Articles Tagged with Family Law

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

If your former spouse pays you child support, you need that money to raise your shared children and pay for their needs. However, if the other parent is seeking a child support modification, it might feel unfair because the funds provided in those monthly payments barely even cover the essentials like food and clothing.

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

A lot of responsibility comes with being a parent. From infant to adult, parents have to provide their children with mental, emotional, and financial support. When a divorce occurs, these duties do not change, and chances are one parent will be required to pay child support. These payments will likely continue until the child is 18 years old, but the amount that is paid can easily be altered if a parent requests a modification to the child support order.

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.

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

Prenuptial agreements are more than a plot point in a movie, a line in a song, or the butt of jokes about those marrying above or below their financial status. Prenuptial agreements, often just called “prenups,” are a useful tool that couples preparing for marriage should seriously consider. However, some perceive prenups in a negative light and believe the myths about them permeating pop culture. It is important to gather all of the facts before believing everything you hear about prenups.

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

Divorce can be a difficult process that is made even more difficult when children are added into the mix. It is important for parents to look out for the best interests of their child, but sometimes the best interests of the child can get pushed to the wayside in the middle of a heated custody battle. This is where the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program comes into the picture. The GAL program is meant to “serve the best interests of thousands of children by assigning them guardian ad Litem volunteers.” The GAL program is in every county throughout North Carolina and strives to give each child a voice and the attention they need in the midst of a court case. A GAL can be used in other court cases besides divorce and custody disputes, but the focus of this discussion will be in custody agreements.

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?”

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

Divorce, though seldom celebrated, is a process taken for granted by many in the United States and other countries around the world. Though few people begin a marriage intending to divorce, if the time comes and a relationship deteriorates, it is a very good thing that there are legal methods to unwind a bad marriage. This allows the couple to go their separate ways, freeing up both to be happier on their own rather than forcing them to continue being miserable together.

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “Who pays for the children’s health insurance and co-pays?”

It is clear that the rules surrounding the use of frozen embryos created as part of the in vitro fertilization, or IVF process are confusing. Couples often wonder whether agreements made prior to undergoing IVF will be deemed enforceable or whether they will instead be forced to fight it out in court with their ex-spouse over ownership of the frozen embryos. A recent series of legal events in Arizona further throws the issue into doubt, raising real questions for those considering IVF in the state.

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

Estate planning is something that many couples fail to take seriously until it is too late. It is common for people to think they are too young or too busy or too poor to bother to construct a plan to protect their family in the event something bad happens. The reality is that an estate plan can benefit almost everyone, regardless of age or income. Bad things can happen to anyone and when they do, they often happen without warning.

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: ” If I remarry, can they look at my new spouse’s income?”

You might think that determining paternity these days would be a fairly simple process. There is no longer a need for lengthy trials, witness testimony and a weighing of factors. A simple, fast, affordable genetic test can arrive at a definitive answer in record time. Though genetic testing allows for speedy resolution to the biological question of paternity, courts have, in some cases, been reluctant to let genetics dictate the answer to the legal question of paternity.

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