Divorce Law Updates

The doctrine of Equitable Adoption is a judicially created “equitable” remedy that may, under very narrow circumstances, recognize a parent-child relationship in the absence of formal legal adoption.   Under the doctrine, inheritance rights may apply as a matter of equity when and if the child’s parents die intestate and those parents intended to but failed to formally perform a legal...

Chapter 7B of the Juvenile Code regarding Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency proceedings sets forth the procedures and protocols for the removal of a child from an “unfit parent.” North Carolina law Section 7B-906.2(b) requires the Trial Court to include possible reunification of parent and child as part of an initial “permanency plan.” N.C.G.S. Section 7B-906.1(e)(1) further requires the...

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, LGBT+ persons are more likely to experience rape, physical violence, or stalking than heterosexual persons. 43.8% of lesbians and 61.1% of bisexual women have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime, as opposed to 35% of heterosexual women. 26% of gay men and 37.3% of...

Virtual School and Online Learning is new to just about everyone in Charlotte. It’s OK if you’re a bit stressed out. There’s frankly a lot to juggle between work, household chores, and maintaining some semblance of a schedule. The reality of school closures and dealing with the Coronavirus is setting in. CMS has in effect pressed parents into service as...

“What type of lawyer are you?”  That’s a common question lawyers get from people they meet. Attorneys in smaller jurisdictions may answer, “I do a little bit of everything,” or “I’m a general practitioner.” In big-city Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, responses to that same question may include “criminal defense lawyer” or...

Sometimes married couples who plan on getting divorced think it’s a good idea to settle-up with a spouse and then retain a lawyer to draw up the necessary paperwork.  Clearly, it’s preferable to be reasonable and proceed in good faith in dealing with your spouse, particularly in instances where the marriage has fallen apart but the respective parties still care for one another....