In re NNB, COA 19-261 (Unpublished opinion) The family courts in North Carolina operate under one abiding principle: the best interest of the child. This overarching concept takes precedence over every other consideration and can produce unexpected results. This article discusses a recent case in our county in which a…
North Carolina Divorce Lawyers Blog
Public Records, Public University and Sexual Assault – Which Laws Hold Sway?
A few years ago, when our state’s leading public university was hit with a public records request regarding a campus sexual assault, the school’s response led to a Constitutional standoff. The United States is a republic where the states have a great deal of autonomy, but what happens when a…
We Mean Business: Valuation of Businesses for Equitable Distribution
Logue v. Logue, No. COA19-831 (unpublished opinion) One of the most important issues dealt with by experienced family law and divorce attorneys across the country, and especially in the Piedmont Triad, is the division of property (also known as equitable distribution). When there are shared business interests, the valuation of…
Unpredictable Bonuses and Alimony
Finn v. Finn, COA 19-520 (Unpublished opinion) Alimony can be a complex element in divorce. How much is fair and reasonable, how it is categorized for tax purposes, or even whether it is owed at all are matters often left to the discretion of judges. Here in the Piedmont area…
Subject Matter Jurisdiction Still Matters
Hamdan v. Freitekh, ______ N.C. App. _______ (2020) (COA19-929). Here in North Carolina, and across the nation, the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) sets the jurisdictional rules for how and where custody orders are enforced. The cardinal rule in custody cases has always been, and continues to be,…
Facing the Music: Innocent Spouse Relief
Henry v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 201924, 2019 WL 1385242 (2019) (a) Facts: Husband and wife married in 1997 and divorced in 2013. While the divorce case was pending, the parties filed a joint income tax return for tax year 2012. The return did not report $14,650 in income earned…
Beauty and the Bread Winner: Innocent Spouse Relief
Schorse v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2018176, 2018 WL 5270556 (2018) (a) Facts: Husband was a computer programmer and wife was a physician. During the marriage, the wife earned 80% to 90% of the parties’ income. For tax years 2002, 2003, and 2004, the wife provided her tax information to the…
The Wife Who Cried Wolf
Welwood v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2019113, 2019 WL 4187568 (2019) (a) Facts: Husband and wife were married in 1973. They separated in Florida 2003 and signed an agreement dividing their property. In the agreement, the husband conveyed to the wife a 50% interest in certain real estate partnerships. The partnerships…
What Defines Abuse for Innocent Spouse Relief?
HeydonGrauss v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2018209, 2018 WL 6720943 (2018) (a) Facts: Husband and wife filed joint tax returns for tax years 2005 to 2009. They separated on 2010 and were divorced in 2015. The parties did not enclose full payment with their 2005-2009 tax returns until 2010. The wife…
Reducing Stress and Anxiety During the COVID Lockdown
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that fear and anxiety related to the COVID-19 outbreak can be overwhelming and can cause increased emotional issues in both adults and children. People that may experience greater levels of stress include those who are at higher risk due to…