marital property

Can your spouse make millions from your wrongful incarceration?

Published on: October 20, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What happens when a person’s income is not guaranteed and fluctuates from year to year”.

Everyone knows it can be contentious trying to reach a mutually agreeable divorce settlement. The parties often have completely opposite interests and view the divorce division of assets as a zero sum game. Given this competition over finite resources, it isn’t surprising to see couples bickering over even minor assets, making sure in each case that they are getting their fair share.

Dividing legal awards in a North Carolina divorce

Published on: July 26, 2016 | 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?”

One of the most difficult parts of a divorce can be agreeing to an equitable division of marital property. There are many components of the financial pie that need to be accounted for, including the house, the cars, the bank accounts, retirement funds, stocks, bonds and personal property. Another asset, and potentially a valuable one, that many people may not think of are legal judgments, specifically personal injury awards and settlements. In some cases, these can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and represent a sizable share of a couple’s assets. The question is, are these judgments marital property or do they belong to the injured party? To find out more, keep reading.

After Obergefell Part II: Same-Sex Divorce and Child Custody

Published on: June 23, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

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

Note: This is Part II in a series examining the state of legal rights for same-sex married couples, a year after the U.S. Supreme Court recognized their constitutional right to marry. Part 1 can be found here.

Matters of Life and Death: After Obergefell

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

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “Can any attorney help me with my family law needs in North Carolina?”

As the one-year anniversary to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recognition of same sex marriage has approached, numerous legal issues remain for same-sex families. The massacre in Orlando, Florida in the early hours of June 12 of this year reminds us of just how far LGBT+ equality has come, and how very far it still has to go. This is Part I in a series examining some of the legal issues still confronting same-sex married couples.

No pre-nup leads to costly divorce for celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis

Published on: September 10, 2015 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Charlotte Divorce Attorney Matthew R. Arnold of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question ” Are overtime, bonuses, and commissions included in calculating child support?”

Last week, celebrity chef and restaurateur Giada De Laurentiis finalized her divorce from ex-husband Todd Thompson, and the divorce is going to be costly for De Laurentiis. The pair, who separated last year after 11 years of marriage, will share custody of their seven-year-old daughter, Jade Marie. De Laurentiis initially posted news of the divorce on her website in December, writing that their “focus on the future and overwhelming desire for [the] family’s happiness” gave them the strength to “move forward on separate, yet always connected paths.”