Child Support

Are juries used in divorce trials?

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

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What is an Absolute Divorce?”

For those only passingly familiar with the judicial system, it can be confusing to understand the process of a family law case. You may have heard that everyone has a right to a trial by jury, which would seem to indicate that the same is true when it comes to a divorce. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), this doesn’t always apply across the board. To learn more about when and where juries can be used in a family law context, keep reading.

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.

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.

Paternity in North Carolina

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

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What rules are there for Father’s Right in NC?”

When it comes to paternity, the law in North Carolina has been designed to favor married couples. Married couples benefit because when a child is born to a married couple, the husband and wife are automatically viewed as being legal parents of the child. This can be a great thing in that it immediately bestows important rights and responsibilities on the couple, saving the hassle of having to establish paternity. The problem is that this can work against some couples, specifically, those where the child born during the marriage is not the biological child of the husband. In these cases, the father will have to fight a rather long battle to have the presumption of paternity reversed. To learn more about paternity and how it can prove problematic in certain custody/child support cases, keep reading.

Trying to Pay Child Support in Pizza Not a Crime, Says Italian Court

Published on: May 31, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What children’s expenses are not covered by child support?”

When he divorced his ex-wife Nicoletta Zuin in 2002, Nicola Toso agreed to pay child support for their daughter, who was then six (6) years old. He paid 300 euros, about $335, a month without an issue for years.

Keep Insurance In Mind After Divorce Is Finalized

Published on: May 24, 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?”

Insurance may not be one of the first things that crosses your mind if you’re in the midst of or recently emerging from a North Carolina divorce. Though insurance may not seem pressing, the reality is that it can prove quite important given that emergencies seldom come with advance warning. To ensure that you are fully protected and insurance proceeds go where you intend them to go, spend some time after your divorce making sure to get your insurance affairs in order. For ideas on what to watch out for, keep reading.

French Lawmakers Consider Speeding Up Divorce

Published on: May 10, 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 common complaint from those currently going through or recently emerging from a North Carolina divorce is that the whole process simply takes too long. Meeting with lawyers, filing the necessary documents, dealing with custody, agreeing to a settlement and getting everything finalized can take time, sometimes a long time. The problem of a slow divorce process is apparently not unique to the United States, as French citizens have complained and lawmakers are considering taking action to speed the process along.

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.

Do Stepparents Have to Pay Child Support?

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

Matthew R. Arnold of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question “How is the amount of child support decided in North Carolina?”

We generally assume that the responsibility for supporting children financially falls squarely on the biological parents, either directly or through child support payments. Stepparents are seen as being in the clear, legally speaking, due to their lack of a blood relationship with the child. Though this is generally true, it is not always true, something that a recent case out of Pennsylvania demonstrated. To learn more about stepparents and their obligation to pay child support, keep reading.

Does Reconciliation After Divorce Undo Settlement Agreement?

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

Charlotte Divorce Attorney Matt Arnold of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question: “What does a “No-Fault’ divorce mean in NC?”

Most people think that once a divorce is over, it’s over. After all, you’ve spent substantial time and money trying to undo your ties to another person, why would you continue to have contact once you’re finally free? Sometimes though, things don’t go so smoothly, life’s messy after all, and lengthy relationships can be hard to leave behind. The question becomes, once you start to muddy the water, getting back in touch with an ex after the divorce is already signed and sealed, does that reconciliation undo the terms of the divorce or will the settlement agreement remain in effect? To find out more, keep reading.