FAMILY LAW ARTICLES

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Marital Fault and Alimony

Before mid 1995, for a court to order post separation support and alimony, there had to be a finding of marital fault. This is no longer required in North Carolina,...
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...

Will Having Sex With My Spouse Void Our Legal Separation?

Breaking up is hard to do. Many couples separate and get back together several times before the final break. As couples struggle with the conflicts of separation, sexual relations may...
Emotions & Divorce

Emotions

In a domestic dispute, negative emotions such as hostility, anger, and revenge can needlessly delay a resolution and increase the cost. Perspective and objectivity, on the other hand, can promote...

Can I Withhold Visitation If the Other Parent Doesn’t Pay Child Support?

The unequivocal answer is “no.” Under North Carolina law, child support and visitation are separate matters and a parent's failure to pay child support is not a legal justification to...

Does Child Support Automatically Terminate When My Child Turns Age 18?

Ordinarily, a parent’s legal responsibility to provide child support for their child terminates when the child attains age 18. However, there are exceptions. If the child is still in primary...
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Relocation and Child Custody: Can I Relocate With My Child to Another City or State?

When a parent who has (or is seeking) custody of a child decides to relocate to another city or state, disputes regarding child custody or visitation may arise, especially if...
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Costs

Just as it is impossible to predict exactly how long your case will take, it is difficult to realistically estimate the total cost of your litigation, even when your attorney...

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...
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Counseling

Domestic disputes are emotionally charged. Clients are encouraged to seek counseling before and during the process. Counseling can help clients to work through their pain, accept the marriage’s end, learn...
Image of the back of a man in a suit with his right arm bent behind his back and his fingers crossed, depicting the act of a lie.

Truth or Consequences: The Impact of Lying in Your Domestic Case

There are many reasons why people lie – tell an intentional untruth – during domestic cases. When the stakes are high, such as when someone is faced with losing custody...

What Is “Divisible Property?”

In North Carolina, the assets and debts that couples accumulate from date of marriage to date of separation are presumed to be marital property that is subject to equitable distribution....