Alienation of Affection

North Carolina is one of the few states that still recognize claims for alienation of affection and criminal conversation. When a person has a romantic relationship with a married man or woman, the other spouse can sue that person for alienating the affection of his or her partner. In other words, it is suing someone for breaking up a marriage. These cases can be costly and difficult, and over the past several years there have been judgments in excess of a million dollars against some defendants.