Family Law
When we think of domestic violence, images often come to mind of black eyes, bruises, busted lips, or broken bones. However, domestic violence encompasses much more than that. Domestic violence is abuse or undue manipulation through power and control that occurs between two parties involved, or formerly involved, in a personal or intimate relationship. This can include spouses, former spouses, couples who have lived together, couples who have dated, as well as children, parents, and grandparents.
Unquestionably, the Internet has changed the way we access information and the volume of information that is available. It has also made it more difficult to keep our personal lives private when so much information about us can be easily discovered by clicking a few keystrokes. Family law attorneys once relied on private investigators to uncover dirt on cheating spouses, or look for assets owned by someone who claimed to have no money. Family law…
Divorce can be a sad, scary and stressful experience for any child. Not surprisingly, a large part of a child’s reaction to divorce has to do with how the parents handle the divorce and conduct themselves, particularly in the presence of the child. If the parents are engaged in scorched earth warfare, the divorce will be more traumatic for the child and the child will have a more difficult time adjusting. On the other hand,…
In North Carolina, the legal standard that judges are required to apply in child custody cases is “the best interests of the child.” Thus, when parents cannot reach an agreement on child custody, a judge must make a decision that would best promote the interest and welfare of the child. Determining what constitutes “the best interests of the child” can be very subjective. However, there are a number of considerations that can be raised in…
Almost everyone has heard a divorce horror story about a divorce case that lasted for years and/or cost a small fortune in legal expenses. While those cases are the exception, they do occur. The absolute (actual) divorce is usually a simple process that can be completed within approximately 45 days from when the other side is served with divorce paperwork, or about 60 days from filing a lawsuit for divorce unless there are contested issues,…