Family Law

On August 10, an Illinois judge barred Rebecca Firlit from seeing her 11-year-old son because she is not vaccinated against COVID-19. After being met with a barrage of commentary and outcry online, however, Cook County Judge James Shapiro abruptly and with little explanation reversed his order on August 30th. Many experts claim Judge Shapiro greatly…

The name Jennifer Wilbanks may not be recognizable to many people, but we bet her moniker of “The Runaway Bride” is. Wilbanks was given the nickname after she made the decision not to show up at her own wedding in April of 2005. Although she initially claimed to have been kidnapped and sexually assaulted by…

There is nothing better than a high-profile custody case to put things into perspective. Most of us read the headlines of superstars fighting over their children and property and cannot believe what we have just read. The amount of time and money that gets thrown into a contentious case can leave you questioning why it…

Since 2015, it has been legal in every state for LGBTQ+ individuals to marry. Gay and lesbian couples, however, often face unique issues and concerns that opposite-sex couples do not. These concerns can make the divorce process more challenging, especially when it comes to child custody and support. At Epperson Law Group, we believe that…

There are 20 million single-parent households with kids in the US, and 16 million of those are single mothers. For these parents, trying to gain a financial foothold – especially when they are of the primary residential parent and caregiver of the children – can seem impossible. There has to be a better way. And…

According to researchers from the IRS, Carnegie Mellon University, the London School of Economics, and the University of California Berkeley, high-income tax evasion is on the rise. One recent poll also concluded that 44% of people keep financial secrets from their partners. The reasons vary but typically center around a desire to control finances, shame…

The COVID-19 pandemic shook the entire world in 2020. Even a year later we are all still feeling the effects. As the unemployment rate rose to new highs, the stock market dropped health insurance, and the ability to fund savings suffered drastically. It appears that many may not recover for years to come. All of…

At some point, you have probably heard that 50% of marriage end in divorce. That is not really accurate, because it is averaging first marriage divorce rates with second (or more) marriage divorce rates, which skews the numbers. But there is one divorce statistic that is solid: between 70% and 80% of child marriages –…

If you ask divorced people what led to their marriage ending, you will hear a lot of different answers. Maybe they were poor communicators. Maybe they knew the marriage was a mistake from the start. Maybe they simply drifted away from one another. But the one reason that pops up the most is money. Few…

One of the more common causes of separation and divorce is financial incompatibility. Perhaps one spouse is a spendthrift, and one cannot stop buying. Or, perhaps, one spouse has a serious gambling addiction, and the other did not know until after they were married. Maybe the couple gets into serious debt after some kind of…

Going through a divorce can feel like one of the loneliest, most heartbreaking times in your life. Usually when you hit tough moments, you lean on your friends and family to get you through. For some reason, divorce isn’t always one of those times when all of your friends will rally around you. It can…

Generally speaking, both parties to a divorce want to walk away with as much as they each can. (Rarely will you hear a spouse say “whatever it takes, just end it.”) Usually there is a fight over who contributed more to the marriage financially and what types of contributions count. A spouse who works and…

You and your spouse have separated and there is no question about whether you’re heading for divorce. It’s been a long road and you both have concluded that you deserve to be happy. It’s just not going to be with each other. Your attorneys advised the both of you against beginning to date until your…

Going through a divorce is much like working through the death of a loved one where you experience stages akin to the grieving process. Most people do not go from saying “Okay, I’m getting a divorce,” to filing paperwork and starting over without doing a lot of introspection. Whether you are at the beginning, middle…

Divorce is a scary idea for many people. You’ve become used to a certain routine and maybe you even have fears of losing the lifestyle you helped to build and planned to enjoy for the rest of your life. Change is difficult, and there doesn’t seem to be a simple playbook to guide you through…

The coronavirus pandemic has elevated the risk of domestic violence, bringing the issue to the forefront as it relates not only to couples, but children. As more people are working from home or have lost their jobs it has added stress to already strained marriages. Quarantining people together who are already explosive can have a…

As parents, you try to do what’s right for your kids. That includes seeking medical attention when you suspect something is wrong. Nothing can stop your heart faster than waking to a sick child in the middle of the night and racing to the emergency room. Well, almost nothing. Imagine that once through the hospital…

When you get married and choose to merge finances to create a true partnership, not everyone thinks about the “what ifs” later in life. That can be particularly true when you choose to start a business. Most couples are focused on the details of ensuring their new venture is being set up and run properly.…

Everyone’s circumstances in life change. They can change at a moment’s notice with or without warning. These circumstances can create a major financial problem, especially if you are paying or receiving child support. Child support agreements, even if already in place, can be modified by requesting a change through the court. An adjustment can be…

Virtual visitation is always on the table when determining a child custody agreement in North Carolina. In fact, the judge presiding over your child custody case will determine whether or not virtual visitation is beneficial to the child or not. When you are fighting to attain custody of your child, or at least joint custody,…

A New Jersey couple who had their baby taken from them after a traffic stop in North Carolina is returning home with their child, but without custody. Instead, the child’s grandmother has been assigned custody until the matter is resolved. The couple now has a child custody fight on its hands between two states. The…

Any divorce poses unforeseen challenges and uncertain times for the individuals involved. Even when the legal proceedings have concluded, you still need to adjust to your newly single life, and depending on your circumstances, this can be quite a daunting and time-consuming endeavor. Getting a divorce means you may be halving your income and doubling…

It was never going to be easy. When two people decide to get married, they do so with the assumption they will stay that way for the rest of their lives. “Until death do us part” is one of the most common wedding vows out there. Unfortunately, marriage does not always have a happy ending.…

Whether it was a mutual decision or not, there are a lot of factors involved in a divorce that may seem overwhelming. How are assets divided? Who pays alimony? How much is each spouse entitled to receive? Especially if you and your spouse share a significantly high net worth, your worries will undoubtedly involve the…

Divorce is as costly as it is stressful, and as stressful as it is complicated. While there is not always a way to eliminate these hardships, there are voluntary procedures in place that may be able to help mitigate them. It all depends on your individual circumstances and preferences as a couple. In the specific…