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NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-7 (2026)

Grounds for divorce from bed and board

✓ current as of July 2026
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The court may grant divorces from bed and board on application of the party injured, made as by law provided, in the following cases if either party:

(1) Abandons his or her family.

(2) Maliciously turns the other out of doors.

(3) By cruel or barbarous treatment endangers the life of the other. In addition, the court may grant the victim of such treatment the remedies available under G.S. 50B-1, et seq.

(4) Offers such indignities to the person of the other as to render his or her condition intolerable and life burdensome.

(5) Becomes an excessive user of alcohol or drugs so as to render the condition of the other spouse intolerable and the life of that spouse burdensome.

(6) Commits adultery. (1871-2, c. 193, s. 36; Code, s. 1286; Rev., s. 1562; C.S., s. 1660; 1967, c. 1152, s. 7; 1971, c. 1185, s. 22; 1979, c. 561, s. 5; 1985, c. 574, ss. 1, 2.)

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 62 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1945–2022 · leading case: Perkins v. Perkins, 355 S.E.2d 848 (N.C. Ct. App. 1987).
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Perkins v. Perkins, 355 S.E.2d 848 (N.C. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 12× “Plaintiff must establish the existence of one of the five grounds listed in N.C.G.S. § 50-7 to obtain a divorce from bed and board.”
Dechkovskaia v. Dechkovskaia, 754 S.E.2d 831 (N.C. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 7× “1A(2)(f) is the same as it is under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-7 , and as it was under the repealed § 50-16.”
Pruett v. Pruett, 100 S.E.2d 296 (N.C. 1957). · cites it 11× “50-5 or G.S. 50-7, must allege the additional material facts now required by G.”
Evans v. Evans, 610 S.E.2d 264 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-7 (4) (2003). The evidence fully supports the trial court’s findings with respect to the conduct to which defendant subjected plaintiff, and those findings support its conclusion that such conduct amounts to indignities.”
State v. Byrd, 649 S.E.2d 444 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 4× “See N.C. Gen.Stat. § 50-7 (2003). Under N.C. Gen.”
Allred v. Tucci, 354 S.E.2d 291 (N.C. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 2× “50-10 are applicable to actions for divorce from bed and board, the grounds for which are specified by G.S. 50-7. Schlagel, supra. In the present case, there is no question that the District Court had jurisdiction of the parties and of the subject matter involved in the action.”
Bailey v. Bailey, 90 S.E.2d 696 (N.C. 1956). · cites it 4× “be guilty of any misconduct or acts that Avould be or constitute cause for divorce, either absolute or from bed and board,” the wife may institute an action for alimony without divorce. G.S. 50-16; Brooks v.”
Peoples v. Peoples, 179 S.E.2d 138 (N.C. Ct. App. 1971). · cites it 3× “2d 12 (1966), it is said: “ ‘G.S. 50-7 provides, as a ground for divorce from bed and board: “1.”
Brooks v. . Brooks, 37 S.E.2d 909 (N.C. 1946). · cites it 4× “Objection is advanced on tbe theory that tbe action is brought under and based entirely on G. S., 50-7 (4) — a subsection of tbe statute relating to divorce from bed and board, which names as one of tbe grounds for such divorce “such indignities to tbe person of tbe other as tp…”
Caddell v. Caddell, 73 S.E.2d 923 (N.C. 1953). · cites it 3× “It seems to have been accepted by the court and by both litigants as being sufficient in form to transform the plaintiff’s cause of action into one charging the defendant with abandonment under G.S. 50-7 (1). Thereupon the case was tried upon the theory that the burden was upon…”
Est. of James H. Waters, Jr., Deceased William Roger Waters & John B. McMillan Co-Executors v. Comm'r of the Internal Revenue Serv., 48 F.3d 838 (4th Cir. 1995). · cites it 2× “The grounds for divorce from bed and board are set forth at N.C. Gen.Stat. § 50-7 and include: abandonment, malicious eviction, cruel or barbarous treatment that endangers the life of the other spouse, indignities to the person of the other spouse, excessive alcohol or drug use,…”
Richardson v. Richardson, 151 S.E.2d 12 (N.C. 1966). · cites it 5× “” “G.S. 50-7 provides, as a ground for divorce from bed and board: T.”
Show all 62 citing cases →
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-7(1) — 9 cases
Richardson v. Richardson, 151 S.E.2d 12 (N.C. 1966). “” “G.S. 50-7 provides, as a ground for divorce from bed and board: T.”
Pruett v. Pruett, 100 S.E.2d 296 (N.C. 1957). “50-5 or G.S. 50-7, must allege the additional material facts now required by G.”
Est. of James H. Waters, Jr., Deceased William Roger Waters & John B. McMillan Co-Executors v. Comm'r of the Internal Revenue Serv., 48 F.3d 838 (4th Cir. 1995). “The grounds for divorce from bed and board are set forth at N.C. Gen.Stat. § 50-7 and include: abandonment, malicious eviction, cruel or barbarous treatment that endangers the life of the other spouse, indignities to the person of the other spouse, excessive alcohol or drug use,…”
Peoples v. Peoples, 179 S.E.2d 138 (N.C. Ct. App. 1971). “2d 12 (1966), it is said: “ ‘G.S. 50-7 provides, as a ground for divorce from bed and board: “1.”
Schloss v. Schloss, 160 S.E.2d 5 (N.C. 1968).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-7(3) — 2 cases
Pruett v. Pruett, 100 S.E.2d 296 (N.C. 1957). “50-5 or G.S. 50-7, must allege the additional material facts now required by G.”
Bruce v. Bruce, 339 S.E.2d 855 (N.C. Ct. App. 1986).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-7(4) — 4 cases
Dechkovskaia v. Dechkovskaia, 754 S.E.2d 831 (N.C. Ct. App. 2014). “1A(2)(f) is the same as it is under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-7 , and as it was under the repealed § 50-16.”
Puett v. Puett, 331 S.E.2d 287 (N.C. Ct. App. 1985).
Haddon v. Haddon, 257 S.E.2d 483 (N.C. Ct. App. 1979).
Blair v. Blair, 261 S.E.2d 301 (N.C. Ct. App. 1980).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-7(5) — 1 case
Allen v. Allen, 94 S.E.2d 325 (N.C. 1956).
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