Does it matter whether I file in the county where I live or where my spouse lives? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an absolute divorce case is generally filed in the county where either spouse resides. In an uncontested divorce, that usually means filing in either county works as long as North…
If my spouse previously gifted me part of the house before we married, does getting married change who owns what? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, getting married does not automatically change the ownership shares created by a deed that transferred part of a house before the marriage. A premarital transfer is usually…
How do I stop my spouse from forcing the sale of our jointly owned house? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a spouse generally cannot “force” a sale of the marital home just because they want out, especially when an equitable distribution case is pending and the home is part of the marital…
What does the court require to show my spouse owned the vehicle? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, courts commonly accept a vehicle document that shows the registered owner’s name and identifies the vehicle (VIN), such as a copy of the certificate of title, a DMV record, or a registration card showing the…
How do we quickly retain an attorney and provide the case details so they can review everything before the hearing? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina family court, the fastest way to retain an attorney before a hearing is to call immediately, confirm whether the lawyer can appear, and sign the engagement agreement…
How is child support calculated when the other parent’s income is unclear or changes a lot? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, child support is usually calculated using the statewide Child Support Guidelines, which start with each parent’s current gross income (or the best evidence of it). When a parent’s income is unclear…
Can I request a paternity test even if the other parent signed the birth certificate? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, a parent (or an alleged father) can ask the court to order genetic testing even if someone signed paperwork that led to a father being listed on the birth certificate. The…
Can my car registration substitute as proof of ownership in court filings? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes. In North Carolina, a registration card can help show who the DMV has on file for a vehicle, but the strongest ownership document is the certificate of title. If a court or e-filing portal specifically requires a…
What should I prepare right away if there is an upcoming custody hearing or deadline in my case? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the safest approach is to assume the court will expect organized, admissible evidence and timely notice before a custody issue is heard. Right away, gather every filed court document,…
Are there scanning or copy fees for older divorce records, and how do I pay them? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the Clerk of Superior Court can charge fees for copies and certified copies of court records, and a request for a full scan of an older paper divorce file may also…