separation papers

What is the name of your state? north carolina
if separation papers were not merged nor incorporated into a divorce do they still stand.

If you are asking about the "divorce from bed and board" that is the first part of a divorce in North Carolina, then that is a court order, signed by a judge. Unless it is modified in the final decree of divorce, then it is my understanding that it stands as is, a separate court order and part of the final divorce.
If this does not answer your question, do a search for North Carolina General Statutes and find the chapter on divorce; I believe the answer is in the first subchapter.