Divorce

Serving your spouse online? Divorce courts increasingly say it’s possible

Published on: August 16, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What does a “No-Fault’ divorce mean in NC?”

If you’re preparing for a North Carolina divorce, you likely realize the first step will require formally notifying your spouse of your decision to end the marriage. This step is known as serving notice. Typically service takes place in person, by hiring a process server or local law enforcement to deliver the necessary documents. In cases where the person is difficult to locate it can be possible to serve notice by other means, including by certified mail. In the worst cases, where spouses appear to have vanished without a trace, publishing a notice in a local newspaper can suffice. But what about social media? Increasingly, social media is being viewed as possible means of effecting service. To find out more about the possibility of using Facebook or Twitter to start your divorce, keep reading.

The Service (of Process) Issue: Divorce in Military Families

Published on: August 2, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What does uncontested divorce mean?”

Divorce can be a complicated affair for any family, but for military families, the matter can be even more complex. It should go without saying that military families in general face unique challenges that civilian families do not; deployment and placement elsewhere on duty means that military parents and their children must grow used to being away from each other for extended periods of time. However, no matter how accustomed to physical separation a military family may grow out of necessity, many are not prepared for the more permanent fissure of divorce.

Different approaches for handling your North Carolina divorce

Published on: July 12, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What does uncontested divorce mean?”

Many people view divorce as a one-size-fits-all process. They imagine filing papers and appearing in court and talking to lawyers and taking the stand, all the things that have been shown on television and in movies. The reality is that divorce is as varied as relationships and that each one happens somewhat differently. Though contentious litigation is certainly one approach, it isn’t the only one. To learn more about different ways of handling your divorce, keep reading.

Rhode Island Court Recognizes Common-Law Marriage

Published on: July 5, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “Can I sue someone for breaking up my marriage?”

Many people have heard about common-law marriage, believing incorrectly that if you only live with a person for a certain number of years you can become legally married despite never going through the formal steps. While common-law marriage does exist, it does only under very limited circumstances and only in a small number of states. In fact, these days a variety of legal hurdles have been constructed to ensure that it is very rare for a court to acknowledge the validity of a common-law marriage.

New Jersey Court Says Divorce Not Grounds For Termination

Published on: June 14, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “Can any attorney help me with my family law needs in North Carolina?”

Going through a divorce can be a difficult time for most people. You’re faced with the dissolution of your marriage, the division of your property and must now move forward and build a new life different from the one you might have long intended to have. Though many aspects of your life will experience change following a divorce, one area that is usually a welcome constant is your job. After all, why should your marital problems impact your employment?

How Do Introverts Handle Divorce Differently?

Published on: June 9, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “Can any attorney help me with my family law needs in North Carolina?”

Several recent articles and blogs have highlighted a topic that many divorce attorneys and clients alike forget to keep in mind: the ways in which introverts handle issues like heartbreak and divorce differently.

4 Financial Steps to Consider Post-Divorce

Published on: June 7, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: ” I’m considering separating from my spouse; what actions should I refrain from doing?”

Divorce can be costly, emotionally exhausting and confusing. If you’ve been in a long marriage, divorce and your impending future as a single person can seem like scary and uncharted waters. Though it may be a new chapter in your life, the good news is that you can take steps to prepare and try to make the transition as smooth as possible. For some advice on how best to prepare, financially speaking, for your newly single life, consider the following tips from the Huffington Post.

Keep Insurance In Mind After Divorce Is Finalized

Published on: May 24, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “Do I need an attorney to get a Divorce in North Carolina?”

Insurance may not be one of the first things that crosses your mind if you’re in the midst of or recently emerging from a North Carolina divorce. Though insurance may not seem pressing, the reality is that it can prove quite important given that emergencies seldom come with advance warning. To ensure that you are fully protected and insurance proceeds go where you intend them to go, spend some time after your divorce making sure to get your insurance affairs in order. For ideas on what to watch out for, keep reading.

Beware of the Quickie Foreign Divorce

Published on: May 19, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: ” I’m considering separating from my spouse; what actions should I refrain from doing?”

Prior to and during the 1970s, the so-called “Mexican divorce” was having something of a moment. Fed up with the lengthy and expensive divorce process in the United States, couples from the States would pop across the border for a quickie divorce proceeding, without the lengthy waiting periods required in many states. Mexico wasn’t the only country host to many a drive-through divorce proceeding; they became popular in a host of Central American countries, particularly the Dominican Republic, as well as the Caribbean islands.

Private School Tuition CAN Be Included in Child Support Order If You’re Wealthy Enough

Published on: May 12, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Board Certified Family Law Specialist Matt Arnold answers the question: “What children’s expenses are covered by child support?”

In a case that is the first of its kind for our courts, the North Carolina Court of Appeals just ruled that a child support order can include private school tuition for families whose gross income exceeds the state’s Child Support Guidelines.