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Paying Child Support in North Carolina

Published on: July 3, 2019 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “How is the amount of child support decided in North Carolina?”

When a couple divorces, or otherwise separates, it is not uncommon for the parent without full custody of the child be required to pay child support to the parent primarily raising the child. Child support payments are supposed to help pay for the costs of raising a child and ensuring that the child’s needs are met. Housing costs, food, transportation, and other day-to-day living expenses are among the basic necessities that child support payments can cover. What happens, however, if the parent ordered to make the payments in not able to pay the required child support? When judges make a child support ruling, are there things that they must keep in mind?

Financial Considerations During a Divorce in North Carolina

Published on: June 26, 2019 | 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?”

Going through a divorce can be stressful. You are suddenly tasked with splitting up a life that you built with another person and dividing all of your possessions, assets, and debts between you. In North Carolina, marital property is distributed under the premise of equitable distribution. This means that property is split according to what is fair, not necessarily equal, for each of the individuals. After the property distribution is settled and your divorce agreement is in place, there are additional financial considerations that will impact all divorced individuals.

Who Pays Legal Fees in a Divorce?

Published on: June 19, 2019 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “Can I get the judge to order my spouse to pay my attorney’s fees in a property division case?”

Divorce can take its toll on a person emotionally, mentally, and even financially. The financial cost of a divorce depends on the amount of time and work that must be put into it. Couples that are splitting amicably might have a divorce that costs less because there are fewer issues that need to be discussed or litigated. On the other hand, if a couple has a contentious divorce, then there are likely a multitude of issues that need to be discussed and will take longer to resolve. Depending on the financial situation of each individual spouse, it might seem daunting to pay the legal costs associated with divorce. This brings about the question of who is responsible for legal costs during a divorce?

Cryptocurrency and Divorce: What You Need to Know

Published on: June 12, 2019 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: ” Are overtime, bonuses, and commissions included in calculating child support?”

We live in a digital age in which practically everything can be done online, including exchanging money via cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency has been in the news recently, but many people do not understand what that is. Cryptocurrency is changing the way that people around the world invest, store, and exchange money. It is also a way spouses might be hiding assets during a divorce. Additional information about asset division during divorce can be found here.

Commonly Asked Questions from Domestic Violence Survivors

Published on: June 5, 2019 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: ” I’m not getting along with my husband. We’ve been married two weeks and it was a mistake. Can’t I just get an annulment?”

How are Student Loans Treated in Divorce?

Published on: May 29, 2019 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: ” Is there some property that the judge cannot divide?”

When a marriage is ending, a judge is tasked with separating the assets and belongings of a married couple. The first thought in most people’s minds is how the assets of the couple are going to be divided. What most people fail to consider are the debts that a couple might be carrying. The debts that a couple incur during marriage also need to be part of the distribution of property; it is not just assets that get divided in divorce.

False Allegations Made During Divorce: Here is What You Need to Know

Published on: May 22, 2019 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “How should I prepare if I intend to file for divorce in the near future?”

Stressful situations can make people do unthinkable things, things that you would never expect an individual could be capable of based off of your experiences with them. During a contentious divorce, you might see a side of your former spouse come out that you never expected. There have been instances in which one spouse makes up stories about the other in an attempt to sway opinion. Lies are told in an attempt to receive more of the marital assets, receive the child custody agreement they want, or even to increase the amount of alimony received. You might think that false allegations will not affect you, but there are real consequences that come with certain allegations. If you are facing the challenge of a false allegation during divorce proceedings, here is what you need to know.

What are ‘Red Flag Laws?’ Does North Carolina Need Them?

Published on: May 15, 2019 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: ” I’m not getting along with my husband. We’ve been married two weeks and it was a mistake. Can’t I just get an annulment?”

What Not to do at a Custody Hearing

Published on: May 8, 2019 | 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?”

Fighting for the custody of your children can be extremely difficult. Not only can court proceedings be difficult to understand, but the emotional toll of not knowing what the custody outcome will be can weigh on parents. An experienced family law attorney will help guide you through the process of obtaining custody in North Carolina. While an attorney can help you, there are still things that you can do to help. Specifically, there are actions that you can avoid during a custody hearing that could help your case.

The Role of Smartphones and Technology in Domestic Abuse

Published on: May 1, 2019 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “How is social media evidence used in divorce proceedings?”