Grandparents’ Rights to Custody and Visitation in North Carolina

Photograph of a grandfather and preschool granddaughter walking away on a wide path through a path

Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.5(j), either parent of a child or an interested party (including a grandparent) may petition the court for a modification of child custody or visitation in any action in which custody previously has been determined. Under this statute, the grandparent must be able to show that a substantial change in circumstances affecting the welfare of the child has occurred since the entry of the prior custody order.

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How Separate Property Can Become Marital Property

Image of a single toothbrush on a white field depicting the idea of separate personal property.

Transmutation is a term used in family law to describe property that has been transformed from a party’s separate property into marital property.In the context of equitable distribution, the term “separate property” refers to property that is owned by one spouse individually.

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What Happens When a Marital Asset Is Titled in the Name of a Business or Third Party?

Image of a toy, possibly a model, of a bright red antique truck filled with colorful tools depicting the idea of property belonging to a family that might be titled by a business or third party

In North Carolina, property that is owned at the date of separation by either spouse, individually or jointly, is presumed to be marital property. But, what happens when a business or third-party holds title to an asset that is claimed to be a marital asset? What if a spouse titles an asset acquired with marital funds in the name of a business or transfers title to a marital asset to a third-party, such as a child or parent, in an attempt to hide or divert the asset from the marital estate to deprive the other spouse of his/her share or interest?

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Does My Separation Agreement Have To Be Approved by the Court?

Image of a typewritten agreement for divorce on white paper with a pair of eyeglasses folded on top of it.

“Separation agreement” is the term commonly used to describe a legally binding contract that spouses enter into when they reach an agreement regarding issues related to their marital separation. The agreement may be a simple agreement that establishes the parties’ mutual agreement to separate and their date of separation, or it may deal with more complex issues, including child custody, child support, postseparation support, alimony, and equitable distribution of marital property and debt.

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