When spouses in North Carolina divorce, retirement funds and pension benefits are among the many assets that may be divided between the parties. If you were awarded a portion of your ex-spouse’s pension benefits, the question of when you can receive your payments often has a complicated answer. Often a…
March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of the countless women who have shaped the course of history. In the legal world, the Supreme Court is the pinnacle of the judiciary, and the six women who have served as Supreme Court Justices have played a major…
For unmarried parents, deciding which parent claims the child on their taxes is a common discussion point around the beginning of each year. Some divorce decrees or custody orders include stipulations for which parent can claim the child, but this is not always the case. If you do not have…
After you file a divorce complaint in North Carolina, you must serve your spouse with the complaint and the summons. There are somewhat complex requirements for how a spouse must be served with these legal documents. You cannot hand the divorce complaint and summons to your spouse personally; with limited…
North Carolina domestic violence charges can be filed against someone who has used or tried to use physical force against someone they have or have had a close personal relationship with. Not every relationship is included in General Statute Section 14-32.5, but charges can be filed if the abuser is…
North Carolina’s domestic violence law has undergone changes in recent years, expanding the types of qualifying relationships and the list of people who can be charged. Previously, the law limited domestic violence charges in relationships to a man who assaulted his female partner. If a woman was found guilty of…
Spouses going through the divorce process should not necessarily assume that the facts will speak for themselves or that they don’t need to take an active role in their divorce proceedings. Important matters are discussed at each hearing; every document the court asks for is vital to the case; and…
Spouses going through divorce proceedings in North Carolina may eventually have the option to file an appeal of a final order, but appealing a decision is not as easy as filing one or two documents. There are extensive requirements, and while some are relatively simple, like the requirement that the…
Self-executing modifications are provisions within a contract or order that amend the terms upon a specified event that may occur in the future. The legality of these provisions varies from state to state; some states have determined that self-executing modifications are typically illegal, and others have yet to make any…
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…