source: https://www.bestlawyers.com/article/the-next-generation-of-family-law/1035 For 16 years, Lori Vitale practiced family law first as an associate, and then as a partner at a well-established Raleigh law firm. But in 2011 she struck out on her own, starting a law firm that focused exclusively in the area. That firm, Vitale Family Law, has since been ranked Tier 1 in Raleigh for family law by U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” 2017, a remarkable achievement for a firm that opened its doors just five years ago. “At my previous firm I had a number of very knowledgeable mentors, so when it came to starting my own firm, I wanted to emulate what I had learned from them,” Vitale says. “I’m very proud of how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time, and the root of that growth has really been the strong mentoring I received early on in my career.” Indeed, Vitale has long been recognized as an authority in her field. Since 2001, she has been board certified as a family … [Read more...]
Does child support work differently in legal separations?
When a marriage comes to an end, couples in North Carolina have one of two options: they may choose to stay legally separated or they can choose to get divorced. Either way, the couple will need to go through a separation period, which can create particular legal challenges, especially for parents. One of the biggest issues created by separation periods is a child support obligation. When divorce is imminent, most couples will wait until divorce proceedings begin, then allow a judge to make a determination about who should pay and how much. But during legal separations, things work a little differently. The first thing to note is that separating spouses in North Carolina do not need to sign any paperwork indicating that they intend on living separately from one another. Unless the couple signs a separation agreement, the state does not know if a child's financial situation has changed or that the child is in need of child support payments. North Carolina parents, during legal … [Read more...]
Dissipation of assets: what is it and is it a concern?
If you're currently going through a bitter divorce, chances are good that you want to make things difficult on your soon-to-be ex-spouse. For you, the opportunity to resolve your disputes amicably has passed. And if things have broken down to a state of complete disrepair, you might even push to get as much as possible during property division, leaving your ex with little to nothing if you can help it. Feeling this way is a common reaction, particularly when divorce negotiations go sour or in bitter divorces in general. But while you might feel the urge to "stick it" to your ex-spouse, you might want to reconsider doing anything too drastic. That's because doing so in North Carolina could have serious consequences for the malicious spouse. We've all heard a story about a person taking the 50/50 rule too far, such as actually cutting a piece of marital property is half to signify the equal split of assets. But while some may find this display of irony humorous, the same reaction may … [Read more...]
When can a parent request modification of a support order?
Typically in North Carolina, noncustodial parents are required to make child support payments to custodial parents as part of a court order. As we have explained before on our blog, these payments are supposed to provide the child with financial support that enhances their wellbeing.But sometimes these support obligations can become too much for noncustodial parents who are struggling financially. They may find it difficult to make payments on a routine basis or may have to make tough decisions about their own needs versus the needs of their child. In situations such as this, a noncustodial parent might ask the question we've posed above: When can a parent request modification of a support order?According to the North Carolina Office of Child Support Enforcement, parents who have child support obligations may request modification of their court order when their circumstances have significantly changed to the point where the child is being affected. Though this may seem broad and a … [Read more...]
Headed for divorce? Don’t start dating too soon in North Carolina
If you're experiencing marital problems and think your marriage could end in divorce, you're not alone. Many couples have been where you are right now and may have even asked the same questions you are considering at this very moment.Like other couples in North Carolina, you have questions about how to start the dissolution of your marriage and what the law will require you and your spouse to do when the time comes. But like so many before you, you probably don't have the legal background necessary to answer these questions on your own, forcing you instead to turn to a skilled family law attorney who likely has your answers. One question that might be on your mind concerns the prospect of dating, particularly in situations where couples know their marriage is ending. In today's post, we'd like to take a look at North Carolina law, which may provide you with some answers.As so many of our frequent readers here in Raleigh know, North Carolina is a no-fault state. This means couples do … [Read more...]
Can you get arrested for failing to pay child support?
Here in North Carolina, as is the case elsewhere across the nation, non-custodial parents are typically required to make child support payments to the custodial parent. As you may or may not know, an obligation to pay support is handed down by a family law judge and is considered enforceable under state law.Those who aren't as familiar with family law as an attorney is, though, might ask the question we're posing in today's post title: can you get arrested for failing to pay child support? The answer is no, but it's crucial to know that this doesn't necessarily mean you aren't breaking the law and can't ever be arrested. Let's take a look. As the North Carolina Division of Social Services explains, though a non-custodial parent is breaking the law by failing to pay child support, these delinquent payments are not considered immediate grounds for arrest in our state. In order to enforce the law, a custodial parent must serve the non-custodial parent with a Motion and Order to Show … [Read more...]
Divorcing high asset couples may face bigger challenges
Nearly all couples in North Carolina encounter one challenge or another when divorcing. From failing to establish grounds for divorce and needing to remain separated for at least 12 months to property division disputes, finding resolutions to these challenges can be difficult, especially because of heightened emotions or if spouses do not seek legal help from an attorney.But for high asset individuals, such as some of our Raleigh readers, the challenges normally associated with divorce can be even more problematic. That's because high asset couples oftentimes have complex financial situations that typically are difficult to separate, making the divorce process even more emotionally charged and stressful. One thing high asset couples in Raleigh and across North Carolina can do to help make the divorce process a little less stressful is to obtain the services of a skilled family law attorney who has experience handling high net worth cases. Many times, a lawyer can point out potential … [Read more...]
What do child support payments cover in North Carolina?
If you are a noncustodial parent here in North Carolina who is being forced to make child support payments, you may have questions about your legal obligation. One question that often gets asked is what your child support payments are being used to cover. For many noncustodial parents, the answer to this question may remain allusive. For others, it might even be a little confusing. That's why, in today's post, we want to take a look at this question and perhaps clear up some confusion on the matter. What do child support payments cover in North Carolina? Most people assume that child support payments only cover food, clothing and other basic necessities. But according to the North Carolina Division of Social Services, child support payments must also cover other needs such as: medical care, transportation, shelter and educational needs. This means, depending on how the court decides, a noncustodial parent may be required to provide medical insurance for their dependants, cover … [Read more...]
Tragic case shows custody challenges when both parents die
Frequent readers of our blog know that in most cases, when we are talking about child custody issues, we are looking at disputes involving a child's biological parents. As most people can imagine, these types of disputes are very common here in North Carolina and across the nation. But as some of our Raleigh readers know, these aren't the only types of custody disputes that can occur in our state and country. Take for example a recent child custody case that occurred to our west in Lexington. The courts in this case needed to tackle a difficult third-party dispute between the children's stepmother, who lives here in the U.S., and their aunt and uncle, who live in Ireland. Because both of the children's parents had died, the courts needed to establish custody, dealing with both domestic and international custody laws in the process. Based on North Carolina custody laws, the children's stepmother did have the right to seek custody after their mother and father had passed away. But … [Read more...]
Can same-sex couples in North Carolina cite grounds for divorce?
As you may or may not know, there are two types of grounds for divorce here in North Carolina: fault and no-fault. Depending on which type you have, divorce proceedings go differently. For couples who cite fault, divorce proceedings start right away. But for couples in no-fault situations, spouses must live separately for at least one year before filing for divorce.In cases of fault, a spouse may cite any of the seven grounds for divorce mentioned in § 50-5.1 and § 50-7 of our state's family law statutes. Grounds for divorce can include things like insanity, abandonment, cruel or abusive treatment or adultery, just to name a few. Though it's always been known that heterosexual couples could cite grounds for divorce, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding same-sex marriage begs the question: Can same-sex couples in North Carolina cite grounds for divorce?Though the obvious answer to this question may seem like a resounding yes, it's important to note that the wording of our … [Read more...]
