Live with opposite sex during separation

So I've been unhappily married for 2-3 years now. I've been waiting for the kids to get older before I leave and divorce. I have 3 boys oldest is turning 20. So no child support here middle will be 18 in June. But he is still in High School, so Child support for a year youngest will be 15. So child support until 18. Last Sept I met a woman. She knows I'm married and nothing could happen. She also knows I'm unhappy After first we met every other week at Starbucks for coffee. We would talk about 1 hour, then she would return to work. She is Chinese and in Nov she went back to China with her son for 3 weeks to visit her mom and dad. I seen her 2 more times for coffee before the end of the year. We talked a lot about my unhappy marriage and she listened. Since the new year we have had coffee once a week now. Well, we are starting to fall in love. She has a 1 bedroom apartment she lives in with her son. Her lease is up the end of this April. She knows I want to leave my wife, but in NC I need to be separated for 1 year before I can divorce and I can not afford to live on my own. So we thought about a 2 bedroom apartment. This way it's easier for her and also easier for me. If I legally separate and move out and share an apartment with her during my separation, can I get into trouble? I can not survive on my own, and we known each other 7 months now and she know's my situation. She knows it will be a year until I can divorce and she is okay with it. Any advice...

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