Posted by Josh Valentine | Jan 23, 2020 |
Prenuptial agreements can be helpful for couples to plan for how property is treated if the couple ever gets a divorce. Increasingly, individuals are concerned about pet ownership in a divorce. So-called “pet-nups” could provide for pet ownership when a married couple separates.
If you have any...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Jan 17, 2020 |
A recent article in USA Today ranked the average cost of divorce in each state. North Carolina comes in near the middle for the cost of an average divorce, with and without children. The costs of filing for divorce are not that high, generally coming to a few hundred dollars. However, the cost of...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Jan 10, 2020 |
Many married couples keep with the tradition of changing the wife's last name to take the husband's last name after marriage. Other couples may keep their individual last names or add a hyphenated name. When a couple gets divorced, changing the last name can be more complicated.
After a divorce...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Jan 03, 2020 |
Drinking alcohol is not uncommon for married couples. While some couples drink regularly, others abstain from drinking any alcohol at all. Alcohol use can impact marital satisfaction and divorce rates. According to a study by researchers at the University of Buffalo, when one partner drinks heavi...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Dec 23, 2019 |
A divorce can still come as a big surprise for many spouses. A spouse may have been acting differently for months or years, or there could have been no obvious signs that there was anything wrong with the relationship. However, hindsight often provides clues that one spouse had been thinking abou...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Dec 20, 2019 |
January is sometimes called “divorce month,” because there tends to be an increase in the number of divorces filed in the first month of the new year. With the holidays fast approaching, many couples who have been having troubles come together again for the family and kids. However, after the new...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Dec 09, 2019 |
For a long time, every state in the country had the same legal limit for impaired drivers, including North Carolina. A driver is over the limit if he or she had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. However, Utah has recently lowered its legal limit to 0.05% BAC and other states...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Dec 06, 2019 |
Christmas is supposed to be a time for joy, family gatherings, and watching kids open presents under the tree. Unfortunately for parents involved in custody disputes, Christmas can be a stressful time and lead to fights between parents, family members, and children. If you are involved in a child...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Nov 27, 2019 |
Earlier this month, we discussed North Carolina's new “raise the age” law for juveniles. The raise the age law would no longer automatically try suspects under the age of 18 as adults. However, the legislature has also signed a number of other laws that apply to juvenile justice and teen court ac...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Nov 19, 2019 |
Retirement benefits are a unique asset in North Carolina divorce cases. Retirement benefits may consist of Social Security benefits, 401(k) savings, IRAs, a pension, or other types of retirement savings. These may have accumulated before and during the marriage. For people under the age of retire...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Nov 05, 2019 |
An article in the New York Times is telling readers what North Carolina criminal defense lawyers have known for years about breath testing for drunk driving: “These Machines Can Put You in Jail. Don't Trust Them.” Unfortunately, many drivers rely on these faulty tests and the claims of the prosec...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Nov 04, 2019 |
North Carolina is the last state to adopt a “raise the age” law. Under the new law, teenagers under the age of 18 will no longer be automatically tried as adults in court. Session Law 2019-186 was enacted on August 1, 2019, and will go into effect on December 1, 2019.
Changes Under the Raise the...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Oct 24, 2019 |
Divorce can be a time for major upheaval in your life. A divorce can result in changes to your living situation, support system, time with your children, and financial status. However, major life changes can also be the catalyst for deciding to get separated or divorced. Major life events, like s...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Oct 21, 2019 |
Alimony can represent a significant post-divorce expense, possibly for decades into the future. In the past, alimony payments were deductible for the supporting spouse and helped offset the expense of providing monthly payments to the dependent spouse. However, after a change to the tax law, alim...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Oct 18, 2019 |
A proposed bill would make it illegal to use a phone or other mobile device while driving. The Hands-Free NC Act, House Bill (HB) 144 has passed the House and now awaits approval in the senate. Using a phone while driving could lead to getting pulled over by the police. As with any traffic stop, ...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Oct 17, 2019 |
Whether because of life circumstances, financial hardship, or simply growing apart, many couples decide that separation is the best option to move forward. While many people feel alone when facing a divorce, it is a common part of life for people across the country. According to a recent survey, ...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Oct 02, 2019 |
According to one survey, women who get married for the first time when they are aged 15 to 20 are more likely to be divorced. People who get married between ages 28 and 32 are more likely to be married for longer. However, people can get divorced at any age and it does not make the process any ea...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Sep 24, 2019 |
One of the expensive consequences of a drunk driving conviction in North Carolina is the increase in auto insurance. Drivers with a DWI may end up with a car insurance premium that is three times their rate before a DWI. Other drivers may be dropped from their insurance company and be left search...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Sep 24, 2019 |
When most couples are negotiating child custody and visitation schedules, they focus on family-oriented holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, other holidays can be just as important for children and Halloween is a favorite holiday of many kids.
Kids (and some adults) get excited ab...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Aug 20, 2019 |
Losing your license for a year can be devastating for many drivers in North Carolina who need to be able to drive to get to work, take kids to school, go to doctors' appointments, or buy groceries. However, the good news is that a driver convicted of driving while impaired (DWI) may still be able...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Aug 19, 2019 |
Child support calculations in North Carolina are based primarily on the income of each parent. In making an initial child support order after an absolute divorce or separation, the court will generally require a financial disclosure from each parent. This information, along with other factors, wi...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Aug 09, 2019 |
When the police and law enforcement set up a checkpoint, they may be checking for all sorts of traffic violations. Traffic checkpoints and driving while impaired (DWI) checkpoints can check for anything from out-of-date registration to drivers with felony warrants. The courts have determined that...
Posted by Blake Caulder | Aug 08, 2019 |
In a deepening commitment to the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists, Shelby, NC has joined Watch for Me NC. The program among other strategies hosts workshops and trainings for law enforcement that focus on increasing the integrity of travel on sidewalks, crosswalks, and streets.
Each year, ...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Aug 07, 2019 |
Dealing with child custody and visitation with an ex can be hard enough. When the ex gets remarried or starts dating a new partner, that new person can complicate how parents handle child custody. In some cases, the new partner could be a negative influence on the child and the other parent has t...
Posted by Josh Valentine | Jul 18, 2019 |
Being away from home, even for a short time, can make it difficult to deal with regular day-to-day duties like paying bills, responding to mail, and keeping registrations updated. For active-duty military members, being away from home can last for weeks, months, or even longer. Service members co...