Charlotte Divorce Lawyer Blog

Couples Increasingly Open To “Birdnesting” Post-Divorce, But Is It Always A Good Idea?

Published on: May 5, 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 recent article discussed the trend among some couples, celebrity and otherwise, to consider new approaches to co-parenting post-divorce. One such trend, known as “birdnesting”, has been around for years, but appears to be enjoying particular popularity at the moment. Gwyneth Paltrow and her ex-husband Chris Martin do a version of birdnesting, while Anne Dudek, from “Mad Men”, and her ex publicly announced that they would pursue a birdnesting arrangement once their split is final.

Friend Acted as Agent, Did Not Destroy Attorney-Client Privilege in NC Divorce Case

Published on: May 3, 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?”

The attorney-client privilege can be an almost sacred right for either party in a divorce proceeding. Knowing that the private communications you have with your attorney about your case stay sacrosanct fosters candor and peace of mind in the relationship you have with the person representing you on such a personal case. This in turn allows your attorney to better prepare for your case. Similarly, the work product privilege protects materials prepared in preparation for litigation. These two immunities protect information from being produced (through documentation or testimony) via discovery from the opposing side. In any given divorce or family law case there can be facts, confidences and strategies that you do not want shared with your (soon-to-be former) spouse’s side and argued against you in court.

There’s No Doubt About It: Gwen Stefani’s Recent Divorce Shows the Power of Settlement Agreements

Published on: April 28, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

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

Divorce is almost always a difficult, drawn-out event for those not living as celebrities. Of all high-profile divorces, those in Hollywood tend to be especially histrionic. So when a divorce involves one of music’s power couples and a love triangle within the same reality television singing competition, you expect the colors to really fly.

Virginia Supreme Court Decides Cohabitation Rules Apply Equally To Same-Sex Couples

Published on: April 26, 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?”

Courts across the country continue to grapple with last year’s same-sex marriage ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court. Though the decision altered the legal landscape nationwide, the Supreme Court left much of the implementation to the state courts, issuing a very broad decision. It is now up to the lower courts to work through the many challenges that decision will create.

Advice About Going To Court In Your North Carolina Divorce Case

Published on: April 21, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “Do I need an attorney to get a Divorce in North Carolina?”

Going to court can be a scary thing, even when you haven’t done anything wrong. The formal setting, the judge, the lawyers, all of that can lead to stress among those facing a divorce court appearance. People often fear saying or doing the wrong thing and waste unnecessary energy worrying about something that isn’t deserving of the anxiety. To find out some tips for how to conduct yourself in court and hopefully save stress for things that matter, keep reading.

Tennessee Judge Hears International Custody Dispute

Published on: April 19, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “How does custody work if one parent moves internationally?”

A federal judge in Knoxville, TN recently found himself grappling with a case unlike any other he had encountered previously. The judge was forced to decide whether an international custody dispute would be decided by an American or Mexican family court. In the end, the judge decided that Mexico ought to resolve the matter, turning the page on one chapter of a more than three-year-old custody fight.

Federal Court Reinstates Utah’s Bigamy Law in “Sister Wives” Case

Published on: April 14, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What does uncontested divorce mean?”

The family from television’s “Sister Wives” is back in the news after a federal appeals court restored Utah’s state ban on polygamy this month. In 2013, a federal district court had struck down main parts of that state law against bigamy, or holding more than one marriage license at once. The 2013 ruling found that the state law violated the polygamists’ right to religious freedom and privacy.

Secret Sex Island Will Provide Luxury Meet-Ups for Cheating Spouses

Published on: April 12, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “Does adultery affect my divorce case?”

The UK’s largest dating side for married people is about to offer a secret island where its members are “guaranteed” privacy as they meet up to cheat.

The Devil’s In The Details

Published on: April 7, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What does uncontested divorce mean?”

They say it’s important to remember to dot your “i’s” and cross your “t’s”. This advice is especially true in the family law world, where seemingly small mistakes, such as those in final divorce decrees or settlement agreements, parenting plans or financial disclosures can come back to cause serious problems. This point was driven home quite clearly in a recent case out of New York where a sugar executive must now fork over millions of dollars thanks to a simple mistake involving paperwork.

New York Criminal Case Has Serious Family Law Implications

Published on: April 5, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Charlotte Divorce Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “Can I sure someone for breaking up my marriage?”

It’s (thankfully) not very often that the criminal law and family law worlds collide and usually, when they do, something truly tragic has occurred. A recent case out of New York brought the two practice areas together, with the state appeals court issuing a decision in a criminal matter that has serious implications for those in the family law world.