Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act.

SB 626, the Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act, allows victims of domestic violence in North Carolina to obtain an absolute divorce without waiting the standard one-year-six-month separation period. To qualify, a victim must provide evidence (such as police reports, medical records, or domestic violence program documentation) proving the abuse and submit a statement confirming their status as a victim. The bill also abolishes outdated common-law lawsuits for "alienation of affection" (suing someone for breaking up a marriage) and "criminal conversation" (suing for adultery). These changes directly affect domestic violence survivors seeking divorce and eliminate specific legal claims that no longer align with modern family law. The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies to new divorce cases filed after that date.