It may be – only an attorney can give a legal opinion on the legality of the document. With these types of Wills, there is a greater risk that unintended mistakes could occur on how the Will was prepared or executed (signed). The language in the Will could be ambiguous or incomplete, or may not…
When a person dies without a Will, it is said that he or she dies “intestate.” In that case, the North Carolina Intestate Succession Laws govern who will inherit your property. Who inherits your property depends on your marital and family status at the time of your death. Here are some examples: • Married with…
Almost everyone owns assets, such as bank accounts, automobiles, tangible personal property, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real property. Without a Will, the State determines who inherits your property and who administers your estate. With a valid Will, you can do the following: > Designate who receives your property when you die. You can also…
The North Carolina laws are very clear about child support. A summary of the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines can be found here. The family law Judge assigned to your child support case will follow these guidelines with respect to the amount of child support to be paid unless the Judge determines that the guideline…
Fortunately, many of the claims in a divorce or family law case in North Carolina allow for the person who has less income to receive attorney’s fees from their spouse. You may not receive attorney’s fees from the other party in a property division case (Equitable Distribution) or in an absolute divorce case. However, for…
No, the family court Judge assigned to your case will make the custody determination unless you and the other parent can agree on a custody schedule. It is not fair to your child to put her in the position of having to choose between living with Mommy or Daddy. Often times a child will tell…
I need health insurance. Can I still be covered under my spouse’s insurance plan after we are divorced? During your separation, depending on the specific terms of the policy, your spouse may choose to maintain you on the health insurance policy. However, after the divorce is complete, most insurance companies will no longer consider you…
If your significant other threatens to hurt you, and you are in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, a Judge may enter a civil Domestic Violence Order of Protection in your favor. Our state statutes protect not only those individuals that have been physically abused, but those that are in fear of being abused. In…
Yes, you are allowed to represent yourself in Court, although almost no one would recommend this unless there were no other options available to you. A common question that many judges ask prior to a trial where one party wishes to represent him or herself is: “Would you do your own dental work? If not,…
Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+ and Myspace have increasingly become an easy mechanism for individuals to express their opinions on a wide range of topics. All too often, these topics include the individual’s personal life. While sharing your routine, day-to-day activities to the “world” often is harmless, clients run into trouble…