Articles Tagged with divorce

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Today is April 11th and Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard has begun in Fairfax, Virginia.  You can watch it here.  The pair met in 2011 during production of The Rum Diary and married in 2015.  In May 2016, the pair split when Heard filed for a domestic violence protective order against Depp.  Heard alleged Depp abused her and Depp denied the claims.  They settled their divorce in August 2016. Continue reading →

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Samantha S. Erks, JD

Same-sex dating relationships are just like opposite-sex relationships in many respects: meeting, dating, and, hopefully, moving on to something deeper. Sometimes, however, just like in opposite sex relationships, same-sex relationships eventually do not work out. And sometimes, same-sex relationships REALLY do not work out and, just like in opposite sex relationships, things can get scary. When that happens, when someone is threatening or stalking their ex, one would hope that an LGBTQ victim would be able to rely on the courts to protect them through a domestic violence protective order in the same way that a straight victim could. Until this year, however, that was not the case. Continue reading →

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Amy Setzer, Legal Assistant

For those dealing with a family law matter, whether it’s battling your ex for custody or severing ties with a divorce, Couples Appreciation Month probably doesn’t have you doing cartwheels through downtown. But if you’ve been keeping up with our series on developing healthy relationships, you know that these suggestions can be applied to your connections with many different types of people in your life. If you’re building a new romance or trying to fix your rapport with Mom, here are more tips for your toolbox. Continue reading →

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Amy Setzer, Legal Assistant

If you read the previous blog, you know April is Couples Appreciation Month.  Those of you going through a divorce probably don’t find this fact something to celebrate. Here at Woodruff Family Law Group, we work hard not only to help our clients get through their big “D”, but to get past it as well.  Part of moving forward after a strenuous break-up is healing yourself and hopefully finding new love.  While getting back in the saddle is tough, staying in it can be even tougher. Whether you find yourself in a new relationship or feel like the one you’re in has lost its sparkle, here’s some more tips on strengthening your bond with your special someone. Continue reading →

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Amy Setzer, Legal Assistant

                April is Couples Appreciation Month and in honor of the occasion we’ll be posting a series of blogs on what to do (or not) when it comes to healthy relationships.  If you’re down in the dumps about your recent divorce, don’t fret.  While these tips are geared towards romantic couples, the basic principles can apply to all kinds of relationships from family to friends, so it’s still worth the read.  Besides, as hard as it might be to imagine, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Eventually you will move on, and these tips could give you a leg up on a fresh start with someone new.

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Wayne Hopper, Legal Assistant

When an issue is winding its way through the court system, you may feel as if time stands still. Family law cases can be especially trying due to the emotions they elicit and the time it takes to see them through to the end. Family law cases not only come with a monetary cost, they can be costly in time and emotional currency. The prolonged drama of hearings and motions and continuances takes a toll on a family’s financial and emotional well-being. And the backlog in family court has been exacerbated by court closures stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. Continue reading →

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Wayne Hopper, Legal Assistant

Sorey v. Sorey, 757 S.E.2d 518 (2014)

Divorce is not something anyone expects when they get married. The end of a marriage can be more difficult when one spouse has engaged in behavior that violates the fundamental tenets of marriage. Such behavior is considered marital misconduct in the legal world, and it can take different forms, such as sexual affairs, reckless spending, abandonment, or excessive substance abuse. Misconduct can lead to separation or the end of a marriage. North Carolina law addresses marital misconduct as a cause of separation or divorce and how it may be considered in claims for post-separation or alimony. Continue reading →

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Maddukuri v. Chintanippu, 2022-NCCOA-128 (1 March 2022)

Stipulations are often used to expedite portions of a case/trial so that there is no time wasted on them, allowing the court to focus on the issues that are actually in contention. The use of stipulations of fact is pretty common. It removes the inconvenience of having to show evidence of facts that no one contests. Stipulations can also be used for settlement. These allow for the concession between parties of some rights in return for others. Below is a case where the Court dealt with the potential withdrawal of a stipulation. Continue reading →

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Helpful Information on How to Update Gender Identity on Government-Issued IDs

A person’s gender identity is defined as their innate sense of belonging to a particular gender. It specifically differs from the gender assigned at birth, which is based on the presence of external genitalia. Gender identify is something that develops biologically along with the body and mind. Accordingly, a transgender person is someone whose gender identity does not match their gender assigned at birth. Such misalignment can result in gender dysphoria, a medical diagnostic term for a condition in which someone experiences clinically significant distress persisting for at least six months.

The treatment for gender dysphoria is not limited to pharmaceutical or surgical procedures. Rather, one of the first steps is to transition socially. This can mean using the pronouns that the transgender person identifies with. A large step forward in treatment is when one’s gender identity is acknowledged by others, including the government by way of allowing updates to government issued identification.

Four Options to Change Gender on a NC Driver’s License

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Wayne Hopper, Legal Assistant

STEWART v. STEWART, 141 NC App. 236

Dividing assets collected throughout a marriage is an unfortunate but necessary undertaking with divorce. This process can cause conflict, especially when the asset was brought into the marriage by one party. In North Carolina, a business stake or an interest in a professional practice can be considered a marital asset subject to Equitable Distribution. While a premarital agreement is worth considering for a party bringing assets into a marriage, the language contained therein is just as important. Your spouse may challenge a premarital agreement without clear and suitable terms. Let’s look at one such case.    Continue reading →