Archives for February 2015

North Carolina's same-sex marriage ban was struck down in October, which was supposed to result in married same-sex couples being treated the same as married heterosexual couples under the law. But this isn't the case when a same-sex couple wants to bring a child into their family. As a recent article from The Daily Tar Heel explains, many same-sex couples have run into numerous obstacles trying to adopt and gain equal child custody rights to their children. That's because all of the state's family laws were written with heterosexual couples in mind, and so far very few of the laws have been amended to include married same-sex couples. For example, a non-biological parent can now adopt under the stepparent adoption rules (so long as the same-sex couple is married since North Carolina adoption laws do not allow unmarried couples to adopt), but there is a long waiting period. Many of these couples have been together for years and welcomed children into their families long … [Read more...]

Did you go through divorce in 2014 and are now a single parent? If so, there are several considerations related to your federal income taxes that could save you a lot of money.Believe it or not, tax season is here, so make sure all of these issues -- which were explained at length in a recent article from Forbes -- are on your radar. Filing as head of household. This filing status can give you a lower tax rate and open the door to more deductions. You may be able to file head of household if you: were unmarried on Dec. 31, 2014, earn at least half of your household income, and your children live with you at least six months out of the year.Claiming your children as dependent. Claiming children as dependent allows you to take many other tax credits and deductions. Under the IRS's rules, a child is a dependent if he or she lived with and was financially supported by the parent for at least six months out of the year.However, many divorce decrees and separation agreements spell out which … [Read more...]