Custody and visitation orders in North Carolina are commonly amended when the terms no longer benefit the children and there has been a change in circumstances. Not every change will lead to a revised custody order, so understanding when a qualifying change has occurred can help you decide if it’s…
Extended family members often play an important role in a child’s life. The bond that children share with people such as their grandparents contributes to their development, but it is generally a parent’s decision as to which relationships their children can have. In North Carolina, parents have a right to…
It is always tragic when a child loses a parent, but what happens when the parent who passes away is the custodial parent? North Carolina courts must grant custody to someone else, and priority is given to biological parents in most cases. Awarding Custody After a Death Parents are allowed…
Divorce can be a challenging time, especially when children are involved. One of the most complex aspects of ending a marriage is determining custody and visitation rights. The case of Davidson v. Tuttle, 2022-NCCOA-622 offers a window into the intricate nature of these decisions and how they can change over…
Custody orders are not required for parents who are not together, but many choose to obtain a court order when they cannot agree on custody, visitation, and other issues related to raising their child. Without a court-issued custody order, the legal parents share equal rights.[1] Custody Orders are Legally Binding…
Rose v. Powell, 2023-NCCOA-______ (2023). Facts: Plaintiffs were the biological grandparents of the minor child in this case. Plaintiffs’ son, Jacob Chandler Rose, unexpectedly passed away. At the time of his death, the Defendant, Jacob’s wife, was pregnant with Jacob’s child, later named Aubrey, born on April 30, 2019. The…
Selph v. Selph, 2023-NCCOA-______ (2023) (unpublished). Facts: Plaintiff and Defendant married in December of 2017 and separated on July 20, 2021. They had one child together, which was the subject of a custody action. Plaintiff retained counsel to handle custody, whereas Defendant proceeded on his own. The two ended up…
Defendant Mother appeals from the trial court’s order on child support and custody. The Court of Appeals reverses and remands. Plaintiff Father and Defendant Mother married on January 1, 1994. The parties had two sons and separated on May 10, 1997. The parties’ divorce judgment was filed on August 17,…
Argueta v. Baker, 137 A.D.3d 1020, 27 N.Y.S.3d 237 (2016) There are times where parents do not effectively co-parent. There are even times where one parent goes out of their way to interfere in the parent-child relationship with the other parent. There are ways to enforce the controlling custody order,…
Divorce can be stressful. The process of dividing property that has accumulated between you and your ex-spouse is a given. Questions regarding how you will split all that you have shared – the marital residence, cars, custodial time with the children – are all commonplace questions individuals ask themselves when…