A North Carolina lawmaker and a popular influencer are pushing to shorten the state's 12-month divorce separation period and get rid of the contentious alienation-of-affection lawsuits.
The effort is being led by state Democratic Sen. Woodson Bradley and content creator Jen Hamilton, who has spoken publicly about her own separation and is using her platform to advocate for changes to North Carolina's divorce laws.
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Bradley first introduced the Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act in March 2025, but did not make it through the legislature.
Hamilton, a North Carolina based labor and delivery nurse with millions of followers, is trying to give it new life.
Hamilton announced her separation from her husband in a statement to her followers.
“This wasn't about falling out of love. That's why this is so devastating. It was about recognizing that sometimes the most loving thing you can do is give someone space to figure out complex things.”Jen Hamilton, Social Media Influencer
Since then, Hamilton has used her platform to advocate for people who may lack the financial resources or support to leave difficult relationships.
"I recognize and I'm so grateful for the resources to be able to do that for myself, but there are so many women who are stuck with the person that hurts them because they do not have the resources or finances to leave," Hamilton said in a social media post.
North Carolina’s current divorce laws go back to the 1930s. There were 33,392 divorce cases in North Carolina in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Right now, couples have to live separately for a full year before they can get a divorce.
Senate Bill 626 would cut that down to six months.
“This is a very kind bill. If you’re in an unhappy relationship, heaven forbid if it’s abusive or cruel, you should not be tethered to another human being for any longer than necessary by an arbitrary timeline from the state for you to see if this is going to work out,” Bradley said in an interview with WRAL.
Couples can waive that six-month period if the divorce is uncontested and there are no minor children involved.
The bill includes a specific exception for victims of domestic violence.
The North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence has also supported changes to the state's divorce process.
“Waiting periods can mean requiring survivors to remain legally connected to someone who has caused them economic, emotional, and/or physical harm,” a coalition spokesperson said. “They also extend that person’s ability to exert control and provide an opportunity for those harms to continue.”
Bradley has said she has received threats from people who oppose her efforts to change the state's divorce laws.
“I am not pro divorce. I am happily remarried. I love being married. But no one should be trapped any longer than necessary to the wrong person."Sen. Woodson Bradley, Bill Sponsor
The state’s required 12-month separation period also opens the door to potential alienation-of-affection lawsuits.
The current law allows people to sue whoever their husband or wife have a relationship with and can force that person to pay up for ruining their marriage.
Some North Carolina juries have awarded jilted spouses millions of dollars.
Senator Bradley said that’s why the bill includes a ban on these so-called homewrecker laws.
Republican legislative leaders never allowed Bradley’s bill up for a vote before the legislative deadline last year, meaning it can't move forward for the rest of this session.
That puts the issue on the political agenda as lawmakers head toward the 2026 elections and Bradley seeks reelection.
Sen. Bradley introduced a new version, Senate Bill 836, in April 2026. The bill was referred to the Senate appropriations/base budget and has not advanced.
WRAL reached out to Bradley’s opponent, Stacie McGill. We did not immediately get a response.
