Family Law

So you asked for a marital separation, but your spouse refuses to leave the home you share. The home might even legally belong to you (if you inherited it or acquired it before marriage). But your spouse won’t move out, and you’re not going to use force to evict them. So, how do you handle…

Maintaining two households is more expensive than maintaining one, which is why you might face legitimate financial concerns if you have a child and you don’t live together with the other parent. Since North Carolina’s child support payment system can be confusing for the uninitiated, it’s important that you understand how North Carolina calculates child…

Are you involved in child custody proceedings? If you relocate to a new county within North Carolina, you might want your child custody hearings held in your new location. This is not a frivolous concern. Commuting across the state of North Carolina every time you need to attend a child custody hearing costs time, money,…

Even divorce lawyers agree that society would be better off with a lower divorce rate. Some people argue that the statistics are misleading. According to them, the divorce rate has soared because women enjoy the relatively newfound freedom to leave unhappy marriages. This narrative begs the question, of course, of why the marriage was unhappy…

When you’re trying to co-parent with someone who lives in another state, things get complicated fast. It’s not just the emotional weight of sharing time with your kids, either. You have to deal with the logistics, the legal red tape, and the inevitable friction that comes from trying to raise a child in two different…

When you’ve spent decades in the service, moving around the world, adapting to new assignments, and working through long separations, it’s easy to think the hardest part is behind you once you retire. But if you’re facing a divorce after military retirement, you already know that’s not always the case. Divorce is rarely simple, but…

When you’re going through a custody dispute, it’s easy to feel like everything’s on trial. The courts are judging your parenting, your past, and even your emotional stability. And while the court’s job is to make decisions in the best interest of your child, it often needs help figuring out what that really looks like.…

So, you’ve been there for the scraped knees, the bedtime stories, and the school plays. You’re more than a presence in your stepchild’s life at this point. You’ve become a parent in every way that counts. Now, you’re considering making it official through stepparent adoption in North Carolina. It’s a significant step, both legally and…

Things change, right? Whether it’s your job, your child’s needs, or even your custody arrangements, life keeps moving. If those things change, your child support order might need to change, too. If you’re in North Carolina and you’re wondering how to go about modifying your child support order, you’re not alone. It happens more often…

Divorce is hard enough on families. But when one parent tries to turn a child against the other, it adds an emotional layer that’s tough to overcome. This is what we call parental alienation. It’s not just a phase — it’s a major problem that may leave long-lasting scars on parents and children. Should you…

Divorce is tough, and it messes with just about everything in your life — including your taxes. Whether you’re already divorced or just starting the process, figuring out how this change will affect your taxes is super important. You might be dealing with changes in your filing status, child-related deductions, alimony, and how your property…

Managing missing child support payments is never simple. It might make you feel as though you have few choices and that it’s annoying and taxing. Should you be in North Carolina and encountering this problem, be aware that you’re not alone in handling it. The state provides ways to enforce child support orders, and there…

Divorce is never easy, but when kids are involved, the stakes feel even higher. You’re not just untangling your own life. You’re also trying to protect your children from unnecessary stress and emotional fallout during what is perhaps the most difficult time in their lives. The good news? With the right approach, you can help…

Divorce is already complicated. However, deciding whether to move out before filing makes things even trickier. In North Carolina, leaving the marital home can have serious legal and financial consequences, especially when it comes to property division, custody, and alimony. Before you pack your bags, here’s what you need to know. The legal impact of…

Divorce is one of the most difficult decisions a couple can make. Even if both parties want to end the marriage, they have likely heard how complex and challenging the divorce process is, and they worry about how much it will cost to actually complete the process. If you are going through a divorce and…

One of the most important elements of the divorce process is the division of property and assets. Some couples stress and worry during this stage, while others breeze through with absolutely no problems. This is because some couples’ marital assets are easy to evaluate, determine their worth, and distribute fairly. However, it is not unusual…

If you and your spouse decide to separate, you may want a clear, straightforward, and legally binding document that explains the terms. Some of the important factors that you should cover in this document are child custody, child support, asset division, and more. You and your spouse may be able to sit down and discuss…

Getting a divorce is almost always stressful and even overwhelming. This is because divorce isn’t just about two people going their separate ways – it also means trying to figure out how to separate their finances and property and, often, how to co-parent their children. Certain rules and guidelines must also be followed by couples…

A husband recently shared a story on a popular Reddit board about his wife’s negative reaction to their 17-year-old daughter’s school photo. According to the post, the mother ridiculed the daughter for not posing well or taking an attractive photo. The poster claimed that the incident was not isolated. He explained that his wife routinely…

When a marriage reaches a point where spouses no longer wish to continue their relationship, they may consider ending their marriage. In North Carolina, couples have several options besides divorce, including legal separation and annulment. Understanding the differences between these options and how they are governed by state law is important if you want to…

Divorce is an emotional journey and a legal process governed by a complex set of rules and procedures. Understanding and adhering to these rules is important to protect your interests and achieve a fair outcome in your divorce. At Epperson Law Group, our Charlotte family law attorneys believe that knowledge is power, and we are…

Divorce is a significant, personal, and emotionally charged legal process that involves the dissolution of a marriage. In North Carolina, state law determines divorce rules, and understanding the basics is critical for anyone considering ending their marriage. At Epperson Law Group in Charlotte, we are committed to guiding our clients through this challenging time with…

Divorce is often a difficult, lengthy, and expensive process. However, there are various ways to approach it that can influence the duration, cost, and emotional toll. At Epperson Law Group in Charlotte, we understand that every divorce is unique, and we are committed to helping our clients explore their options. Whether you’re seeking a faster,…

In a disturbing story out of Toledo, Ohio, on October 1, a woman named Amanda Hovanec was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the poisoning death of her husband. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in a press release that: Amanda Hovanec, 37, of Wapakoneta, Ohio, has been sentenced to 40 years in…

Epperson Law Group recently won a case at the US Supreme Court. The case was an international custody case involving the Hague Convention, which “provides for the return of a child to a petitioning parent in the child’s home country if a respondent parent has wrongfully removed a child to or retained her in the…