North Carolina Divorce Lawyers BlogOur last blog went over the facts of Shuler v. Donahue, No. COA24-739 (N.C. Ct. App. Nov. 5, 2025) and the decision of the Court. This blog will discuss the ramifications of that decision. Continue reading →
Articles Posted in Domestic Violence
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Can Both Sides Get a Domestic Violence Protective Order in North Carolina? Part 1 of 2
You asked the judge for a domestic violence protective order (DVPO). Shortly after, the other person requested one against you, and the judge granted both.
That can feel even-handed. And North Carolina law allows this type of decision only if the judge makes specific findings first A recent published decision shows what can happen when the judge does not. Continue reading →
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If a Judge Copies Your Statement Into a Protective Order, Will It Hold Up on Appeal? (Part 2 of 2)
The previous blog discussed the facts of Jay v. Jay.
What Did the Courts Decide in Jay v. Jay?
Both the Court of Appeals (in 2025) and the North Carolina Supreme Court (in March 2026) upheld the initial order. Continue reading →
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If a Judge Copies Your Statement Into a Protective Order, Will It Hold Up on Appeal? (Part 1 of 2)
You traveled to court, told the judge your testimony under oath, and walked out with a domestic violence protective order. Then the other side appeals – not by arguing that the abuse you reported never happened, but by claiming that the judge filled out the order incorrectly. Can a technicality like this truly undo your protection? Continue reading →
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What If a Judge Doesn’t Believe You in a North Carolina DVPO Hearing? (Part 2 of 2)
Our last blog reviewed the underlying facts of the case Brown v. Rodriguez, a 2024 unpublished opinion. This blog will explain what happened when the case was appealed. Continue reading →
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What If a Judge Doesn’t Believe You in a North Carolina DVPO Hearing? (Part 1 of 2)
Are you heading into a domestic violence protective order hearing? For many in this situation, one worry tends to underpin many others – and it’s one they may be afraid to say out loud:
What if the judge doesn’t believe me in court? Continue reading →
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NC Court of Appeals Upholds DVPO but Strikes Social Media Restriction
We will discuss how the North Carolina Court of Appeals resolved important issues concerning Domestic Violence Protective Orders (DVPOs) in a 2025 case, Williams v. Cabrera, No. COA23-826 (N.C. Ct. App. Apr. 16, 2025). Continue reading →
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When Third-Party Complaints Become Harassment in North Carolina
When you hear of someone committing an act of domestic violence, what do you imagine? A physical confrontation? A threat? While that is often the reality, it might not always be the full picture. Continue reading →
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When a DVPO Is Denied
The purpose of a domestic violence protective order is to keep people safe, but safety isn’t something a court can provide simply on request. The process demands evidence, scrutiny, and a finding that the legal standard has actually been met. Sometimes, even when the allegations are extremely serious, that finding never comes. Continue reading →
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What the Movie “Michael” Reveals About Childhood Trauma and Domestic Violence
By Carolyn J. Woodruff, JD, CPA, CVA
The new film Michael has renewed public interest in one of the most influential entertainers in history. Audiences will undoubtedly leave theaters talking about the music, the performances, and the controversies that surrounded Michael Jackson’s life. As an experienced family lawyer in the Triad, Greensboro, and Guilford County, I was inspired by the movie to write this blog about domestic violence. Continue reading →