Family Law is an area of law that focuses on family disputes and obligations. This includes issues such as child custody, child support, divorce, property division, spousal support, domestic violence, and adoption.

It can also involve certain “heart balm actions”, more commonly known as Alienation of Affection and Criminal Conversation lawsuits, which are allowed in only nine states, including North Carolina. This field of law is one of the most contentious and difficult areas of law to navigate, and it is important that you seek someone who is skilled and knowledgeable in this type of practice.

Often times, the parties are able to resolve custody issues by agreement or in mediation. However, if a custody case goes to court, the judge will focus on what is in the best interests of the child in determining with whom your child will reside. This forces the court to direct its attention primarily to you and your spouse, examining your conduct in the past and in present to determine how you will parent your child in the future. The trial judge is given wide discretion in his or her determination of one parent’s fitness or the other, and appeals are very limited in this kind of litigation because courts of appeal are often unwilling to overturn a ruling by the trial judge who presided over the proceedings.

Any parent, relative, or other person, agency, organization, or institution claiming custody of a minor child may bring an action in court. Filing a complaint, counterclaim, or motion in the cause in a prior pending action are the usual methods for putting custody before the court. In disputes involving child custody and/or visitation, it is important that you have the necessary and effective tools to resolve these conflicts.

North Carolina is a “no-fault” divorce state. Neither party to the divorce is required to claim their partner is at fault for the breakdown of marriage. Accordingly, the only requirement to receive a divorce in North Carolina is that you have been a resident of the state for at least six months preceding the filing of your Complaint, and that you have been separated from your spouse for at least 12 months.

Separation occurs when one party leaves the marital residence. However, divorce is often accompanied by other issues including, but not limited to: child custody, child support, property division, and spousal support. If claims for spousal support and/or property division are not filed prior to the entry of the divorce, they are often times lost forever.

For various reasons, parents often have to relocate. As a result, custody disputes often occur and have to be resolved. If court action is needed, the court considers many issues including: the reason for the move, what benefit to the child the move will have, and what impact the move will have on the other parent’s access.

Child relocation is a complex endeavor, and it is important to have a skilled advocate to assist you in this type of action.

Property division in the state of North Carolina is referred to as equitable distribution. At any time after the parties separate, either party may file an action for equitable distribution. A final equitable distribution judgment may be rendered either before or after the parties are divorced, at the discretion of a judge. If the judgment is being entered by consent, the parties themselves can stipulate to do so prior to the divorce.

There are many factors the courts consider during an equitable distribution matter. In North Carolina Property is classified as marital, separate or divisible. Before any equitable distribution case goes to mediation or to Court, it will be necessary to identify and ascertain the values of all real and personal property, as well as debts acquired by the parties during the marriage. Further, it is important to consider the tax consequences to either party based upon the distribution of many assets.

For most parties, child support is calculated pursuant to the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines. Exceptions to this are parties whose combined gross monthly income exceeds $25,000. The factors used to calculate a parent’s child support obligaton are: both parties gross monthly incomes, other children not of this relationship, health insurance costs, work-related daycare costs, and other extraordinary expenses.

In some cases, a party can seek to deviate from the guidelines. Further, if you are a business owner or an independent contractor, it is important to determine your accurate amount of gross income. In addition, child Support can be awarded retroactively, depending on certain circumstances.

Permanent Orders for Child Custody can be modified. In order to modify a child custody order, a party must show that there has been a substantial change of circumstance affect the child’s welfare since the entry of the last order. The moving party must be able to show the court that it is in the best interest of the minor child or children to change the current custody arrangement.

Similarly, a party seeking to modify a prior child support order must also show the Court that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred since the entry of the prior order such as a significant change in the income of one or both the parties or a change in the needs of the child. Often times, these motions go hand in hand, as any change in custody would likely lead to the need to change a prior order on child support.

Spousal Support in North Carolina is found in the form of Post Separation Support and Alimony. Post Separation Support is temporary support awarded after the parties separate and paid by the supporting spouse to the dependent spouse. Unlike Alimony, post separation support is not fault-based and is only based upon the financial needs of the parties. The amount of post separation ultimately awarded is based upon the reasonable needs and expenses of the dependent spouse and the shortfall he/or she has at the end of each month.

Alimony is a separate claim from post separation support and must be filed before your divorce is final. Unless otherwise resolved in mediation or by consent, the Court will determine how much alimony, if any, a party is entitled to after consideration of multiple factors. This is where fault comes in, and marital misconduct committed by either party is one of sixteen factors considered by the Court in an alimony case. It is important to hire a family law attorney with expertise in this area, whether you are making this claim or defending yourself against one.

Domestic Violence Protect Orders are commonly known as restraining orders. In North Carolina, you can file for a Domestic Violence Protective Order against a family member, a spouse or domestic partner, a current or former household member or a person you are dating or have dated. Some of the grounds for protective order are: a party causing or threatening to cause bodily injury to another, harassment, and/or placing a party or their family in fear of imminent bodily harm or injury.

A judge can issue an ex parte temporary order that will go into immediate effect without the respondent having a chance to present evidence or testimony. This order usually lasts about 10 days, but will not go into effect until the respondent is served with a notification. A permanent domestic violence order requires a full court hearing where both you and the respondent have the chance to present evidence and testimony.

If your spouse is having an affair with another person, you may have a claim for alienation of affections and/or criminal conversation. Criminal Conversation is a tort lawsuit against a third party who has committed adultery with someone’s spouse.

The person having the affair with your spouse does not have to know that your spouse is married to be found liable for criminal conversation. Alienation of Alienation is a tort lawsuit, involving a complaint brought by a deserted spouse against a third party alleged to be responsible for the failure of the marriage.