In North Carolina, our equitable distribution laws set forth the division of marital and divisible property and debts between spouses. The presumption for an equitable distribution is an equal division of the marital estate. The marital estate consists of the assets and debts existing on the date of separation which were acquired during the marriage and prior to the date of separation.

Either party may ask the court to distribute certain assets and/or debts of the parties prior to the final distribution of property. For example, one party may request immediate distribution of the marital home or marital credit card debt.