ÿþ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <HEAD> <title>26th Judicial District SelfServe Center</title><!-- InstanceBegin template="/Templates/ITSCore_1-4.dwt" codeOutsideHTMLIsLocked="false" --> <!-- DW6 --> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="keywords" content=""> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="doctitle" --> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --> <!-- favorites ico --> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.icandocs.org/testsite/images/16_article.ico"> <!-- replace the key below - replace the key below - replace the key below--> <link href="css.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet"> <!-- replace the key above --> <!-- print style sheet --> <link href="print.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="print"><script id=clientEventHandlersJS language=javascript> <!-- function A1_onclick() { } //--> </script> </HEAD> <body> <!--Beginning of the WSU Identifier Zone. Refer to www.wsu.edu/identity/ for more information. --> <noscript> <div id='logo'><a href='http://www.legal-aid.com'><img src='../images/logo5.gif' alt="I-CAN!&trade; Logo"></a></div> <div id='globalnav'><ul> <li> <a href="http://www.legal-aid.com">Legal Aid Society of Orange County</a></li></ul> </div> </noscript> <script language="Javascript" src="js/wsuidentifier.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <!--<script language="Javascript" src="js/smoothscroll.js" type="text/javascript"></script>--> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> var strHeader; strHeader = getHeader(); document.write(strHeader); </script> <!--End of the WSU Identifier Zone. --> <div id="idwrapper"> <div id="siteID"> h <h1><font size="+1">26th Judicial District</font> <font size="+4"> SelfServe Center </font> </h1> </div> <div id="toolbar"><a href="locate.html">Locate the Center</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="hours.html">Center Hours</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="disclaimer.html">Disclaimer</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Already have an I-CAN!&trade; password?<a href="https://secure.icandocs.org/nc2/Start.aspx"> Login Here </a> </div> </div> <div id="content"> <div id="nav"> <div id="featured"> <ul> <li><a href="ssc.html" class="navparentpath"><font size = +1>English</font></a></li> <li><a href="ssc_1.html" class="navparentpath"><font size = +1>Español</font></a></li> </ul> </div> <font color= "tan">&nbsp;SelfServe Center</font> <ul> <li><a href="ssc.html">Home</a></li> <li><a href="calendar.html">Calendar of Services</a></li> <li><a href="staff.html">Staff Assistance</a></li> <li><a href="videos.html">Educational videos</a> </li> <li><a href="clinics.html">Free legal clinics</a> </li> <li><a href="aod.html">Attorney of the Day</a></li> <li><a href="library.html"> Resource Library</a></li> <li><a href="forms.html">Court Forms</a></li> <li><a href="care.html">Free Child Care</a></li> <li><a href="disclaimer.html">Disclaimer</a></li> </ul> <font color= "tan">&nbsp;Online Self Help</font> <ul> <li><a href="faq.html">FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="attorney.html">Finding an Attorney</a></li> <li><a href="gloss.html">Legal Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="self.html">Representing Yourself</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.icandocs.org/nc" target="resource window">I-CAN!&trade; Legal</a></li> <li><a href="ccv.html">Child Custody and Visitation</a></li> <li><a href="cs.html">Child Support</a></li> <li><a href="div.html">Divorce</a></li> <li><a href="dv.html">Domestic Violence</a></li> <li><a href="evict.html">Eviction</a></li> <li><a href="exp.html">Expungement</a></li> <li><a href="dp.html">Limited Driving Privileges</a></li> <li><a href="nc.html">Name Change</a></li> <li><a href="sc.html">Small Claims</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="main"> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="MainContent" --> <h2>Help with Divorce </h2> <img class="imagefloat" src="images/meck.jpg" alt="" width="153" height="230" border="0"> <p><br> <h4 class="ITSubHeading">Introduction <font size=-2 color=DarkGray> Step 1 of 4.</font></h4><br> <h4>Absolute Divorce</h4> <p>The Absolute Divorce packet is designed to assist citizens and residents of North Carolina who are married but have lived separate and apart for at least one year to obtain a divorce. <p>This packet can NOT be used to obtain an annulment or legal separation. Nor can it be used to establish a claim for alimony or marital property division. Please note that failure to file relevant legal claims before dissolving the marriage may cut off your rights to obtain division of marital property or alimony from the court.</p> <p><img class="imagefloat2" src="../images/arrow.gif" alt="" width="41" height="23" border="0">&nbsp; If you would like to use I-CAN!&trade; to prepare your Divorce forms online <a href="http://www.icandocs.org/nc" class="navparentpath" ><b><font color="#9e1b34"> click here</a></font></b> </p> <p><b>Can I petition the court for a Divorce?</b> Please note that the SelfServe Center CANNOT provide legal advice. Therefore, we cannot tell you if you should petition, but we can tell you that you must follow the procedure explained in the following pages.</p> <p><b>Legal Terms</b> Certain legal terms will be used throughout your proceeding. A complete legal glossary is available for your convenience in the SelfServe Center and online <a href="gloss.html">here</a>. If you still do not understand the term, consult a legal dictionary or the SelfServe Center staff. Staff CANNOT provide legal advice, but can provide procedural information and definitions of legal terms.</p> <p><b>What do I do first?</b> <ol> <li>After you get your packet, whether online or in the SelfServe Center, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! Then fill out the forms by typing or printing neatly in black ink. You may fill them out at home or at the courthouse. Please read the forms carefully and answer them truthfully and completely. Please also note that some forms must be notarized. This means that they must be signed in the presence of a Notary Public. If the document does require this, do not sign until you are in front of a Notary. They can likely be found at banks, insurance companies and law firms. A few may also be found in the Yellow Pages. Notaries often charge a small fee and require you to show a picture ID for their services.</li> <li>Make copies of all of the documents you complete and keep a copy in a safe place for your records.</li> <li>There is a $ 50.00 filing fee that you will need to have with you in cash or money order after the Notice of Intent to File Name Change has been posted by the Clerk of Court on the bulletin board (between the escalator and the elevator) and are ready to proceed with the next step.</li> </ol></p> <p><b>IMPORTANT REMINDERS BEFORE YOU BEGIN</b> Your case involves complicated legal issues! This information describes the general process but it is impossible to cover everything that may affect your rights. If you get confused during the process, you should stop and seek advice from an attorney. The staff of the SelfServe Center, Clerk of Court, Judge, or Trial Court Administrator s Office CANNOT GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE!</p> <p>PLEASE& if you are thinking of contacting an attorney, do so as soon as possible. Waiting could decrease your chances of obtaining representation.</p> <p><center>Lawyer Referral Services:</center> <center>Mecklenburg County Bar Lawyer Referral Service: (704) 375-0120 or</center> <center><a target="new resource"href="http://www.meckbar.org">www.meckbar.org</center></a> <center>North Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 662-7660</center> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="imagefloat2" src="../images/arrow.gif" alt="" width="41" height="23" border="0">&nbsp;For the next step, click on <a href="nc2.html"><b><font color="#9e1b34">General Instructions</a></font></b>.<font size=-2 color=DarkGray> Step 2 of 4.</font> </p> <br> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --> </div> <div id="secondary"></div> <div id="additional"></div> <div id="localfooter"> I-CAN!&trade; Copyright © 2008 <a href="http://www.legal-aid.com" target="resource window"> Legal Aid Society of Orange County</a> </div> </div> <!--Beginning of the WSU Global Footer Zone. 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