When a marriage ends, people brace for the hard conversations. How will custody work with the kids? How will the money be divided? Who gets what pet? And what life might look like next.
What people don’t always prepare for is the feeling of being watched, of realizing an ex somehow knows things they have never been told. Continue reading →
Learn how North Carolina’s new Complex Family Financial Court may affect high-asset divorce, business valuation, equitable distribution, and alimony cases. Continue reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
May is National Pet Month, when we celebrate the special role pets play in our families and in our hearts. Continue reading →
Gray divorce—when couples over the age of 50 end their marriage—is becoming more and more common as individuals seek fulfillment in their later years.
In our previous blogs, we examined the gray divorces of Bill and Melinda Gates, as well as Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng, focusing on financial complexities and emotional adjustments.
In this installment, we look at the high-profile split of Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos, which sheds light on the importance of financial planning, amicable resolution, and moving forward with purpose. Continue reading →
Property can be classified into various categories in North Carolina divorces, including marital and separate. Equitable distribution will handle these types of property differently. In most situations, separate property is not considered to be part of the marital estate and is not divided between spouses. However, the way spouses use separate property can affect marital property and equitable distribution, including paying off non-marital debt with marital money. Continue reading →
Mejia v. Mejia, No.COA19-438 (May 2020).
In North Carolina, we typically see two types of agreements in the realm of marriage and divorce. First is the Prenuptial Agreement; the second is the Separation Agreement. Separation agreements often contain provisions that resolve issues of child support, alimony, child custody, and distribution of marital property. At times, one party may be strong-armed into signing an agreement. In that case, the party may claim Duress. Below, we discuss a case in which a Husband claimed Duress to prevent enforcement of a Separation Agreement. Continue reading →
Dear Carolyn,
We have a small family business. I do all the work with customers; my ex-wife does the bookkeeping. We both own the company as shareholders. We now are now separated. What protections do I need to put in place? She writes checks that are not for business expenses out of the business account.
– Concerned
North Carolina Divorce Lawyers Blog