How can I file an uncontested divorce when we’ve already agreed on custody, finances, and property but don’t have a written separation agreement? – NC

How can I file an uncontested divorce when we’ve already agreed on custody, finances, and property but don’t have a written separation agreement? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an uncontested “absolute divorce” is based on one year of separation and residency, not on having a written separation agreement. A complaint for absolute…

How can I enforce my custody order after the other parent moved and the new court can’t find the transferred case? – NC

How can I enforce my custody order after the other parent moved and the new court can’t find the transferred case? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, when a child custody order from another jurisdiction needs enforcement here and the “transferred” case file cannot be located, the usual path is to treat…

What happens at a child support review when we share equal custody and my income has changed? – NC

What happens at a child support review when we share equal custody and my income has changed? – North Carolina Short Answer At a North Carolina child support review with 50/50 physical custody, the court or child support hearing officer recalculates support under the state Child Support Guidelines using both parents’ current incomes and the…

How do I document conflicts and communicate safely if the other parent hints at taking me to court? – NC

How do I document conflicts and communicate safely if the other parent hints at taking me to court? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina family law, careful documentation and calm, business-like communication are critical when a co-parent talks about going back to court. Parents should keep clear, date-stamped records of exchanges, follow the…

Can we use a separation agreement to sell the house with little or no equity, and how do I make sure the sale actually happens if the other person stalls? – NC

Can we use a separation agreement to sell the house with little or no equity, and how do I make sure the sale actually happens if the other person stalls? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a properly drafted, signed, and notarized separation agreement can absolutely require both spouses to list and sell…