Jurisdiction is the authority of a particular court to hear and rule on a case, and it is a crucial part of any court proceeding. There are multiple types of jurisdiction, such as territorial and subject matter. Territorial jurisdiction refers to a court’s ability to hear cases relating to a…
There are some situations in which a non-parent may be required to pay child support in North Carolina, but there are strict requirements that must be met. In most cases, non-parents are not obligated to pay child support. A recent Court of Appeals case dealt with this issue, stating that,…
North Carolina child support is calculated using various elements like the needs of the child and the custody arrangements, but income is one of the most significant factors in child support determinations. In most cases, the income each parent presently and actually earns is used to calculate support obligations. However,…
Equitable distribution is available in North Carolina divorces whenever either party requests it. The court will determine the most equitable division of assets and debts, which is not always an equal split. Determining the most equitable distribution of the spouses’ property involves various factors, including: Income of each spouse at…
In civil cases, such as divorces and equitable distribution matters, the defendant must be served with the summons and complaint prior to the date of the hearing. While process servers and the local Sheriff’s department can serve legal documents, you may also be able to serve the opposing party by…
In a divorce, assets and debts can be divided equally in North Carolina, but if either party requests equitable distribution, then there may also be an unequal division if that’s what the court deems fair. North Carolina courts can use a variety of entities to determine how to divide a…
In a recent case involving trust property in an equitable distribution dispute, the North Carolina Court of Appeals vacated and remanded a trial court’s decision not to add a trust as a necessary party to the case. In Wenninger v. Wenninger, Husband appealed from three orders entered by the trial…
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) is a uniform state law that has been enacted by the majority of states, including North Carolina. The UCCJEA establishes subject matter jurisdiction in child custody cases and indicates which court has the authority to decide on a custody issue. North…
Subject matter jurisdiction is the right of a specific court to hear a case and make rulings on the issues. In child custody cases, North Carolina uses the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), which says that jurisdiction can be established in the following ways: Initial child custody…
Modification of child support may be an option if there has been a material change in circumstances. Parents often use a change in income to justify a recalculation of child support, but this is not always a relevant reason. Groseclose v. Groseclose Father in Groseclose v. Groseclose had previously been…