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North Carolina Divorce Lawyers Blog

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Visitation at the Discretion of One Parent

Selph v. Selph, 2023-NCCOA-______ (2023) (unpublished).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…

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Summary Judgment and Alimony Claims

WATSON V. WATSON, 2023-NCCOA-______ (2023)  Facts: Husband and Wife married in 2004. They separated, and in 2020 Wife filed a complaint for alimony and other relief. In 2021, the trial court granted a summary judgment, denying alimony. Husband argued that Wife’s illicit sexual behavior barred her claim to alimony. At…

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Alcohol and Substance Abuse and Child Custody

When it comes to child custody, the court has the authority and discretion to consider a wide array of factors to further the best interest of the child standard. One such factor is the physical and mental health of the parent. Impairment of one parent in a child custody dispute…

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Witherspoon/Toth Divorce Announced

Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth announced the end of their marriage on Friday, March 24, 2023.  According to sources, Witherspoon filed the paperwork in the Circuit Court of Davidson County near their home in Nashville.  The Oscar winner and super-agent have one son together, Tennessee James, age 10.  Additionally, according…

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Voluntary Dismissal and Post Separation Support

BROSNAN V. CRAMER, 2023-NCCOA-______ (2023).  Facts: The facts here are simple. Plaintiff and Defendant married in 2008. After years of marriage, Plaintiff filed claims for alimony, child custody, child support, equitable distribution, post separation support (PSS), and attorney fees on October 15, 2020. Defendant filed his response on January 20,…

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Who Can Perform a Wedding?

A question that sometimes arises in family law is whether a marriage in North Carolina was valid. Here, we discuss one of the prerequisites of marriage: solemnization before a proper officiant.  The statute can be found below:  51-1. Requisites of marriage; solemnization.  A valid and sufficient marriage is created by…

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Termination of Parental Rights – Facts Matter

IN RE: A.W., 2023-NCCOA-________ (2023).  Facts: Orange County DSS received a report for domestic violence that occurred in September 2018, where Father dragged Mother into another room by her hair, struck her in the back of the head, threw her against a wall, and essentially choked Mother until she lost…

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Speculative Taxes and Equitable Distribution

Dolan v. Dolan, 148 N.C. App. 256 (2002).  Facts: Plaintiff and Defendant married in 1971. Plaintiff went to optometry school and eventually he started his own practice and also bought rental properties to supplement the family income. The parties separated in 1994. A claim for Equitable Distribution (ED) was brought…

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Equitable Distribution and Separate Property

DONATI V. DONATI, 2023-NCCOA-________ (2023) (unpublished).  Facts: Husband and Wife separated and a claim for equitable distribution was filed by Husband, who claimed that he ought to receive more than fifty percent of all marital and divisible property. Husband contended that he sold his separate residence, a house owned before…

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Rule 4 Service of Summons and Complaint

SCOTT V. VURAL, 2023-NCCOA-________ (2023) (unpublished).  Facts: This is a personal injury case. However, the rules for service apply to almost all civil cases. There was an automobile accident in February of 2018. In February of 2021, Plaintiffs filed a lawsuit and attempted to serve defendant by certified mail pursuant…

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