Change is a four-letter word. Actually, we all know it’s six letters, but to some, it sometimes has the connotation as some of the more well-known four letter words that some of us use daily. One of the definitions from www.dictionary.com is: “to make a material difference so that the thing is distinctly different from what it was.” All families go through change, both good and bad. How one copes with that four-letter word can mean the difference between surviving, or barely hanging on. You are responsible for how your children learn to handle change. You set the example. Make the difference. Your children learn by example, so make that learning experience positive. Continue reading →
Planning for your “Future” Former Spouse: The North Carolina Premarital Agreement Act: Basics
by Carolyn J. Woodruff, JD, CPA, CVA, North Carolina Family Law SpecialistThe North Carolina Premarital Agreement Act describes the law for the creation of valid, enforceable premarital agreement. The North Carolina Premarital Agreement Act is under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 52B. This will be one of several articles discussing the North Carolina Premarital Agreement Act. Continue reading →
Make This Valentine’s Day “More Me, Less You!”
By Amy Setzer, Legal Assistant, Woodruff Family Law GroupSpending Valentine’s Day as a new member of the Triad Singles Guild could be more traumatic than your divorce–if you let it. Friends plan gushy evenings at Christopher B’s. Flowers appear on desks at work. The children’s tiny, perforated Minion cards taunt you from their WalMart bag. To top it all off, Hallmark has once again left no Walgreens untouched—their lovey-dovey hearts and candy are delicate lace reminders of how you failed at love. The pressure to be part of a pair is everywhere. Do not give in! Continue reading →
Treat Yourself This Valentine’s Day
By Diana Westrick, Legal Assistant, Woodruff Family Law GroupListen up, Greensboro! Single does not have to equal lonely. In fact, it is the time that we update our definitions and expectations to what being single truly signifies: independence, opportunity, and a bounty of love available to share. While the upcoming “love holiday” can often remind us of what past relationships are missing, or what current relationships are lacking, Valentine’s Day can also provide an opportunity to acknowledge the value of those relations often overlooked; connections that can hold much more value than those of the romantic-sort.
Read on for a listing of Valentine’s events to share with your other, significant others. Continue reading →
A Tribute to My Father’s One Hundredth Birthday
by Carolyn Woodruff, JD, CPA, CVA, North Carolina Family Law SpecialistHad my Dad lived, he would have been 100- years-old today! Instead, he’s having some birthday cake in Heaven. My Mom survives and is here on Earth. While I am the older of their two biological children, they were older parents when I was born. I thought I’d take a day to remember him and all he meant and means to me. I’ll also use this as a time to opine on “family of origin”. Continue reading →
Caught by the iPad! Could this Unintentional Spying Happen in North Carolina?
By Carolyn J. Woodruff, JD, CPA, CVA—North Carolina Family Law SpecialistOne of my favorite stars is Gwen Stefani. She manages a life of motherhood, career with celebrity status, and fashion. And, now she has just completed a divorce with her thirteen-year marriage to Gavin Rossdale, which produced Apollo (almost two); Kingston (age 9) and Zuma (age 7). Rumors swirl that Gavin had an affair with the nanny, and Gwen apparently found nude photos of the nanny and plans for Gavin and the nanny to meet for sex—all found on the family iPad. The information on the family iPad yielded an abrupt end to this marriage. Gavin had naughty behavior that uploaded from his iPhone to the cloud and downloaded to the linked family iPad. Continue reading →
The Danger of Unanticipated Consequences: Trying to Plan for Child Custody—For the Greensboro Gossip Girl Fans, an International Hague Issue
By Dana Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law GroupMost separated couples probably do not think about complex jurisdictional issues when they are deciding child custody issues. Maybe the schedule is one week on, one week off, with the parents alternating weeks wherein they have sole physical custody of the child for a particular week. Maybe one parent has to move cross-country for a job opportunity, so instead the schedule is split around school with the child living with one parent during the school year and the other on summer vacation. These seem to make sense, dividing the custody of the child in the way that allows both biological parents to take an active role in raising their child. When the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction Treaty is involved with parents in different countries, the issues become very complex very fast. Continue reading →
It’s a New Year, Greensboro! Resolutions: The ABC’s of Goal Setting – Part 4 of 4
By Amy Setzer, Legal Assistant, Woodruff Family Law GroupIf you’re on our blog, chances are you’re in one of the three stages of divorce: contemplating, in the process of, or finalized. Regardless, life probably feels like a never-ending rollercoaster. At a time when everything is spinning out of control, it’s natural to wonder how the heck you got to this awful place. As the adventure of 2016 commences, remember this: life is what you make of it, and it doesn’t have to suck. Continue reading →
Divorce vs. Culture and Religion—a Jewish Situation Gone Array
By Dana Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law GroupGetting married seems to be relatively simple, at least when compared to the process of obtaining a divorce. In North Carolina, for example, a civil divorce is typically granted on the basis of a one-year separation of the parties, where at least one party had the intent to remain separate indefinitely. This means that getting a divorce can drag on for longer than the parties even lived as a married couple. Having an experienced divorce attorney can assist you in navigating this sometimes complex process. Keep in mind this is a divorce by the State of North Carolina. A religious recognition of your divorce can be a separate matter in several religions. This blog addresses a tragic Jewish situation. Continue reading →
It’s a New Year, Greensboro! Resolutions: The ABC’s of Goal Setting – Part 3 of 4
By Amy Setzer, Legal Assistant, Woodruff Family Law GroupB is for BALANCE AND MODERATION
“Balance is not something you find; it’s something you create.” –Jane Kingsford
Divorce can have a funny way of consuming you, and it’s easy to get caught up in the New Year self-improvement frenzy. Avoid heaping resolutions to your already hefty “to-do” pile–you may crash and burn. Instead, bring some harmony to your life by being choosy. Continue reading →