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North Carolina law does not afford many legal rights for couples who live together before marriage. The state does not recognize common-law marriage. This means if a couple splits up, they will have no legal protection regarding how property is divided. There is also no rule on whether either party…

Regardless of what causes a divorce, the process of separation and divorce takes an emotional toll on those involved. The dissolution of a marriage—even an amicable divorce—is almost always a challenging time filled with many emotions. Some observers have suggested that the emotional stages of divorce are comparable to Swiss-American…

No matter the situation, navigating the complex North Carolina family court system can be stressful and overwhelming. How can you hope to achieve a favorable result when just filing the correct paperwork feels daunting? You need a champion for your rights when confronting the challenges of family court. When your…

One of the most important considerations during a divorce is how your child’s medical insurance and expenses will be paid following the dissolution of your marriage. Most insurance companies prohibit policyholders from keeping ex-spouses on their plans. However, North Carolina law requires divorcing parents to provide health and dental insurance…

Negotiating child custody arrangements is often the most emotional part of a divorce. Typically, each parent wants as much time as possible with their children. They also want to have an active role and input about important decisions that affect their children’s lives. A proper child custody arrangement serves the…

Some couples whose marriage is not working out may be able to annul the marriage instead of seeking a divorce. An annulment results in a court decree that declares the marriage null, as if it never occurred. When granting an annulment, the court does not consider requests for alimony or…

Substance abuse can ruin a marriage and may threaten children and other family members. Heavy drinking and drug use are part of many divorce complaints. In a contested divorce in North Carolina, an individual may cite their spouse’s excessive alcohol or drug use as having made living together intolerable and…

The State of North Carolina requires that decisions during a divorce serve the best interests of any underage children affected. When a child’s parents go to court to have a separation agreement ratified or to argue a contested divorce, the court will use the best interests of the child doctrine…

An order to pay child support payments is not meant to be a punishment after a divorce. Any substantial change in your financial circumstances – such as losing your job – can justify petitioning the court to modify your child support order. If you are paying child support according to…

Child custody orders are not carved in stone. A child custody order issued in North Carolina can be modified by petitioning the court to change it. If you are not satisfied with your current child custody arrangement and wish to seek changes to it, contact a Raleigh family law attorney…