Breakups are often emotionally charged, messy, and very stressful. In some cases, the breakup may be instigated by one person, and the other person does not want the relationship to end. And in desperation, that person resorts to extreme behavior that unfortunately is made all too easy to conduct...
With November here, many of us are looking forward to Thanksgiving and spending time with family. But if you are a parent in the middle of a divorce, you might be dreading not just Thanksgiving but the holiday season that follows. You know that the traditions you had built when your family was in...
Now that the weather is getting cooler and outdoor activities are becoming limited, we are at the beginning of the cold and flu season. Even if you and your children have had a flu vaccination, there are still plenty of viruses floating around, and children are especially prone to passing illness...
You may find yourself in the beginning stages of divorce. Whether you are just thinking about pursuing a divorce or you are already separated and are counting the days until you can file the official paperwork, you may feel oddly alone. Yes, you might know others who have divorced, but it is stil...
Major life events such as a health scare or illness, financial setback, or the loss of a loved one affect people in different ways. Some people merely roll with the punches and move on, others can react negatively and find themselves unable to move forward, and yet others use the life event as a ...
Fall is definitely in the air here in Raleigh, North Carolina, and by now you have probably seen Halloween decorations up in people's yards and in stores and restaurants. Halloween seems to be more popular than ever these days, with pop-up Halloween-theme stores opening in abandoned retail locati...
As 2019 is nearing its end, you might be starting to think about year-end activities like celebrating the holidays and also collecting documents to file your 2019 taxes. If you divorced this year, you may not be aware of an important change that was made to how alimony is taxed in the United Stat...
It's in the news almost daily: the United States is in the midst of a widespread opioid epidemic. Opioid addiction is rampant here in North Carolina, and one consequence of the epidemic is that there are an estimated 11,000 children in the North Carolina foster system now. In an effort to address...
It may seem logical that when you are in the middle of a divorce and when you have children together that things like child custody and child support would need to be determined first before a divorce is granted by a court. In North Carolina, oddly enough, this isn't the case. In fact, in Raleigh...
Whether you are getting a divorce or were never married but have a child in Raleigh or anywhere in North Carolina, you may have to disclose financial information if one party seeks child support. You also must disclose certain financial information if you or the other party wants to modify an exi...
Most states do not require any type of waiting period or separation prior to filing or getting a divorce. North Carolina, however, is not in the majority. Here, the law requires you and your spouse to be separated for one year before you can get a divorce. To fulfill this obligation, you must liv...
Divorce is stressful in even the most amicable cases. The number of decisions you have to make seems endless, and you could inadvertently make costly mistakes. These are five mistakes to avoid during your North Carolina divorce. Choosing a DIY Divorce A quality divorce lawyer can be expensive, ...
Whether you are facing a divorce or you never married your child's other parent, creating an effective parenting plan that best meets your child's needs is essential. This is especially important –and more difficult –when you are co-parenting infants and toddlers. A dedicated family law attorney ...
Drug or alcohol abuse is a leading cause of divorce, and it can have a devastating effect on your relationship with your children. After your divorce is final and you have your parenting plan in place, you may be concerned that going to rehab or seeking other treatment for your addiction will aff...
Courts across the country are considering what happens to frozen embryos when a couple divorces. Although North Carolina courts have not yet faced this issue, with couples increasingly using assisted reproductive technology to start a family, a precedent-setting case may not be far in the future....
Divorce affects the entire family. When you start negotiating a divorce settlement and parenting plan, you make every decision with your child's best interests in mind. Even if your child is very young, you may worry about how you will pay for a college education and if this is something you shou...
Traditionally, when a couple marries, one spouse takes the other's last name. When the couple has a child, they give the child the family's last name. Unfortunately, some marriages end in divorce, and child custody may be a contentious issue. When the divorce is final, one spouse, usually the mot...
A North Carolina divorce is an emotional legal process. While you know your attorney is on your side, you may be embarrassed to share all the details of your married life with them. Some of these details are extremely personal, and some may fall into the realm of not-quite-legal. You may worry ab...
A North Carolina divorce is a stressful, emotional process, and you will probably feel immense relief when you receive your final divorce decree. However, you still have loose ends to tie up before your divorce is really complete. Your final divorce decree specifies who gets which assets, but it ...
A parent's death is an emotionally trying time. If the custodial parent dies, the non-custodial parent may wonder who will have custody of the child. If the non-custodial parent dies, the custodial parent may question what relationships must continue with the deceased parent's family. North Caro...
Divorce can take a heavy toll on your finances and your family life, but an often overlooked aspect is the negative effect that divorce can have on your health. This affects both your psychological and physical health, sometimes to the point where you are unable to function at work, effectively p...
Even in the most amicable divorces, the process can be exhausting for both parties. If the divorcing spouses cannot agree on key issues, the process takes much longer, and the parties may wonder if their divorce will ever be final so they can move on to new relationships. Some divorcing couples f...
In North Carolina, married couples decide to divorce for a variety of reasons, with the most common being financial problems and adultery. However, in recent years, more couples are listing social media as the reason for their divorce. Seemingly innocent discussions on social media can lead to em...
In a North Carolina divorce, couples sometimes consider using just one attorney to prepare the paperwork, especially when they agree on most issues. Divorce is expensive for both parties, and the couple may believe that sharing an attorney will reduce costs. However, legally, you and your spouse ...
Divorce is stressful for all parties involved, including children, especially when the divorce is filled with resentment and anger. Children need to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents, so shielding them from conflict between parents is essential for their well-being. Divorcing pa...
Here at Jerkins Family Law, we are focused and deliberate in fighting for a better solution for you. Do you need a skilled and passionate attorney to protect what matters to you the most? Then Jerkins Family law is ready to navigate you to a perfect solution to serve your legal needs.
