Dissolution of marriage is generally another term for divorce—but in some states it specifically refers to an uncontested divorce—a no fault divorce with a written separation agreement. And in California, for example, there is a summary dissolution that provides an expedited process under limited circumstances (California Family Code §2400).
The laws regarding various methods for dissolving a marriage are usually located in a state’s statutes—often in the Family Code or Domestic Relations Code.
In North Carolina, dissolution of marriage is synonymous with divorce. The state recognizes 'absolute divorce' and 'divorce from bed and board.' An absolute divorce is the legal termination of a marriage, which can be granted one year after a couple has lived separately and apart. North Carolina is a 'no-fault' divorce state, meaning that neither spouse needs to prove fault or wrongdoing by the other to obtain a divorce. Instead, the requirement is based on the separation period. Divorce from bed and board is a form of legal separation rather than an actual dissolution of marriage, and it may be granted on fault grounds. North Carolina does not have a summary dissolution process like California. The laws governing divorce in North Carolina can be found in the North Carolina General Statutes, specifically in Chapter 50 - Divorce and Alimony.