Charlotte Divorce Lawyer Blog

Best Buy CEO Sells Millions Of Shares To Pay Mounting Divorce Tab :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: September 5, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “How much does it cost to get divorced, and how does the billing process work?”

A recent financial disclosure form by the CEO of Best Buy reveals just how pricey divorce can sometimes be. The Chief Executive of Best Buy, Hubert Joly, announced to the press that he had to sell $10.4 million in shares of Best Buy stock to help fund his ongoing divorce.

According to a report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Joly’s sale of 350,000 shares of stock took place earlier this month. A company spokesperson says that Joly’s sale of stock has nothing to do with a negative outlook on the prospects of the company. Instead, the official said that Joly’s sale was necessary to liquidate some of the CEO’s assets to help pay for a pricey divorce. Despite the sale, Joly remains heavily invested in Best Buy.

Though most couples in North Carolina do not have the luxury of selling millions of dollars of stock to fund a pricey divorce, money is an incredibly common worry about the divorce process, regardless of income. In fact, a recent survey found that among those couples without children who were facing divorce, the cost of divorce was the number one concern. Surprisingly, the cost of divorce rated even higher than worries over dividing marital assets. Among couples with children, the cost of the divorce was second only to worries about child custody and visitation schedules.

So how can people keep their divorce costs from spiraling out of control? First and foremost try and make the divorce less adversarial. In Joly’s case, his split from his ex has been incredibly combative and has stretched on for many months. The fact is simple: the longer a divorce lasts the more expensive it will be. Though no one should simply agree to hand everything over to his or her spouse in the interest of expediency, there is also no reason to fight tooth and nail over every knickknack.

“Martin” Turns Back Into “Messiah” After Tennessee Judges Overrules Lower Court :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: September 3, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What does uncontested divorce mean?”

A judge in Tennessee has reversed the ruling of a chancery court judge from Cocke County regarding the ability of a couple to name their 8-month-old son “Messiah.” The case began last month when the boy’s mother and father were in court arguing over the child’s last name. Oddly enough, the two had actually agreed that the boy’s first name would be Messiah.

While in court, Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew said that she was offended by the name choice and said that the child should instead be called “Martin.” Ballew based her decision on the religiosity of those living in the rural area of the state, saying that the child might have a hard time being raised in an area that is so predominantly Christian. Ballew told the parents that “Messiah” is a title and the title has only been earned by one person, Jesus Christ.

The parents were shocked to discover they could not name their child as they wished and appealed the decision. The mother’s attorney said they appealed because the couple was in agreement about the first name and had never chosen it for religious reasons. Instead, the mother claims she thought that the word sounded nice.

Just this past week Chancellor Telford Fogerty overturned Ballew’s initial decision, deciding that the lower court acted unconstitutionally in changing the child’s name to Martin. Judge Fogerty said that the lower court’s decision amounted to a violation of the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution and added that the purpose of the proceeding was to determine the child’s last name, not to litigate the appropriateness of the child’s first name. The Establishment Clause, one of the first pronouncements contained in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, says that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. This has generally been interpreted to prohibit the establishment of a national religion by Congress and to prevent the preference by the U.S. government of one religion over another. Given that the lower judge’s ruling was based on Christian theology and not the law, Judge Fogerty had no choice but to reverse course. And just like that, Martin was turned back into Messiah.

Several (More) Signs That Your Marriage May Be In Trouble :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: August 29, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “When do you get alimony?”

The following is a continuation of the last post we did concerning a list of signs that your spouse is secretly unhappy, a list that appeared in an article by Amy Shearn over at Yahoo.com. Obsessive shopping, deathly silence over the dinner table and a abnormally close work friend are three of the indictors we discussed previously. Let’s dive into a few more.

As we mentioned, when you run out of things to say that might be a sign of unhappiness. It is also true that no longer having an interest in listening can also indicate serious relationship dissatisfaction. When someone tries to cut discussions or arguments short by simply saying, “We’ve already been over this” it might be a sign that the person has checked out of your relationship and no longer wants to put in the effort to fix things. Rather than hear out your concerns and try and solve problems, people who are at this stage are simply over fighting and may be looking for an exit. Healthy relationships involve discussion and occasionally even disagreements; if your partner is no longer willing to put in that work it might be a sign of serious trouble.

Another indicator of unhappiness according to Shearn is when a spouse appears to be purposely irritating, nagging or pestering or other obnoxious habits that come out of nowhere may be a sign that your partner feels unappreciated and simply wants some attention. In this case the good news is that your partner has not yet given up and walked away, but if he or she continues to feel ignored it’s only a matter of time. Though they may be on your last nerve, take the cry for attention seriously and try to be a bit more nurturing; a little bit of acknowledgement can go a long way.

Several Signs That Your Marriage May Be In Trouble :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: August 27, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What does uncontested divorce mean?”

A recent article on Yahoo.com delved into several important signs that your significant other might be secretly unhappy with your relationship. The tips are certainly not sure things, but are instead some examples of behavior that might indicate your spouse has checked out of the relationship and may soon be interested in checking out of the marriage. The author of the piece recommended that readers be aware of the following signs and take action to improve things if it seems like any of the following ring true.

First things first, is your spouse shopping like crazy? Though some people simply enjoy a good trip to the mall, purchases out of the ordinary can reflect unhappiness at home. One psychology professor mentioned in the article noted that studies have shown that both men and women who attach more value to their possessions tend to be less secure in their personal relationships. While shopping by itself is OK, keep an eye out to see if the shopping seems like an attempt to fill a deeper void.

The author of the Yahoo piece notes another sign that there may be trouble in paradise, something she dubs “dining dead.” Zombies are definitely something we all want to avoid, especially in the context of a marriage. Though it can be nice to spend some quiet time together and not feel the urge to fill every pause with conversation, if the pauses start to become the rule rather than the exception then it may be time to worry. Silence over the dinner table can be great in small doses, but if you find yourself at a loss for conversation with your spouse frequently then you need to start asking questions about why you no longer have anything to say to one another. If the silence appears to be one-sided, it may mean you have an unhappy partner who is unwilling to rock the boat.

Recent Celebrity Divorce Gives New Meaning To The Phrase “Splitting Hairs” :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: August 22, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What does uncontested divorce mean?”

In a bizarre case that highlights just how strange some celebrity splits can be, Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach and his wife have finalized their divorce. TMZ recently confirmed that the final settlement papers have been filled in Tennessee, bringing to an end a divorce that began in February of this year.

Like most divorce cases, Auerbach’s divorce from his wife, Stephanie Gonis, involved a financial settlement, a division of their marital assets and a child custody agreement. The two had been married for four years and had one child together, a four-year-old girl named Sadie.

According to family court documents, Gonis will walk away from the marriage with a lump sum settlement of $5 million as well as a 2012 Toyota Highlander and one of the family’s two homes. Though the amounts are certainly large, the division of assets, including vehicles and homes, is pretty standard and similar to the process faced by ordinary couples across North Carolina who must divide the assets that were accumulated over the course of their marriage.

Where the Auerbach divorce diverges from the mainstream is in one of the odd personal items that Gonis will receive in the divorce settlement. Appearing in the divorce agreement is a notation for “Bob Dylan Hair.” Apparently the two had purchased an unknown quantity of the famous rocker’s locks and Gonis felt like the hair should be hers.

Four Tips For Divorcing Couples To Avoid Harming Retirement :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: August 20, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “How can an attorney help me with my Divorce or Separation in North Carolina?”

We’ve discussed what’s known as the “gray divorce” trend several times before. Increasingly large numbers of people over the age of 50 have decided to file for divorce, many times more than in previous decades. While this can be a good thing for many couples, those facing divorce late in life face special challenges that young couples do not. Issues like retirement and building back up a comfortable nest egg can be more difficult for these older divorcees than for couples who split while in their 20s.

To help ease what can be a difficult transition for the over-50 individuals facing a divorce, the following are some tips compiled by a writer at Forbes for how to best minimize the financial damage divorce can do to your retirement.

First things first, the author says is to avoid the knee jerk reaction of most people to fight to keep the house. Most people wrongly assume that in a divorce it is better to end up with the home, something that is not necessarily true. Why? Well compared to retirement accounts, homes are far more likely to incur additional and ongoing expenses. Also, the future value of the home is questionable, especially given the recent crash in home values. Also, homes are not liquid assets meaning that people will have a more difficult time extracting value from the home to finance retirement.

Second, those facing divorce should be sure to understand the tax implications of a split on their retirement funds. Any withdrawal of funds from pre-tax accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs will trigger tax penalties. However, withdrawals from after-tax accounts like Roth IRAs are not taxed when the money is taken out during retirement. This means that if a divorcing couple has one 401(k) with a $500,000 balance and a Roth IRA with $500,000, the two are not equal due to the ways that each will be taxed, with the Roth IRA actually being more valuable.

Simon Cowell’s Affair Costs Lover Millions In Divorce Settlement :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: August 15, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “Does adultery affect who gets custody?”

It appears Simon Cowell’s messy relationship with his good friend’s wife can now move forward publicly as Lauren Silverman and her former husband announced that their divorce settlement has been finalized. The split between Lauren and Andrew Silverman, wealthy New York socialites, worked out as many expected (and as we mentioned previously), wrapping up quite quickly.

Andrew named Cowell in his original divorce petition, claiming that his former friend had engaged in an extramarital affair with Lauren that resulted in her becoming pregnant. Rather than file a no-fault divorce, Andrew claimed that his wife’s infidelity was to blame for the dissolution of the marriage, an unusually public rebuke of his wife and former friend. Experts familiar with the case said that the aggressive stance was taken to try and force his wife to agree to a settlement quickly, something which appears to have worked.

The two, who were married for 10 years, have apparently reached an agreement concerning finances as well as custody of their son. In addition to agreeing to share custody of their son, Lauren supposedly walked away with a less than $2 million in a lump sum settlement. While this is a sizable chunk of change, it’s less than half the amount that many expected Lauren to receive when the divorce proceedings began. Most people estimated that Lauren would walk away with more than $4 million given her ex-husband’s wealth.

Important Immigration Clause Raises Questions About Immigrant Divorces :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: August 13, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What happens when a person’s income is not guaranteed and fluctuates from year to year?”

A recent divorce case in Texas has highlighted a little-known aspect of immigration law that might impact the divorces of recently immigrated individuals across the country in ways they never imagined.

The case, discussed in a Fox News article, concerns Steve Summers, an American citizen, who brought his Mexican-born bride to the U.S. on a fiancé visa. Summers decided to do what millions of other Americans do in similar situations and signed an affidavit that said he would support his wife so that she would not become a “public charge.” Public charge affidavits refer to someone who relies on government assistance to pay for food and meet their basic needs.

Everything was fine while the couple was married, but eventually trouble in the marriage led to divorce. Now Summers says the affidavit he signed is being used against him by his ex-wife who is pushing for alimony. His ex, Evangelina Zapata, is now suing Summers in federal court claiming that he broke his contract to support her at least 125 percent of the federal poverty level.

The case highlights the I-864 affidavit, a common part of immigration procedure that is rarely ever brought up in divorce cases. Experts on immigration law say that many people sign the affidavits without a second thought, usually because they contracts are rarely if ever enforced. However, this rarity does not mean they affidavits are not serious and the fact remains that they contain strict obligations for American citizens who sign them.

Baby Veronica Child Custody Case Continues To Escalate :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: August 8, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What can I do to gain custody of my child in North Carolina?”

It finally looks like the sad case of the adopted girl from South Carolina might be coming to a conclusion. According to a recent report by the Associated Press, the father of Baby Veronica has turned himself into authorities in Oklahoma.

Dusten Brown, the biological father of the three-year-old girl at the center of a recent Supreme Court case has turned himself into authorities while his daughter remains with family members in the area. Brown surrendered himself on Monday after having been charged over the weekend with custodial interference and a warrant was issued for his arrest in the case involving his daughter.

A couple from Charleston, SC, Matt and Melanie Capobianco, have spent the last 18 months fighting to have the girl returned to them after Brown won custody in 2011. Brown successfully used the Indian Child Welfare Act to reassert his parental rights after initially voluntarily signing them away.

Authorities say Veronica is currently in the care of Brown’s parents and Brown’s wife. The three individuals were recently named temporary guardians of the girl by a Cherokee Nation court. Brown, who is 2 percent Cherokee, asserted his heritage in his child custody fight with the Capobiancos, a ploy that was recently struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. The case was remanded to South Carolina where the Capobiancos were affirmed as Veronica’s rightful parents and Brown was ordered to return the girl as part of a gradual transition process that is aimed at reintroducing the toddler to the Capobiancos. So far, Brown has refused to participate.

Fight Over Last Name Leads To Judge Ordering ‘Messiah’ Changed To ‘Martin’ :: Separation and Divorce Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

Published on: August 6, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “How is the amount of child support decided in North Carolina?”

A recent Yahoo article discussed a Tennessee judge’s recent decision to prevent a couple from naming their seven-month-old son ‘Messiah’. The magistrate judge from Newport, TN instead changed the boy’s name to Martin, saying that Messiah was reserved for Jesus Christ and him alone.

Oddly enough, the matter ended up before the judge due to a fight between his parents over the child’s last name. While they both agreed on ‘Messiah’, they wanted the judge to settle the dispute over their son’s last name. When the judge heard the child’s first name, she decided that it needed changing too. Ultimately, the judge settled on Martin DeShawn McCullough, a name that incorporates the last names of both parents.

The judge said her decision to change the child’s name was the first time she has ever issued such an order. The judge said that if the child is raised in Cocke County, TN the name could end up causing him trouble later in life due to the area’s large Christian population. The judge said since the child was too young to have say in the matter, changing the name to something less controversial was an important step to spare the child of a potentially difficult future.

The child’s mother said that she intends to appeal the decision, claiming that she chose Messiah not for religious reasons but because she thought it sounded like a good name. According to a list compiled by the Social Security Administration, Messiah ranked number four on the 2012 list of fastest-rising baby names.