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, 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 17th day of June, 2010.

	s/	 Walter H. Dalton
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 William L. Wainwright
	 Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 Governor

Approved 1:35 p.m. this 23rd day of June, 2010