Child Support

Can I Withhold Visitation If the Other Parent Doesn’t Pay Child Support?

February 20, 2015

The unequivocal answer is “no.” Under North Carolina law, child support and visitation are separate matters and a parent’s failure to pay child support is not a legal justification to deny or suspend visitation. Likewise, a parent who is being denied visitation with their child is not entitled to discontinue paying child support. If you are the parent receiving child support, it may be tempting to want to punish the non-supporting parent by withholding their…

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Why You May Need an Accountant to Assist with Your Divorce

February 6, 2015

With the exception of child custody, family law cases are largely about financial issues – child support, postseparation support, alimony, and identification, classification, evaluation, and distribution of marital and divisible property. Depending on the issues in your case, your attorney may recommend that you retain a qualified accountant to assist with certain aspects of your divorce. Accountants who are certified public accountants, forensic accountants, and business valuators can provide a wide range of financial services…

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Part 1: Self-Help Legal Services: The Dangers of the Do-It-Yourself Separation Agreement

October 26, 2014

In a family law context, do-it-yourself separation agreements present an area that is laden with potential problems. A separation agreement, which may also be referred to by other names such as a Marital Settlement Agreement or Contract of Separation and Property Settlement Agreement, is a written contract between a husband and wife wherein they reach various agreements related to their marital separation. Some of the dangers of a do-it-yourself separation agreement are delineated below. Many…

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Choosing the Best Lawyer for Your Divorce

March 22, 2014

Amid the angst and turmoil surrounding separation and divorce, one of the most important decisions that you will make will be your choice of an attorney. It is important to have a lawyer who inspires your trust and confidence, but also a lawyer who has expertise in the area of the law in which you need assistance. Even if you believe your divorce will be fairly amicable, or you do not have a large marital…

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Determining Child Support in High Income Cases

November 22, 2013

The North Carolina Child Support Guidelines in effect for 2013 provide a formula for determining the recommended basic child support obligation for parents whose combined adjusted gross incomes is $25,000 per month ($300,000 per year) or less. The vast majority of child support cases fall within the child support guidelines. However, in cases where the parents’ combined adjusted gross income is greater than $25,000 per month, child support is determined on a case-by-case basis. In…

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