Many assume that money is only considered “income” if it comes directly via a paycheck. Other sources – be it a loan from a family member, money from selling a piece of property – surely don’t count when a court settles child support. Right? Continue reading →
People usually think that if you paid for something, you own it. You own the groceries if you buy them, and you own the house if you pay the mortgage. This is a good way to think about money in your daily life. But does that logic work in a divorce? Well, not entirely. North Carolina courts don’t just give property to the person who spent the most money in the relationship. Continue reading →
Divorce is hard enough to get through on its own, but when you’ve worked hard and sacrificed years of your life to build a business together, it can feel like you’re tearing down everything you’ve worked for. Continue reading →
Most marriages don’t end because of one dramatic moment. They end because one person gradually stops engaging in the relationship, and as it turns out, some spouses carry that same habit straight into the courtroom. Continue reading →
A North Carolina Court of Appeals decision in the Face v. Face (2024) case addressed many key points in separation court proceedings, including equitable distribution and alimony, as well as procedural issues such as subject-matter jurisdiction and correction of clerical errors in domestic law. Continue reading →
The holidays are a season of giving. We shop for our children, cook up incredible feasts to share with loved ones, decorate our homes to spread joy, and often make end-of-year contributions to our favorite charities. But in the hustle and bustle that comes with December, it’s easy to overlook some of the most vulnerable members of our North Carolina community: the animals in our local shelters. Continue reading →
Most divorces involve some level of property distribution, including tangible and intangible items like furniture, vehicles, houses, bank accounts, and retirement accounts. Spouses who own businesses may also be required to divide the value of their business as part of an equitable distribution order. Continue reading →
Courts must have jurisdiction to hear a case. Jurisdiction can be established in numerous ways, including by subject matter or geography. If a party to a case wants to appeal a ruling, the court of appeals must ensure they have appellate jurisdiction, which is the authority to review a lower court’s decision. Interlocutory appeals present unique challenges when determining appellate jurisdiction because there are strict rules concerning the types of orders and judgments that can be appealed, such as whether or not the appealed ruling is considered final. Continue reading →
Which spouse will stay in the marital home and who will pay the mortgage during separation are among the many considerations in divorce matters. If the spouse who is not staying in the home pays the mortgage, do they get reimbursed for that money after the divorce? What happens if the marital home is awarded to the spouse who paid the mortgage? Continue reading →
Determining how military benefits should be awarded to spouses and former spouses after the death of a servicemember is complex and based on a variety of factors, including the date and manner of the servicemember’s death and which military benefit is in question. Continue reading →
North Carolina Divorce Lawyers Blog