North Carolina Alimony Lawyer

Your Alimony & PSS Lawyer

Krispen Culbertson, North Carolina alimony lawyer with 20+ years in District Courts statewide, including Guilford, Forsyth, Randolph, and Alamance. Focus on postseparation support (PSS), alimony trials, modification, and enforcement, with coordinated child support and equitable distribution.

Memberships: North Carolina State Bar; local family law sections. Courts: District Court calendars across NC with hearings in Greensboro and High Point regularly.

Fast answers

Postseparation support (PSS)

PSS is short-term support to stabilize finances while your alimony case is pending. The court focuses on current need and ability to pay, using clean budgets and pay proofs. We file quickly and present a tight record so orders are practical for payroll to follow.

Who qualifies: dependent & supporting spouse

The judge first decides whether one spouse is dependent (needs support) and the other is supporting (has ability to pay). We present income, reasonable living expenses, and the marital standard of living with documentation.

Alimony factors (G.S. 50-16.3A)

• Income, earning capacities, ages and health
• Marital standard of living and length of marriage
• Education or training needed to become self-supporting
• Contributions to the home and to a spouse’s career
• Custody demands that affect work hours
• Assets and debts, including equitable distribution timing
• Marital misconduct when proven

Misconduct & illicit sexual behavior

North Carolina law treats illicit sexual behavior before separation as a special factor: if only the dependent spouse engaged in it, alimony can be barred; if only the supporting spouse engaged in it, alimony can be required; if both did, the court has discretion. We evaluate facts privately and plan your proof.

Amount & duration

There is no statewide formula. Judges often consider length of marriage, gap between incomes, realistic budgets, and a timeline for rehabilitation. We propose numbers tied to paystubs, tax returns, and a credible path to independence.

Modify, terminate, enforce

• Modification: based on substantial change in circumstances (income, health, employment).
• Termination: ends at death and often at remarriage or qualifying cohabitation.
• Enforcement: wage withholding, contempt, and targeted remedies that actually collect.
• See: Modification & Enforcement.

Tax treatment

For most agreements and judgments executed after December 31, 2018, federal law treats alimony as non-deductible to the payor and non-taxable to the recipient. We align orders and W-2/1099 realities so take-home is predictable.

Budget & evidence checklist

• Last 3 months of paystubs and most recent W-2/1099; two years of tax returns if available
• Monthly budget with current rent/mortgage, utilities, transportation, food, and insurance
• Childcare and health insurance costs tied to the child support worksheet (if applicable)
• Debts, minimums, and statements; any medical or education expenses
• Proof relevant to misconduct claims (if at issue)

Your first 72 hours with our team

FAQs

Why North Carolina families choose Culbertson & Associates

• 20+ years trying and settling alimony and PSS cases statewide
• Budgets and evidence that judges and payroll can follow
• Settlement first when possible, trial-ready when it’s not
• Coordinated strategy with custody, child support, and property division
• Clear fees and timelines