GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

SENATE BILL 59

RATIFIED BILL

AN ACT to clarify an order for the payment of attorneys' fees in actions for alimony or postseparation support.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 50-16.4 reads as rewritten:

"§ 50-16.4.  Counsel fees in actions for alimony, postseparation support.

At any time that a dependent spouse would be entitled to alimony pursuant to G.S. 50-16.3A, or postseparation support pursuant to G.S. 50-16.2A, the court may, upon application of such spouse, enter an order for reasonable counsel fees for the benefit of such spouse, fees, to be paid and secured by the supporting spouse in the same manner as alimony."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2010, and applies to fees for services rendered on or after that date.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 17^th day of June, 2010.

                                                                        _____________________________________

Walter H. Dalton

President of the Senate

                                                                        _____________________________________

William L. Wainwright

Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives

                                                                        _____________________________________

Beverly E. Perdue

Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2010