Charlotte Divorce Lawyer Blog

Tennessee Legislators Prepare For Legal Battle Over Same Sex Divorce

Published on: September 15, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What can I do to gain custody of my child in North Carolina?”

Most people remember that the Supreme Court’s momentous decision last year in the Obergefell case made gay marriage legal across the country. Despite the important decision, issues surrounding gay marriage, such as gay divorce or gay parental rights, continue to receive intense scrutiny and are the subjects of divisive legal battles. Though the hope among many was that the Obergefell decision would lead to clarity, the ruling, while answering one question definitively, left many others remaining to be hashed out.

Can I Leave Assets to My Pet in My Will?

Published on: September 13, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “How will the judge divide our property?”

To many of us, our pets are like our family members. It’s only natural that when making an estate plan that you would want to include provisions for your trusted furry (or feathered, or scaled) sidekick in the event that you are around no longer. Estate planning is encouraged even for young people for the sake of their loved ones and dependents in the event of an unexpected tragedy, and the same logic applies for pets.

New Shared Parenting Law In Missouri Forbids Courts From Presuming Mothers Are More Fit Caregivers

Published on: September 8, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What can I do to gain custody of my child in North Carolina?”

A new “shared parenting” law in Missouri has further chipped away at the age-old assumption that the mother is the most fit primary caregiver in custody disputes: judges are now forbidden to base custody decisions on the gender of either parent. The state’s courts are also now required to develop statewide guidelines that will maximize the amount of time the child or children may spend with each parent.

Can A Person Be Too Incompetent To Divorce?

Published on: September 6, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “How will the judge divide our property?”

We’ve all heard that there are restrictions on marriage. For instance, those who are closely related may not be able to legally married, same with young people under a certain age. Another restriction on marriage has to do with mental competence; a person who has been deemed incompetent cannot validly enter into a legal marriage. The question before the Kentucky Supreme Court is whether such a restriction should apply in reverse: can a person be too incompetent to legally divorce?

Who pays for extracurricular activities in a divorce?

Published on: September 1, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “How much does it cost to get divorced, and how does the billing process work?”

Some of the best Olympians on the world stage are children of divorced parents. Michael Phelps, Ryan Locthe, Gabby Douglas, you name ‘em. In each case, their parents had to figure out not only how to navigate the challenges of co-parenting an Olympic athlete, but how to divide up the costs and burdens of Olympic training. Given that Olympic training, with the coaches, the equipment, the travel, can cost tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, this can be a monumental undertaking. Thankfully, most divorced couples don’t have to worry about paying to get their kids into the Olympics. On a less extreme level, couples do have to consider how to tackle extracurricular expenses. To learn more about how to go about dividing up these extracurricular costs, keep reading.

Divorce May Breed Defamation, But Is It Worth Trying to Sue Over It?

Published on: August 30, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “Can any attorney help me with my family law needs in North Carolina?”

The process of divorce is inarguably one of the most stress-inducing times of a person’s life. Hurt feelings, finger-pointing and angry words are almost inevitable in any case that seeks to legally end a relationship.

Chris Brown Receives Decisive Win in Custody Battle Over Daughter Royalty

Published on: August 25, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What can I do to gain custody of my child in North Carolina?”

Love him or hate him, Chris Brown has reportedly won another round in his ongoing custody dispute with ex Nia Guzman concerning their two-year-old daughter Royalty.

Divorce Filings Spike After Vacation

Published on: August 23, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “How Can I protect myself from my spouses spending habits?”

Most people spend all year looking forward to vacation. It’s a time to relax, unwind and enjoy the company of loved ones. Vacations would also seem to be a perfect opportunity to strengthen your relationship, a chance for one-on-one bonding and increased communication. Though many people hope that vacations will shore up shaky marriages, a recent study by researchers at the University of Washington indicates that marriages are more likely to be undone by a vacation.

Serving your spouse online? Divorce courts increasingly say it’s possible

Published on: August 16, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What does a “No-Fault’ divorce mean in NC?”

If you’re preparing for a North Carolina divorce, you likely realize the first step will require formally notifying your spouse of your decision to end the marriage. This step is known as serving notice. Typically service takes place in person, by hiring a process server or local law enforcement to deliver the necessary documents. In cases where the person is difficult to locate it can be possible to serve notice by other means, including by certified mail. In the worst cases, where spouses appear to have vanished without a trace, publishing a notice in a local newspaper can suffice. But what about social media? Increasingly, social media is being viewed as possible means of effecting service. To find out more about the possibility of using Facebook or Twitter to start your divorce, keep reading.

California Passes Law Redefining “Separate and Apart”

Published on: August 9, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “Can I keep my Kids from seeing the other parent?”

Divorce often comes with new burdens, many of them financial. In addition to the cost of dividing your assets, paying attorneys and adjusting to a budget based on only one income, those going through a split also have to get new housing on their own. Many people underestimate this expense, forgetting that the same money that used to support one joint household will now need to be divided to support two separate homes.