Charlotte Divorce Lawyer Blog

Gang Of Rabbis Terrorize New Yorkers Trying To Force Men To Divorce :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: October 17, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What does uncontested divorce mean?”

In an incredibly strange case out of New York, law enforcement officials have revealed that the FBI raided a yeshiva and a rabbi’s Brooklyn home earlier this week in an attempt to unravel a gang of rabbis who torture men into agreeing to divorce.

That’s right, according to FBI sources a gang of ultra-Orthodox Jewish rabbis have accepted thousands of dollars to kidnap and torture Jewish men to force them into granting their wives a divorce. Though the news is stunning, many familiar with the Orthodox community say they were not actually shocked given the serious issues the community has faced dealing with divorce.

According to the criminal complaint, two Orthodox rabbis, Mendel Epstein and Martin Wolmark, operated a scheme where they took payment (often thousands of dollars per case) in exchange for using violence and intimidation to convince reluctant husbands to grant their wives a “get”, a term that refers to a religious divorce in the Jewish community.

In the Orthodox Jewish community, a woman remains married unless she receives a get. That means that even if a family court in New York were to grant a legal divorce, the woman would be forbidden to remarry within her religion.

The case was ultimately cracked due to a sting operation where an undercover FBI agent pretended to be a woman desperate for a divorce with money to spend to force her husband to consent to a get. The woman was ultimately put in touch with Rabbi Epstein who told her that the kidnaping and a couple of hours of torture with an electric cattle prod would cost about $10,000 for rabbinical approval and another $50,000 to $60,000 to pay for the tough guys to do the threatening.

How To Divide Property In A Divorce :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: October 15, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “Is there some property that the judge cannot divide?”

A common problem in divorce concerns what will happen to the house. One common problem that many couples discover is that if one person receives the house in the divorce and does not refinance this can wreak havoc on all parties, potentially preventing the other spouse from applying for a mortgage due to the additional debt and also linking the two together in the event that the person responsible for paying for the house defaults.

To help solve this problem, divorcing couples should carefully map out their property-division plans, paying special attention to what happens with the marital home. The following are some tips for what to do if you’re facing similar problems.

1. What if both parties want to sell the house?

This is the most straightforward of all possibilities. No bickering or complicated refinancing, the couple simply needs to agree on a listing price, a schedule for showing the home and then a plan to divide any expenses involved in the sale of the house. Once the home has been sold, the couple needs to distribute the proceeds in whatever way was agreed on in the divorce decree. If the house sells at a loss, then things can get messy as both parties are eager to move on from the money pit. However, careful planning can ensure that language is written into your divorce agreement saying that any profits and losses are split following a sale.

2. What if one person wants the house?

In this case the person who wants the home should try to refinance it on their own. This is made easier if the house has equity. If so, then the home can be refinanced and the spouse who keeps the home can simply pay an equalization payment to the other party, giving them their half of the equity in the property. If the person keeping the house cannot afford to refinance on their own then a serious conversation needs to be had about whether it’s worth the risk to allow both parties to keep their name on the place or, instead, whether the property should simply be sold.

CNBC Reporter Named In CEO’s Divorce Filings :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: October 10, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “Does adultery affect my divorce case?”

A famous (and famously attractive) financial reporter at CNBC, dubbed the “Money Honey” by fans, has been named in the divorce filings of a CEO who many believe may have had an affair with the reporter.

According to the gossip site, Page Six, Maria Bartiromo is listed as a potential witness in the nasty divorce case involving former Citigroup CFO Todd Thomson. Thomson was an up and comer at Citigroup where he also served as CEO of the company’s Global Wealth Management division, but was summarily fired after it was discovered that he had used a corporate jet to ferry the Money Honey home from an event back in 2007.

At the time, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Thomson had bumped fellow executives at Citigroup from a return flight so he could fly alone with Bartiromo. Thomson was also accused of using Citigroup money to sponsor TV shows and events that featured Bartiromo, even naming the glamorous cable news anchor to a board he created at the Wharton School of Business.

Thomson argued that his relationship with Bartiromo, who is also married, was entirely appropriate. Despite his protests, Thomson’s wife, Melissa, has asked a Connecticut family law court permission to depose Bartiromo, claiming that she has personal knowledge of certain key facts that could directly prove Melissa’s case.

Earlier papers filed in the divorce note that Thomson admitted to his wife of 25 years that he had engaged in an extramarital affair. The revelation then prompted Melissa to file for divorce. Despite Bartiromo’s history with Thomson, it is not believed the affair that sparked the divorce involved the CNBC anchor.

Man Arrested After Injecting Young Son With Heroin In Custody Dispute :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: October 8, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “How is the amount of child support decided in North Carolina?”

In a tragic child custody case out of Washington State, Eric Lehtinen has been arrested after police say he injected his four-year-old son with heroin and a variety of other toxic substances. Police officers say the drugging occurred on the same day that the his divorce with the boy’s mother was finalized and was intended to help delay the inevitable split.

Authorities say that the boy’s mother found her unconscious son lying in bed last week with a needle sticking out of his chest. She called 911 and, after EMTs raced her son to the hospital, a drug test was performed to find out what substances had been in the needle. Results indicated the presence of ketamine, morphine, codeine as well as heroin. Police say the Lehtinen not only injected the boy in his chest, but in his neck and his behind. Officials with Seattle Children’s Hospital say that the boy is still in the hospital recovering from the attack.

Divorce records indicate that the mother had asked the family court judge to order that her husband undergo regular drug tests as part of any custody arrangement. The issue arose because of the father’s past drug abuse and his recent claims of sobriety.

Police arrested Lehtinen and charged him with attempted murder in the first degree. His bail was set at $3 million and, if he is ultimately convicted, he could face a minimum 15-year sentence.

Questions To Ask When Considering A Negotiated Divorce :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: October 3, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “Are overtime, bonuses, and commissions included in calculating child support?”

A recent article on the Huffington Post discussed the trend of couples that are interested in either mediated or collaborative divorces. The author of the article noted how in some cases these could be options worth pursuing. However, rather than serve as an option for every couple, the story acknowledges that a negotiated divorce process can only work in certain cases.

To help find out if a mediated divorce would work well with you, consider the following questions:

How open is your communication with your spouse?

This is arguably the most important question to consider when debating a collaborative divorce. For the process to work and avoid reaching a stalemate, you both must be on very good terms with each other and be able to discuss sensitive issues, including money and custody, without anger or bitterness.

Is there still respect in the relationship?

Communication is key but respect is nearly as important. Though you certainly do not need to have romantic feelings to make a negotiated divorce work, there must be a mutual respect in order to work together so closely with your soon-to-be ex. If there is a fundamental lack of trust, then the process will likely never get off the ground and you’ll end up simply spinning your wheels.

Are you in a hurry?

One benefit to these negotiated divorces is that they are often much faster than engaging in protracted litigation. Divorce proceedings can tend to drag on when couples insist on fighting over a multitude of issues, but if you decide to go the mediation or collaboration route, things can move much more quickly. If you are looking to get remarried quickly this might be a good idea.

Baby Veronica Returned To Adopted Parents :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: October 1, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What can I do to gain custody of my child in North Carolina?”

In a sign that the Baby Veronica child custody debacle might be finally coming to a close, the baby’s biological father, Dusten Brown, reportedly turned over the girl to her adoptive parents late Monday night at the Cherokee Tribe headquarters in Oklahoma.

According to news reports, Brown said his goodbyes at the tribal headquarters where he and his new wife have been living for the past several weeks while the custody fight reached a fevered pitch. Brown reportedly then made the handover to Matt and Melanie Capobianco at around 7:30 p.m. that evening, bringing to an end a lengthy dispute that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The decision to hand over custody occurred after the Oklahoma Supreme Court decided to lift a ruling that had kept Veronica in the state while Brown attempted to win permanent custody over the girl. A spokesperson says the Capobiancos have already left the state and are on their way back home to Charleston, SC.

The exchange was an emotional one for everyone. Reports indicate that Brown’s father, the girl’s grandfather, went into medical distress and had to be transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The Capobiancos were reportedly relieved, glad to see that the lengthy custody fight had finally moved towards a conclusion that saw the return of their adopted daughter.

Reality Television Star Says Everyone Needs A Prenup :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: September 26, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “Are overtime, bonuses, and commissions included in calculating child support?”

NeNe Leakes, a reality star famous for her role on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta, says that viewers should take her situation as proof that everyone should sign a prenuptial agreement. The outspoken star recently remarried her ex-husband, Gregg Leakes, after going through a messy divorce only a few years ago.

NeNe was on a talk show earlier this week where she extolled the virtues of a good prenup. NeNe mentioned that prenups are not necessarily bad things and will never be used or spoken of again if a couple stays happily married. However, if things go bad they are great tools to avoid unnecessary and expensive bickering during a divorce.

NeNe said that she believed prenups were important because they can ensure that couples don’t have to waste time and money arguing over who gets the flat screen television, or any number of other assets. NeNe says that the first time she was married to Gregg the two did not have a prenuptial agreement. Now that she has already been through one divorce with the man she says she knows how he fights and was shocked to see how nasty the divorce process became. Now that she knows how dark things can get when the gloves come off, she insisted that they sign a prenuptial agreement the second time around.

NeNe also mentioned an important point about prenups, that the documents do not have to be viewed as selfish things aimed only at protecting the wealthier party. Instead, she notes that her prenuptial agreement clearly says that she and her husband will share their assets. As she puts its, “My prenup says share with Gregg. It’s just specific on how I should share with [him].”

Baby Veronica Battle Rages On :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: September 24, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “Does adultery affect who gets custody?”

The Baby Veronica battle rages on in Oklahoma as a spokesperson with the Oklahoma Courts said the two sets of parents are currently in the midst of a lengthy mediation over the future of the young girl. In fact, reports says that the mediation sessions have continued running well past the courthouse’s normal closing time, all efforts to ensure that the matter is wrapped up as quickly as possible.

The media has been in the dark most of this week about what has gone on in the case, with no comments being released by either side. Though it is now known that mediation is ongoing, it is not clear how much progress is being made. Both sides are currently under strict gag orders and are prevented from speaking to members of the media.

Reports indicate that the two groups have spent the past four days negotiating in a room in the Court of Civil Appeals building in downtown Tulsa. Previous statements by Matt and Melanie Capobianco indicate that the adoptive parents, who were awarded custody by South Carolina family law courts, have said that they wanted Veronica’s biological father Dusten Brown to be a part of the girl’s life. For their part, a friend of the Brown family recently said that the family had suggested sending Veronica to South Carolina for the summer to live with the Capobiancos so long as she could stay in Oklahoma during the school year.

The case is a sad one and difficult for both sides given that the Capobiancos raised Veronica in South Carolina for the first two years of her life. Since then, Brown has had Veronica with him and his new wife in Oklahoma for the last two years. Experts say that given how emotional the case has become it is likely that neither group will leave the mediation completely satisfied. However, the goal of the mediation is to produce a solution that both groups can live with.

Tragic Child Custody Fight Ends In Murder Charges :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: September 19, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What can I do to gain custody of my child in North Carolina?”

In an especially tragic case out of Arizona, law enforcement officials revealed that a woman has been charged with two counts of murder with special circumstances following the death of her two children. According to officials with the police department, the woman killed her two kids to avoid having to hand custody over to their father in Georgia.

A judge in Georgia recently awarded Mark Edge custody of the couple’s two children. The custody fight had gone for months and was incredibly contentious according to those familiar with the case. Marilyn Edge, the children’s mother, was reportedly furious with the result and decided to poison her two young children in a California hotel room rather than send them to their father.

The heartbreaking incident occurred last weekend when Edge gave her children poison and proceeded to drive her car into an electrical box outside a nearby by Home Depot. The murders took place only days before Marilyn was supposed to turn the children over to her husband and begin paying court ordered child support. Tragically, rather than being met by his children, Mark was instead informed by a police officer of the devastating news.

Authorities say the case is stunning given that one of the children, a 13-year-old boy, was autistic and in need of specialized care that Mark had hoped to provide. Now, Mark will have to try and put the pieces of his shattered life back together while his ex-wife faces a possible lengthy prison sentence.

Relationship Advice From A Recently Divorced Man: Part II :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: September 17, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What rules are there for Father’s Right in NC?”

In a continuation of the last post, let’s discuss several more bits of advice offered by motivational speaker Gerald Rogers. Rogers has gained online fame after posting a note to his Facebook page listing a series of things he wishes that he knew before he got married. Rogers says he thinks the advice might have saved his marriage had he taken it to heart years ago. Now that it’s too late for him, he wanted to take the opportunity to share his wisdom with others in the hope that they might be able to salvage their relationships.

One bit of wisdom shared by Rogers is that couples need to grow together. As Rogers puts it, a stagnant pond breeds malaria while a flowing stream always stays fresh and cool. Couples need to avoid the natural tendency towards complacency in their relationship. Keep things fresh and interesting by always being eager to learn and grow. You should both be willing to try new things and go on new adventures. A relationship without growth should be taken as a warning sign that the end is near.

Rogers say that another thing he wishes he understood was how important it is to be transparent with the person you love. He says that in order to trust someone and to have them trust you in return you must be willing to share everything with them. He says this includes sharing those things that you might prefer to keep private. This kind of openness can take a lot of courage, but it’s critical if you want to create a deep and lasting connection with your partner. Drop the mask and feel safe being your true self in front of your spouse.

Though it can be hard at times, couples have to try and not worry about money. Rogers says that money is a game and that couples should view themselves as teammates in a competition to collect some. In a sport if teammates were constantly at each other’s throats it would be clear that they would likely fail to find success. The same is true with money in a relationship. Rather than fight with your spouse, work together and try and keep the stress level low.