What is the separation laws in NC?

The current law regarding alienation of affection and criminal conversation lawsuits is that they must be based on acts that occurred prior to the separation date. One could file a lawsuit anyway if they wanted to, but it would likely be dismissed if it is only based on acts that occurred after the separation. But note that acts that occurred very close to the separation date (even if technically afterwards), could be relevant since if someone has a "new" boyfriend/girlfriend only 2 weeks after the separation, there is a good argument that the relationship was in fact going on much earlier than that. Regarding a separation agreement, that document is not a requirement or even relevant to when the separation began. Separation begins as soon as the parties are living in separate residences with the intention of at least 1 not to resume the marriage, regardless of whether they ever get a separation agreement or not.