The 2024 Sunshine v. Sunshine decision of the North Carolina Court of Appeals clarified how courts should handle income imputation in divorce cases. As you are about to read, this decision also explains how courts evaluate business income in alimony cases and how they assess the accustomed standard of living…
Black voices were legally silenced in courtrooms for a large portion of American history. A brave few, however, refused to remain silent. During Black History Month, we honor the African American lawyers and judges who transformed the bench from a tool of oppression into a lever for equality. Following our…
Every President’s Day, we tend to focus on the marble statues, the legacy-defining speeches, and – let’s be honest – the three-day weekend mattress sales. But if you look past the monuments and the discounts, you’ll find that the White House has long been the nation’s most exclusive law firm.…
Judge Elreta Melton Alexander became one of the most influential people in a state where Black women seldom held courtroom firsts. She didn’t wait for the legal community to accommodate her; instead, she entered it and changed the courtroom by refusing to be shut out. Alexander’s Early Life and Education…
Child support enforcement in North Carolina often raises questions about wage withholding and when it is required, and whether the courts can allow alternative payment methods instead. As you will see in Price v. New Hanover County Child Support o/b/o Murray-Price, the North Carolina Court of Appeals has addressed these…
During Black History Month, we pay tribute to African Americans who broke down barriers and contributed to the creation of laws that currently safeguard families. Brilliant Black judges and attorneys paved the way for a fair and equal courtroom, increasing justice in areas such as equal access to the courts,…
In this post, we will discuss Icenhour v. Icenhour and how the North Carolina Court of Appeals confirmed a critical principle for all North Carolina alimony modification cases. We will explain why a change in income alone might not be sufficient to justify modifying the existing alimony amount, and that…
We all know divorce can be expensive. And with kids involved, the legal costs can add up even more rapidly because of custody and child support disputes. A recent North Carolina case, Stewart v. Brickman, helps explain when a court might order one parent to help pay for the other…
In this post, we will discuss the implications of the Aguilar v. Mayen case and why the North Carolina Court of Appeals has vacated a custody order. If you are a family lawyer, judge, or a parent in North Carolina, you’ll find this case important, especially from the perspective of how…
In Gallagher-Masonis v. Masonis, 911 S.E.2d 125 (N.C. Ct. App. 2024), the North Carolina Court of Appeals addressed an important question in family law: When can a court review and modify a binding arbitration award involving property division, alimony, and child support? This decision highlights how the North Carolina Family…