There have been phones and computers around for decades now, and in the child custody context they have been instrumental in providing access to children for noncustodial parents. But since Facetime has come around, we are beginning to see some court documents, specifically custody orders, reference Facetime when crafting custodial…
Articles Posted in family law specialist
Hunger Action Month and PTI Run on the Runway
September is Hunger Action Month. During September, members of the community can take a stand against hunger by sharing, volunteering, pledging, fundraising, or donating to help end hunger in America. Although hunger is a nationwide problem, the Piedmont Triad struggles with food insecurity throughout the community. In recent years, Greensboro-High…
Don’t Wait to Obtain a QDRO
By: Carolyn J. Woodruff, JD, CPA, CVAPatterson v. Chrysler Group Addendum Shortly after the Sixth Circuit decided Patterson v. Chrylser Group, 845 F.3d 756 (2017), I first wrote about this case. Based on some recent comments, updating the blog with dates for clarification is necessary. The issue is when the statute of limitations starts on the…
Sports Betting and Reckless Spending
North Carolina will soon decide whether to make gambling on sports legal. There are two bills, one in the North Carolina House, the other in the Senate. House Bill 631 of the 2021 Session is a bill to authorize and regulate sports wagering. Senate Bill 688 looks to be a…
Playing by the Rules – Service of Process
Stewart v. Shipley, 825 S.E.2d 684, 264 N.C.App. 241 (N.C. App. 2019) You might imagine your civil court case as a game. All games have rules, and the handbook that tells you how to play the game is the Rules of Civil Procedure. And you can’t break the rules without…
Psychological Evaluations and the Coleman Murders
Matthew Taylor Coleman and his wife, Abby Coleman, were living a picturesque life in their Santa Barbara, California home with their two young children—Kaleo, a two-year-old boy, and Roxy, a ten-month-old girl— when events took a turn for the worse. While the family was packing for a camping trip, Matthew…
Consent Order Ambiguity
WALTER V. WALTER 2021-NCCOA-428 The language contained in a consent order should be unambiguous and clearly state what each party is required to do under the order. When the reading of the order leads to multiple reasonable interpretations, it may become impossible to enforce through contempt. Below is a custody…
Cohabitation as an Alimony Defense
Orren v. Orren, 800 S.E.2d 472, 253 N.C.App. 480 (N.C. App. 2017) We have previously written about what cohabitation means in the alimony and postseparation support context. Essentially, according to North Carolina law, it is an appropriate termination point for alimony and postseparation support. But in some cases, a party…
The Problem with Equitable Distribution Delays
Wall v. Wall, 536 S.E.2d 647, 140 N.C. App. 303 (N.C. App. 2000) There are various legal mechanisms by which former spouses separate their personal and real property. One mechanism is Equitable Distribution (ED). Practically speaking, however, no division of property should be accomplished without first obtaining an Order/Judgment from…
Update on Kelly Clarkson’s Divorce
Divorces among the stars continue to spark gossip throughout Hollywood, but recent developments in Kelly Clarkson’s divorce from Brandon Blackstock are turning heads. The couple divorce papers were filed in June of 2020, after seven years of marriage. Blackstock served as Clarkson’s talent manager during the marriage. Recent reports note…