Family Law

North Carolina requires that spouses live apart for a year in separate residences before filing for divorce, unless you have a credible claim for the grounds of “incurable insanity.” This time is referred to as “separation,” and if you and your spouse separate, getting a separation order can make your lives easier when the time…

Courts generally don’t terminate parental rights unless there is a strong reason to do so. The petition to terminate parental rights is normally brought by the State through its Department of Child Services, or by guardian ad litem, but parents may seek to terminate their co-parents’ parental rights, too. The grounds for termination of parental…

Most people think of prenuptial agreements as legal documents for older, wealthy couples. Young couples (presumably) don’t have much to fight about, whereas older couples have already established homes, business, and wealth. They may have trusts or children to think about, too. A new report from Business Insider suggests the times are changing. The publication…

Right now, we’re all aware how the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted all aspects of our daily lives. Stay-at-home orders from Governor Roy Cooper update continuously and plans to lift restrictions in phases are currently in process – but by no means are we back to our day-to-day lives quite yet. What does this mean for…

During the recent coronavirus pandemic and its current aftereffects, hundreds of North Carolina businesses have closed and the resulting economic downturn is affecting everyone. For parents, job loss can be unexpectedly difficult, especially for those who pay or depend on child support or alimony. Support orders are court orders and must be followed. Parents who…

Although North Carolina and the rest of the country are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, some countries are beginning to emerge from stay-at-home and lockdown orders. And, aside from the expected issues transitioning back into a new normal, there are a few unexpected side effects as well. The number of divorce filings…

Navigating work and life with the new restrictions and changes brought about during the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world is difficult for everyone. For families trying to deal with co-parenting, pending divorces, domestic violence, and other family law issues, these matters can become even more complicated. Courts and law firms across North Carolina are dealing…

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on and our essential healthcare workers continue to treat and care for patients, one doctor has found herself caught between her professional life and personal life – and served with an emergency court order that’s severed ties between her and her four-year-old daughter. Dr. Theresa Greene, an emergency room physician…

Epperson Law Group, PLLC is pleased to announce the opening of our newest office location in Concord, North Carolina. The firm has decided to open a new office to better serve clients from Cabarrus County and surrounding areas. “Going through a divorce or adjusting child custody schedules can take time, and time is often the…

Divorces take their toll on spouses and children. After months or more of fighting over alimony, what’s the best child custody arrangement, who gets to keep the home, and a variety of other issues, there may be one last obstacle to overcome – and it’s a doozy. Who gets to keep the family dog? Pets…

There are some parents who think the laws don’t apply to them. In child support cases, some parents need to learn the hard way (occasionally by spending time in jail) that their duty to provide for their children is a priority. As we have explained, courts have a variety of options to ensure that a…

In North Carolina, alimony can be paid in one lump sum, or in periodic payments. When payments are periodic, they usually last until the recipient of the alimony remarries, begins living with a new partner, or dies, or until a specific time outlined by the divorce decree. The North Carolina family courts consider a variety…

Anyone going through a divorce knows it is an extremely stressful time: emotionally, financially, and legally. Your lawyers will fight to get you the best possible outcome when it comes to asset division and child custody agreements, and will work to ensure that your best interests are represented. All of this can be stressful, but…

Military life is tough enough when you’re single. When you have a family it presents many other challenges that aren’t always met with success. Pressures of moving regularly, one spouse may feel as if he or she has been abandoned while the other feels guilty about being gone a lot. It takes a toll. Relationships…

You and your spouse have decided to call it quits, but you have vowed to remain the best of friends. You have simply come to grips with the fact that you’re not in love with each other anymore and you both deserve to be happy. Your kids are now old enough to understand and you…

There are so many twists and turns to a divorce that it can be exhausting to keep up. When divorce has consumed your life, it’s understandable that you just want to put it all behind you as quickly as possible. Being able to get on with your life may require your financial situation to improve.…

When you’ve decided your marriage is over and have mentally moved on, coming to terms with the fact that you still have to put a legal end to the relationship can be a tough hurdle for some. It can be tiring, stressful, depressing, and angering all at the same time. Few people look forward to…

In North Carolina, to obtain an absolute divorce, the parties have to be separated for at least one year and at least one of the parties must be a resident of North Carolina for six months prior to filing. Of course, there may be complications that arise when pursuing a divorce that can alter the…

The world has changed a lot over the last several decades, especially when it comes to certain views related to marriage. Financial topics used to be virtually taboo to discuss, as was the subject of divorce. However, with many more marriages ending in divorce these days, couples need to take a smart business approach to…

Anyone who’s been in a relationship, much less married for a long time has done it. We’ve all looked at another man or woman and thought about cheating. Even if it was just a fleeting notion that you’d never act on because you are genuinely happy with your mate, it’s happened. We’re human beings and…

First, a request; please don’t use a separation agreement from the internet. “Do-It-Yourself” legal documents, whether posted as templates or as samples by people that mean well, are not problem-solvers. They are problem-causers. We frequently see clients with separation agreements they believed were well-constructed and fit their particular situation, but in reality, the document was…

When you and your spouse divorce, your marital assets and debts will be divided between you. Often, the marital assets of greatest value are retirement plans, including pensions and profit-sharing plans such as 401(k)s. Unfortunately, dividing retirement assets is not usually as simple as transferring money from one account to another, or “cashing out” an…

Serving your country is one of the most admirable occupations someone can choose. It’s also fraught with hardship. Many members of the military marry – and often, they marry young, which means their young spouses and children also serve and sign on to endure long-term absenteeism of their spouse. Both parties in a military marriage…

Raising children is a tough job, especially today when life is so fast paced. Your kids have many needs and require a lot of attention and care. Education, health, and nutrition are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to caring for your children. You assume both you and their other parent have…

There are so many pitfalls of divorce that you are unfortunately forced to learn as you go. Every divorce is as different as the people going through one so it stands to reason that while some events will be similar, everyone’s overall experience will be unique. At some point you begin to realize that adjusting…