Archive for 2017

Psychologists are frequently brought in during child custody proceedings to support an award of child custody to one parent over another. Psychologists are also useful in supporting decisions related to guardianship, abuse, neglect and the termination of custody. The American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct offers guidelines to psychologists to use when…

If you’re a member of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community in North Carolina, you’re well aware of the fact that LGBTQ parental rights haven’t been high on our state’s legal agenda. However, last month, the North Carolina Court of Appeals issued a ruling that supported the cause of same-sex spouses, and particularly…

Making sure your child has appropriate medical insurance and adequate health care is not something that you ever want to leave up to chance. However, if you don’t pinpoint what you and your ex-spouse’s responsibilities are when it comes to providing medical coverage, you may open the door for serious disagreements later. This often becomes…

Often, in a divorce, issues of child support and child custody can be difficult and even contentious. Resolving issues of which parent receives legal and/or physical custody of the children can be complicated enough to figure out at the time of your divorce – but what if, sometime down the road, circumstances change? There are…

What Is the 60/40 Child Custody Split? There’s a common perception in child custody cases that North Carolina courts favor the mother, almost always awarding them primary custody. However, over the past decade or so, this “default” has fallen out of favor and courts are moving toward more equitable custody arrangements. With the numerous logistical…

Not all parents can make an equal, 50/50 parenting schedule work. A 50/50 schedule usually requires two parents who have the typical “9-to-5” work schedule, live close to one another and their children’s schools and can diplomatically communicate with one another. If these conditions aren’t true for you and your ex, then you might consider an 80/20…

Every person who has been through divorce proceedings in North Carolina reached a point at which they realized the end of their marriages were inevitable. In some cases, the decision might be yours to get a divorce. In others, it might be your spouse’s decision. Alternatively, the decision might be mutual. If you’re currently undecided…

A lot of spouses enter into marriage fully confident that they have protected themselves — and their financial situation — with a prenuptial agreement. However, not all prenuptial agreements will hold up in court, so it’s important for future spouses to educate themselves on what constitutes a valid prenup. For one thing, both you and…

Now that your marriage is coming to an end, you’re probably looking to your best friends for extra support. If one of those best friends happens to be your dog, and your spouse has as strong of a connection to the animal, you could be facing a pet custody battle in divorce court. A lot…

Let’s say your marriage has been on the rocks for the last five years, but you stayed together for financial reasons. However, you recently received a $2 million inheritance and now you have the financial independence you need to break free. The worry is: Will your soon-to-be-ex-spouse get to take half of your inheritance money?…