FAMILY LAW BLOG
Do I Really Need an Estate Plan?
Do I really need an estate plan if I don't have a large estate? You don’t need to have a summer house in the Hamptons or a private art collection big enough to rival MOMA to consider yourself the owner of an estate. In fact, virtually anyone who owns anything has an...
Get Your Affairs in Order
Five words no one ever wants to hear from their doctor: “Get your affairs in order.” Unfortunately, 58 percent of Americans do not have a will or trust, and it often requires a chronic disease or terminal illness diagnosis, or other life-changing event to prompt the...
Will vs. Trust: Which is Right for You?
When you sit down to create your estate plan, there are likely dozens of questions running through your mind. Who should get possession of your home? Who should run the family business? Will you create a college fund for your grandkids? What charity should you donate...
College and Estate Planning
Why You Should Include College in Your Estate Planning You may have been running around for weeks, getting your new college student off to school. It's exhilarating, and your heart likely is bursting at the seams. You're probably prouder than words can express, but...
3 Asset Protection Tips You Can Use Now
A common misconception is that only wealthy families and people in high risk professions need to have an asset protection plan. But in reality, anyone can be sued. A car accident, foreclosure, unpaid medical bills, or an injured tenant can result in a monetary...
Parental Kidnapping
Parental kidnapping is a terrifying thought when you are in the middle of a custody battle or thinking about separating. Family abductions are the second largest number of child abductions. According to NISMART-2, an estimated 800,000 children younger than 18 are...
Domestic Violence Abuse Quiz
117 questions to help you know if your partner is abusive and assess your risk Recognize Abusive Behavior Recognizing abusive behavior can be difficult, especially if healthy relationships weren't modeled in your childhood home. You may believe that love hurts—it...
Can I Date Now?
Dating While Separated. Is It Ok? What is separation for purposes of divorce in North Carolina? Legal separation in NC is living separate and apart with the intent to divorce. How long does it take to get a divorce in NC? It takes one year from the date you separate...
Representing Men in Divorce
Representing men in divorce is tough work. There are still stereotypes about men in divorce. In any divorce case, traditionally the sympathies are with the woman and often men and fathers do not receive a fair/ level playing field. Such ‘anti-men’ thinking in courts...
5 Tax Implications and Divorce
It's that time of year again. The holidays are gone. The tree is down. W-2's will be in the mail and on their way before you know it. Each year tax season brings with it new law, new questions, and new decisions. Adding a divorce or separation in the mix makes things...