FAMILY LAW ARTICLES

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Who Took the Money in the Cookie Jar?

Many couples keep cash savings on hand for an emergency. Cash may be stored in a cookie jar, under the mattress, safe deposit box, or some other place for safekeeping....
Image taken from across the top of a filing cabinet drawer with hanging file folders with plastic tab separators. The foremost forward tab is labeled "Insurance" while remaining tabs are slightly out of focus.

Can I Require My Spouse to Maintain Life Insurance To Secure an Alimony or Child Support Obligation?

Under North Carolina law, the obligation of a spouse to pay alimony, or a parent to pay child support, ceases upon the death of the obligor. Maintaining a life insurance...
Conflict Resolution image depicting the words "conflict" and "mediation" on a glass board. Person with red marker has crossed out "conflict" and is underling mediation.

Why is ADR Encouraged?

Alternative dispute resolution can save financial and emotional costs. Not only is litigation expensive and time-consuming, but it can be very stressful. You may feel that an important part of...

Attorney’s Fees Awards in Actions for Postseparation Support and Alimony

A spouse who is dependent upon another spouse for financial support may find herself/himself with little or no income and limited financial resources when the parties separate. Financial constraints can...
Stock photography image of a Marriage Contract on a table with the hands of a man and a woman signing it.

Should I get a prenuptial agreement?

A prenuptial agreement, also referred to as a premarital agreement or ante-nuptial agreement, is a contract entered into between two parties contemplating marriage. The agreement becomes effective upon their marriage....
mediation

Understanding Mediation and How It May Benefit Your Domestic Case

A mediator is a neutral third person who works with parties to help them attempt to resolve their issues in dispute in a mutually satisfactory manner. Mediation is different from...

Divorce and Emotional Support

Divorce is not only stressful, but it can be traumatic as well. Many people who are going through divorce feel like their life has been shattered or turned upside down....
Image of dominos in a single row, split by a man's hand. The left side of the row is protected from the right, which is teetering over, representing how mediation can help protect what remains from being lost.

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a process in which two or more people involved in a dispute come together voluntarily to try to develop a solution to their problem with the help of...
Image of the facade of an ornate courthouse

About the Unified Family Courts in North Carolina

FAMILY COURT: If your domestic lawsuit is filed in Buncombe County, it will be sent to Family Court. The 28th Judicial District (Buncombe County) is presently one of several judicial...
Image of a typewritten agreement for divorce on white paper with a pair of eyeglasses folded on top of it.

Does My Separation Agreement Have To Be Approved by the Court?

“Separation agreement” is the term commonly used to describe a legally binding contract that spouses enter into when they reach an agreement regarding issues related to their marital separation. The...

What is a Dependent Spouse?

Essential to an award of spousal support or alimony, the court must determine that the spouse requesting support is a dependent spouse, and the other party is the supporting spouse....

Determining Child Support in High Income Cases

The North Carolina Child Support Guidelines in effect for 2013 provide a formula for determining the recommended basic child support obligation for parents whose combined adjusted gross incomes is $25,000...