It can be such a relief to find common ground with your child’s other parent, especially if you disagree on just about everything else. And if you both tell a judge equal custody is best, you might expect the final order to reflect that agreement. Continue reading →
International relocations can be overwhelmingly difficult to process, and if you are the parent who stays behind, one fear may outweigh everything else: can a judge let a child move to another country without explaining why the decision is safe? Continue reading →
For children caught in the middle of a divorce, few things feel more uncertain (or more frightening) than not knowing what their daily life will look like going forward. Continue reading →
Our last blog covered the facts of Williamson v. Smith (909 S.E.2d 926). Father argued that the custody order was permanent, while the mother argued that it was not. Continue reading →
The term “permanent” in a custody order holds extra weight at first glance. After all, if the title says “Permanent Custody Order”, it’s easy to assume that the arrangement can only be changed if something occurs that is substantial enough to garner the court’s attention. Continue reading →
Many assume that a child’s parent always comes first in a custody dispute. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, even cousins couldn’t possibly stand a chance against a child’s mother or father. Many also assume that if you were never properly served with court papers, any following order can be undone later. Continue reading →
We will discuss the Fairley v. Matelski (2024) case and see why the North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld a custody decision, acting in the child’s best interest.
You will see how nuanced custody decisions can be, why it is imperative to pay special attention to every fact in family law cases involving child custody, and how even the smallest details can make a big difference. Continue reading →
Child custody disputes are among the most common family law matters in court. Yet, due to the sensitive nature of the relationships and the complexity of the law, these cases can yield very different outcomes depending on the smallest details. Continue reading →
Anyone who suspects that a child is being abused or neglected can make a report to the Department of Social Services or Child Protective Services in North Carolina. This system is intended to protect children and ensure they have safe caregivers and homes. If a report is determined to be unfounded, it means that an investigation found no evidence of the reported neglect or abuse. Continue reading →
Courts in North Carolina often enter temporary orders on child custody because time is of the essence in such an important issue. These temporary orders must be followed until the court makes a final ruling, but temporary and permanent orders are handled differently in terms of requesting changes. Is returning to court for a final ruling the only way for an order to become permanent? Continue reading →
North Carolina Divorce Lawyers Blog