North Carolina Divorce Checklist & Documents
Quick answer: What documents do you need for a North Carolina divorce? Bring ID & basics (addresses, marriage certificate), court filing items (complaint, verification, civil summons, service details), and—if property, support, or custody are involved—financials (pay stubs, taxes, bank/retirement statements, debts), real estate & vehicle records, insurance, and child-related records (school/medical/parenting calendars). We assemble a clean packet that clerks, judges, and agencies can use. General info only; not tax or legal advice.
Show up ready. This checklist covers the documents most families need for absolute divorce, equitable distribution, alimony, child support, and custody in North Carolina—organized so your case moves faster with fewer surprises.
Your North Carolina Divorce Lawyer
Krispen Culbertson, North Carolina family lawyer with 20+ years preparing court-ready packets for absolute divorce, equitable distribution, alimony, child support, and custody. We build clean records that clerks, judges, HR, schools, and plan administrators will follow.
Memberships: North Carolina State Bar; local family law sections. Courts: District Court calendars statewide with regular hearings in Guilford County.
Start by situation
Fast answers
Absolute divorce vs. everything else: The divorce itself needs a complaint, verification, summons, service, and hearing/judgment. Property, support, and custody need separate filings and proof.
How many years? Plan on at least 2–3 years of taxes and statements; more if assets are complex.
Digital is fine: PDF statements, portal exports, and pay stubs are acceptable in most courts when authenticated.
Privacy & minors: Use partial redactions where allowed. We tailor orders schools and doctors can follow without exposing private data.
Absolute divorce filing items
- Photo ID; current addresses for both spouses
- Marriage date/place; date of separation (12+ months)
- Complaint for absolute divorce with verification
- Civil Summons and proof of service (sheriff/certified mail/accepted service)
- Domestic Civil Action cover sheet (county-specific form)
- Proposed Judgment and Notice of Hearing, if required
- State Vital Records certificate for divorce, if required by the county
Property, real estate & debts
- Deeds, closing disclosures, recent mortgage/HELOC statements, tax assessor value
- Vehicle titles/registrations and loan statements
- Bank, brokerage, and cash app statements (2–3 years)
- Credit card and personal loan statements; credit report if available
- Household inventory and photos for major items
Alimony & income proof
- Last 3–6 months of pay stubs; current W-2/1099
- Federal and state tax returns (2–3 years) with all schedules
- Monthly budget, health premiums, and major recurring expenses
- Evidence of need/ability to pay (bonuses, commissions, benefits)
Child support documents
- Parent income proof and childcare costs
- Health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical costs
- Parenting time calendar to select the correct worksheet
Custody & parenting records
- School records (attendance, grades), counselor letters if any
- Medical records related to the child’s needs
- Communication logs and exchange calendar
- Proposed parenting plan and holiday schedule
Retirement, QDRO & equity compensation
- 401(k)/403(b)/pension statements; plan SPD or summary
- IRA statements and custodian info
- RSU/stock option grant schedules and vesting reports
- Pension benefit estimates; survivor option details
Business owner checklist
- Tax returns with K-1s, P&L, balance sheets, payroll summaries
- Operating/partnership agreements; cap tables
- Business bank/merchant statements
Missing records plan
- Portal downloads, bank reprints, employer HR/payroll requests
- Subpoenas/authorizations for third parties
- Sworn summaries when records no longer exist
Your first 72 hours with our team
1) Intake & goals
Map your issues: divorce only vs. property/support/custody.
2) Checklist build
We give you a customized list and folders (digital and paper).
3) Evidence pull
Download bank/retirement PDFs, gather pay stubs and taxes.
4) Filing prep
Draft complaint/summons and schedule service.
5) Next steps
Set mediation and discovery plan; draft orders agencies can follow.
Related: NC Divorce Process • Property Division • Alimony • Child Support • Tax, Retirement & QDRO
FAQs
What documents do I need to file for absolute divorce in North Carolina?
How many years of statements should I bring?
Can I use digital copies?
Do I need a separation agreement?
What if I can’t find older records?
Why North Carolina families choose Culbertson & Associates
- 20+ years organizing court-ready divorce packets
- Clean orders schools, HR, and plan admins can follow
- Property, support, custody, and QDRO under one roof
- Clear timelines, costs, and next steps from day one
Client reviews
A. Benton — “K.E. Culbertson gave me a checklist and a plan. Filing was smooth and the judge had everything needed.”
M. Fields — “Mr. Culbertson organized our records and the order worked for HR and the school without confusion.”
T. Nguyen — “Fast, clear, and steady. My packet was complete and the hearing went on schedule.”
S. Ortiz — “They handled bank and retirement statements and set up the next steps for property division.”
L. Carter — “I brought what they asked and we avoided delays. Good communication the whole way.”
J. Ahmed — “Clean documents, clear instructions, no surprises. It made a stressful time easier.”
Visit Our Greensboro Office
Culbertson & Associates
315 Spring Garden St Ste #300, Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 272-4299 • culbertsonatlaw.com
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5:00 PM • Area served: North Carolina
Related resources: North Carolina Divorce
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