While it may seem that some outdated laws in North Carolina are an Affection of Alienation, it would be wise to understand that they are well and alive.
Likewise, Criminal Conversation is also an intriguing topic.
People sometimes ignore claims of Alienation of Affection, and Criminal Conversation; in fact, on more than one occasion we’ve seen responses that dare, if not invite, litigation. We think that’s a tremendous mistake. However you may feel about the AACC laws in North Carolina, people do sue for interfering with marriages – Bill Powers, Charlotte Family Law Attorney
The legislation behind the fundamentals of this blog post assists in establishing certain aspects of the Alienation of Affection / Criminal Conversation (AACC) lawsuit if you find yourself implicated in any way.
The Powers Law Firm’s attorneys are accessible for consultation if you have any inquiries regarding initiating a potential lawsuit (or protecting yourself in a legal case accusing interference with a marriage), subsequently.
What does Alienation of Affection mean in North Carolina?
Under what lawyers commonly call Common Law, it has traditionally been possible for someone to sue their spouse’s lover if they can prove that the affair led to the breakdown of the marriage.
Estrangement of Feelings in North Carolina.
Claims in North Carolina, for instance, often raise numerous inquiries regarding AACC. Alienation of Affection occurs when a third party interferes with a marriage.
Maybe you are interested When We Think Other People Are Better Than Us By Justb “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt. I have a very bad habit. It pokes me when I stop to browse newspapers and magazines. It slaps me when I’m watching TV. It punches me hard at the gym. It knocks me down when I am walking down the street. I compare myself to other women. I’ve suffered from depression at points in my life, and I’ve suffered from low self-esteem pretty much always. It’s not an uncommon trait, comparing ourselves to others. But it seems to be a particularly bad habit for me. Perhaps because my brain is terrifically inventive; at my worst, I can find literally anything as proof that another woman is better than me. She’s beautiful. She’s slim. She has a successful career. She has money. She’s married. She has nice clothes. She has brown eyes. She has blue eyes. She has smaller hands. She has a red top. She can walk faster than me. I don’t always do it. If I’m feeling good about me, I can see a pretty woman while my boyfriend is with me and, although I do feel a slight pinch at my heartstrings, I’m able to disregard it fairly well. But when I’m feeling low in confidence, seeing that pretty woman rips into my heart and brings tears to my eyes. I look at her face, hair, body, success, and I think, “I can’t compare to her.” I torture myself with thoughts that if my boyfriend ever meets such a woman, I will be, as we say in Britain, yesterday’s news and today’s fish ’n’ chip paper! It’s not just when I’m with him. I used to work in the fashionable Soho region of London, and I couldn’t take more than a few steps before a young, pretty, slim, effortlessly cool lady would glide past. My thoughts would be, one: How does she have the money for those clothes? Two: How does she have the energy to make herself look so nice? I barely remember to brush my hair. Three: Thank goodness my boyfriend isn’t here to see her; he’d push me into that puddle over there and go running after her! And four: I look awful. It got so bad at times that I couldn’t hold my head up. Not only did I feel ashamed of my own appearance by comparison, but literally averting my eyes seemed the only way to protect myself from the massive emotional upheaval I went through when I saw a beautiful woman. I was really horrible to myself. Not to mention close-minded about the other women. I didn’t know their circumstances, their personalities, or personal traumas. I just saw the outside, and believed that it looked better than mine. I create these comparisons all by myself. They’re just people; it’s me who subscribes to the “she’s better than me” mindset, and me who judges that one of us is prettier, more successful, happier. I make all these comparisons and then berate myself, first for being a lesser being than them, and then later for being irrational and silly. But as it is my reaction, and my brain, I have the power to do something about it. As with all insecurities, thought patterns, and habits, it takes a lot of work, practice, and self-forgiveness to teach yourself to genuinely see your own awesomeness. For some of us it will be our life’s work. I have discovered some tips that have greatly reduced the occurrence of my episodes, which I’d like to share: 1. Try a change of scenery. I happened to move to another area recently. Obviously I’m not suggesting moving as a plausible tactic to avoid comparisons. But the change to my routine really gave me a big boost. I was completely distracted by finding my way around, discovering my new neighborhood, caring for my new home, seeing new sights, and visiting new places. I was stimulated by the new experiences and too engaged in my own life to think about everyone else’s. This can be done right where you live; seek out new things to do or see. Broaden your world. 2. Take even better care of yourself. Exercise is well documented as a mood-booster, but it never used to work for me. I tried to go running but, rather than a rush of endorphins, I would feel a rush of tears, as I felt stupid and unhealthy. But I was able to join a gym two months ago. My first workout was mortifying, but once I got used to the machines, I started to feel really proud of myself. I am doing something just for me. I am giving myself the gifts of health and hope. 3. Be honest with yourself and others. I am really honest with my boyfriend about how I feel. He knows my triggers, and being synced into my problem means that he knows just how to help me feel better, whether it’s distracting me, taking me out of the situation, or planting a big kiss on my forehead and reassuring me. I also talk about it very openly with my girlfriends, and it’s so helpful to hear them say “I feel like that too” or “You have absolutely no reason to feel you’re less than anybody.” 4. Keep practicing. I work hard not to give into every opportunity to criticize myself. I try to breathe, give myself space before reacting, and see whether I can resolve it alone before asking for reassurance. I remind myself that my boyfriend loves me for me. I remind myself that I have my own strengths, my own beauty. There is nobody else like me. I deserve to stand alongside every one of those women whom I compare myself to. Everything gets easier with practice, even resisting the urge to make comparisons. 5. Remember your strengths. We all have them. I know I have a unique personality, a good sense of humor, a few different skills and talents. I know I have nice hair and nice eyes. I’m not the pitiful eyesore I believe myself to be when I’m feeling down on myself. The more you become comfortable recognizing your strengths, the more armor you’ll have against negative thoughts. We are all different and all beautiful. I believe this for other people, and so my goal is to believe it for myself as well. If we work on our self-esteem and realize how lovely we are then other people won’t seem so threatening. Be kind, gentle, and nurturing to yourself and you’ll feel less of a need to make comparisons. Photo by Ollie Crafoord See more posts About Justb is a dreamer, writer, actress, art crafter, cheese addict and silly person. She blogs about life, thoughts and living with depression at http://justbtheblog.wordpress.comWeb | More Posts See a typo or inaccuracy? Please contact us so we can fix it! Did you enjoy this post? Please share the wisdom 🙂
The Law in North Carolina Regarding Alienation of Affection
Chapter 52 of the North Carolina General Statutes sets forth the law on Alienation of Affections and Criminal Conversation.
To establish a claim for alienation of affections, the plaintiff must demonstrate that:.
There was a lawful union between the plaintiff and the spouse.
There was a genuine bond of affection or love between them.
That affection or love was estranged or annihilated; AND.
The defendant’s wrongful and malicious actions resulted in the estrangement of affection or love.
Actions that might be deemed “wrongful” encompass infidelity, illegal conversation, and/or any other intentional disruption of the spousal bond.
If you’ve received a letter from a lawyer, threatening litigation for interfering with a marraige, don’t fire off an angry response or speak about what happened. Lawyer up – Bill Powers, Family Law Attorney in Charlotte
It is important to understand that Alienation of Affection can hold people other than “lovers” liable, while commonly related to sexual encounters and/or romantic relationships involving a cheating spouse.
For instance, in North Carolina, a meddlesome “in-law” can potentially be liable to civil lawsuits under the NC affection law.
What are the potential harms for a claim of Alienation of Affections in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, the general rule is that AACC plaintiffs can recover both economic and non-economic 
damages for interfering with a loving marriage.
Financial losses are those that compensate a plaintiff for monetary damages associated with the disruption of the marriage. These may include:
Decrease in income or ability to earn.
Medical expenses.
Counseling/therapy expenses.
Other financial damages experienced due to the estrangement.
For instance, non-physical injuries that individuals seek compensation for cannot be quantified in terms of cents and dollars; these damages are intangible.
Mental anguish.
Humiliation.
Anxiety – Emotional Turmoil.
Absence of camaraderie.
Absence of love and tenderness.
Interference with a unique, spousal sexual relationship.
In certain situations, there may also be a possibility of receiving compensatory damages.
Punitive damages are designed to punish a defendant, particularly for their egregious behavior, and serve as a deterrent for others who might be tempted to engage in similar conduct.
What sets Alienation of Affections apart from Criminal Conversation?
Criminal conversation is very similar to alienation of affections.
The main distinction lies in the fact that an affection lawsuit, regardless of its sexual nature, can involve any wrongful or malicious intrusion into a marriage. On the other hand, criminal conversation specifically pertains to sexual intercourse between a spouse and a third party.
Illicit Affair in North Carolina.
Most states did not allow adultery as a reason for divorce, unlike North Carolina, where wrongful conduct claims were created at some point in time.
Partners who had been betrayed by an unfaithful spouse and their romantic partner had a legal option at their disposal, which was known as an affection claim.
With the introduction of no-fault divorce, the occurrence of criminal conversation/affection claims has significantly decreased. Only a handful of states still acknowledge cases of affection that lawyers may label as “heart balm.”
Nevertheless, Alienation of Affection lawsuits continue to be valid in North Carolina and can be filed under specific conditions.
If you think you may have a claim for alienation of affections or criminal conversation, you should contact an experienced family law attorney to discuss your case.
Do all Divorce Attorneys manage cases involving Alienation of Affection?
In a legal dispute, only a handful of family law/divorce attorneys in North Carolina are willing to act as legal representatives when a claim for Alienation of affection is still enforceable according to NC legislation.
Looking for a Charlotte Divorce Attorney?
There are multiple factors contributing to this.
Some divorce lawyers personally disagree with the cause of action. Other attorneys do not have jury trial 
experience.
Alienation of affection lawsuits are frequently filed in Superior Court in North Carolina. Divorces in NC are typically handled by a family court judge in District Court.
The cause of action in an affection lawsuit is in some ways fundamentally different than issues involving Equitable Distribution, child custody, and support – Bill Powers, Charlotte Divorce Lawyer
Our legal practice assists individuals with cases involving Alienation of Affections, both in initiating legal proceedings and providing defense.
We do not limit ourselves to territorial restrictions, meaning that while we are a Charlotte-based family law firm, we will help people in travel circumstances that are appropriate.
Some law firms or attorneys may prefer working with clients from a different jurisdiction or judicial district, especially when dealing with sensitive cases of a somewhat sensitive nature.
Our law license says ‘North Carolina’ on it and isn’t limited to Mecklenburg County. In fact, when it comes to AACC claims, historically we’ve served more people from surrounding counties in smaller towns. When we think we can help people, we will travel – Bill Powers, Alienation of Affections Lawyer
Is sexual intercourse necessary?
A lawsuit for Alienation of Affection does not necessitate evidence of sexual intercourse or sexual behavior. Likewise, a divorce is not obligatory.
The plaintiff need only prove their spouse’s affections were materially affected due to the adulterous spouse’s lover and his or her actions.
Affection legal cases can utilize evidence of such conduct to demonstrate why or in what manner a spouse’s emotions were significantly damaged.
