. After a year has passed, the work necessary to conclude an uncontested divorce, including obtaining a judge\u2019s divorce decree, can be completed in less than 60 days. North Carolina is a no-fault divorce state. A couple...","datePublished":"2022-12-15","dateModified":"2026-04-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/author\/cullman#Person","name":"Charles R. Ullman","url":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/author\/cullman","identifier":57,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/95523b76e3fabd629464090bfe2a95c0788960cc1dccd6db5bf756e20d0d4c67?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/95523b76e3fabd629464090bfe2a95c0788960cc1dccd6db5bf756e20d0d4c67?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Charles R. Ullman & Associates","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/logo.png","width":310,"height":78}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/uncontested-divorce.png","url":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/uncontested-divorce.png","height":4068,"width":6102},"url":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/how-long-does-uncontested-divorce-take","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mGVfLn2KsSY#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mGVfLn2KsSY","name":"Time in a Divorce Process \u2013 What You Need to Know (NC Guide)","description":"How long does a divorce take in North Carolina? A Raleigh divorce attorney explains the North Carolina divorce timeline, 12-month separation requirement, uncontested vs. contested divorce, and what can delay your case.\n\nIf you're filing for divorce in NC, understanding the legal process and timeline can help you prepare and protect your rights.\n\nCharles R. Ullman & Associates\n109 S. Bloodworth St., Raleigh, NC 27601\n\ud83d\udcde (919) 829-1006\n\ud83c\udf10 https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/\n\n#NorthCarolinaDivorce #DivorceTimeline #RaleighDivorceLawyer","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/mGVfLn2KsSY\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/mGVfLn2KsSY\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/mGVfLn2KsSY\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/mGVfLn2KsSY\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/mGVfLn2KsSY\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2026-04-21T08:05:51+00:00","duration":"PT4M14S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mGVfLn2KsSY","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCBliU7IoQ75K4p3rqFuEEAQ#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCBliU7IoQ75K4p3rqFuEEAQ","name":"Charles Ullman","description":"If your life has been turned upside down by a separation, divorce or child custody dispute, you are at the right place for help. My Raleigh, NC law firm, Charles R. Ullman & Associates, concentrates in all aspects of family law. We know how difficult the end of a marriage can be for you and your family, and we can handle all of your legal needs in these emotionally challenging moments.  Here is a collection of videos that we created or curated.\n\nCharles R. Ullman & Associates\n109 S. Bloodworth St.\nRaleigh, NC 27601\nPhone: (919) 829-1006","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/ytc\/AIdro_mdvm_x8iqBZzjeOGoJk_8kTScmhyg1Y4iE_nmTS8RQ7_8=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mGVfLn2KsSY#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mGVfLn2KsSY#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mGVfLn2KsSY&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}},"about":["Divorce & Separation"],"wordCount":976,"articleBody":"To divorce in North Carolina, a couple must live physically apart for a year. After a year has passed, the work necessary to conclude an uncontested divorce, including obtaining a judge\u2019s divorce decree, can be completed in less than 60 days.North Carolina is a no-fault divorce state. A couple that wants to end a marriage can do so without demonstrating that either party has caused the marriage to fail. However, there are certain legal requirements that must be completed to the satisfaction of the court before a divorce may be granted in North Carolina.The best way to ensure your uncontested divorce proceeds as efficiently as possible is for each party to obtain the assistance of an experienced North Carolina divorce lawyer. A single attorney cannot represent you both because your divorce attorney is obligated to protect your rights and interests from demands your spouse may make in a separation agreement. Even an uncontested divorce can be financially devastating to one or both spouses if not handled correctly.The family law attorneys of Charles R. Ullman & Associates in Raleigh, N.C., can guide you through the divorce process in North Carolina while protecting your rights and interests. Contact us for a discussion of your uncontested divorce today.Filing for Divorce in North CarolinaTo seek an uncontested divorce in North Carolina, you need to:Live separately and apart for at least 12 months.File divorce papers and have them served on the other spouse.Prepare a separation agreement containing the terms of the divorce. There are several issues that must be addressed in a separation agreement, and the work required may be done during the year of separation or later.Attend a hearing, at which a judge should issue an order making your settlement agreement a binding legal agreement and granting your final divorce.After a married couple in North Carolina has lived apart for at least 12 consecutive months, with at\u00a0least one of them intending for the separation to be permanent, either spouse may then file for a legal divorce.To initiate divorce proceedings in North Carolina, one spouse must file a divorce complaint with the Clerk of Court in the county of their residence. A divorce attorney may file the notice on behalf of a client. The county Sheriff\u2019s Office will then serve the divorce complaint upon the other spouse.Thirty days after a divorce complaint has been served, the spouse filing for divorce may request a hearing.Requirements of a Separation Agreement in an N.C. DivorceA divorce is considered uncontested when the parties\u00a0agree on all issues that must be addressed in their separation agreement, including:Child custody and visitationChild supportDivision of propertyAlimonyThe parties\u2019 objective in an uncontested divorce is to draft a separation agreement that a family law judge can adopt as the basis for a final divorce order. A separation agreement must be fair to both parties to be approved.If the divorcing couple has underage children, the separation agreement must include a parenting plan that reflects decisions about child custody, parental visitation, and child support payments. For a parenting plan to be approved, a judge must determine that it serves the best interests of the children.A divorcing couple in North Carolina must state how they will divide their marital assets and debts acquired while they were married. By law, the separation agreement must include plans for an equitable division of marital assets. It is not allowable for one spouse to say the other can have everything.The settlement agreement must state whether either spouse will pay the other spousal support, including how much and for how long.Coming to an Agreement in an Uncontested DivorceYour divorce is considered uncontested if you submit to the court a separation agreement that you have both agreed to follow. Even in the most amicable divorces, coming to an agreement on all issues can require a lot of work, particularly when there are children involved or significant marital assets.Typically, the parties to an uncontested divorce hash out each issue in a nonconfrontational manner through negotiations aided by their separate attorneys.If there are issues that cannot be resolved, there are alternative approaches available to resolve disputes:In a collaborative divorce, the parties and their attorneys develop and sign a\u00a0participation agreement, which sets ground rules for working through the issues in dispute. Additional professionals, such as a financial specialist or child specialist, may be called upon to help if negotiations hit sticking points.In mediation, a specially trained neutral third party seeks to guide the divorcing spouses toward the resolution of disputes. Mediators often\u00a0help find creative solutions to unique situations, but a mediator does not make decisions for divorcing parties. As issues are settled, the parties and their respective attorneys will determine how to incorporate the decisions into the separation agreement.The goal for an uncontested divorce is for the judge to accept your separation agreement without changes after reviewing it and having each of you attest to your agreement. Then the judge signs the divorce order, which makes the separation agreement legally binding.Meet With Our Raleigh Uncontested Divorce LawyersThe\u00a0Raleigh divorce lawyers\u00a0at Charles R. Ullman & Associates\u00a0focus solely on family law. Our firm can provide experienced counsel and a collegial atmosphere to move your uncontested divorce toward a productive resolution. Attorney\u00a0Charles R. Ullman\u00a0is a certified North Carolina family law specialist with experience in collaborative divorce, mediation, and arbitration. Charles R. Ullman & Associates has helped many clients with family law issues in Raleigh, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, and across Wake County for more than 20 years.If you are considering a divorce, call us today or\u00a0complete our online form\u00a0to schedule a consultation with an N.C. State Bar-certified Family Law Specialist at our\u00a0Raleigh\u00a0office."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce Take?","item":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/how-long-does-uncontested-divorce-take#breadcrumbitem"}]}]