Fathers Day is a beautiful holiday when your children get to celebrate their dad. You work hard all year long to make sure they’re happy and healthy, and this is a day for them to show you how much they appreciate everything you do. However, if you’re divorced or going through a divorce, these holidays can be challenging. Just because your family looks different this year doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of this special day. Here is a list of the top Fathers Day ideas for divorced dads in the Triad area so you and your kids can have a blast celebrating your day. Continue reading →
Using a QDRO to Pay Child Support Arrears After Participant’s Death
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) are used to divide certain retirement plans and award a portion of the funds to an alternate payee. QDROs are typically used as part of the distribution of assets and property in a divorce, and the alternate payee is typically a spouse or former spouse. However, there are other scenarios in which a QDRO may be used to give someone rights to a retirement plan as an alternate payee. Continue reading →
Can Divorce Decrees Divide Pension Plans?
Divorce decrees often include terms regarding the division of property, like bank accounts and real estate, but these court orders do not always have the authority to distribute every asset. Typically, a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) must be used to divide and distribute rights to pension funds and certain other retirement accounts. Continue reading →
Tax Evasion and Asset Transfer Between Spouses
In Cotroneo v. Commissioner the Commissioner of Internal Revenue determined that Cotroneo and her husband had a tax deficiency of $15,288 and a penalty of $3,058. Continue reading →
Can Surviving Spouse Pension Benefits be Transferred to a Former Spouse Instead of a Current Spouse?
In the case of Hopkins v. AT&T Global Information Solutions Co., the U.S. District Court ruled on cross-motions for summary judgment. The main issue in this matter was regarding the award of surviving spouse benefits to a former spouse rather than a current spouse. Continue reading →
Who Gets Fido? Navigating Pet Custody During a Divorce
May is National Pet Month, when we celebrate the special role pets play in our families and in our hearts. Continue reading →
Can Innocent Spouse Relief Help in Cases Involving Financial Abuse?
Filing taxes can be complicated in the best of situations, but when there are complex factors involved, like financial control by one spouse, the outcome is not always equitable. The Internal Revenue Code Section 6015 provides a remedy for some spouses facing tax deficiencies, but there are strict qualifications for entitlement under this section. Continue reading →
Mother’s Day During A Custody Dispute: Tips for a Meaningful Holiday
Mother’s Day is supposed to be a time of celebration and connection when we honor the women who brought us into this world and raised us. But for mothers in the midst of a custody dispute, enjoying the holiday can be much more complicated both emotionally and logistically. Whether you’re navigating a new custody arrangement or involved in ongoing litigation, there are still ways to make the holiday special and avoid adding undue emotional stress. Continue reading →
Who is Considered a Habitual Felon in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, a habitual felon is someone who has been convicted of or pled guilty to three felonies. These defendants may be indicted as habitual felons if they have been designated as such and have been charged with another felony. North Carolina law also states that a defendant may not be prosecuted just to establish them as a habitual felon; there must be an existing felony case that the habitual felon proceeding can accompany. Continue reading →
Are Spouses Always Held Liable for Each Other’s Tax Obligations?
North Carolina spouses who file federal taxes jointly are typically liable for the taxes that are due when they file. This may create issues and complications in a number of scenarios, but there is an exception to this rule if one spouse seeks to be relieved from liability.
Requesting equitable relief under the Internal Revenue Code can be challenging because taxpayers must meet specific conditions to be eligible.