Mediation is a way to resolve family law disputes where a neutral third party, the mediator, assists parties in trying to reach an agreement. The mediator does not advocate for either party or make any decisions. The decision-making authority is left to the parties. The mediator’s job is to help parties work out their own agreements by exploring the parties’ needs and interests and by helping them formulate specific solutions to resolve the disputed issues. That is one of the most attractive reasons for mediation — the parties maintain control… Read More
Practically every aspect of our world has been drastically altered by the protections (and limitations) enacted to combat the spread of COVID-19. Our court system is no different. On March 13, 2020, Chief Justice Beasley of the Supreme Court of North Carolina issued an emergency order declaring the North Carolina courts “on hold” for a majority of matters. Over the course of the last few months, these directives have been extended in a number of ways. Virtual hearings, limited in-person trials, and masks are now the new normal. Click below… Read More
Beginning June 1, 2020, we will accommodate in-person meetings as clients and lawyers may agree, with certain limitations and cautions in place. We will continue to utilize and encourage phone calls and Zoom videoconferencing for most communications, but we will allow in-person meetings if there is a specific need to meet with your attorney in the office, and you and your attorney agree to an in-person meeting. We will continue to practice safety methods such as social distancing, and we will conduct regular sanitizing practices before and after all meetings…. Read More
The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) changed Family Law. While there was a lot of hype over the TCJA after it was first passed in December of 2017, for most people, the real effect of the tax law changes will be felt with the filing of their 2018 tax return. This is the first of a series of blogs on the new tax law changes affecting the family law world. Bye, Bye Alimony Deduction! The TCJA eliminates the alimony deduction. Under prior tax law, alimony payments… Read More
The stress and grief of a divorce ranks only second to the death of a loved one. Divorce not only affects the divorcing spouses, but it has a life-altering effect on their children. Children depend on their parents for love, support and guidance, and stability, and they can experience feelings of confusion, abandonment and anxiety when their parents separate. Estimates suggest that between 1 and 1.5 million children experience the divorce of their parents each year. Often, couples are so wrapped up with their own emotions that they fail to… Read More
The domestic case—whether it’s custody, divorce issues, or domestic violence—is often the first time a party will consult with an attorney. It can be a time marked by confusion, anger, frustration, fear and uncertainty. The following is an article entitled TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES: WHY HONESTY IN THE BEST POLICY WHEN DEALING WITH YOUR LAWYER by Katie McClaflin published in the Family Advocate, a publication of the American Bar Association, Family Law Section. At Ward Family Law Group, we often tell our clients that in order to help advance their cause… Read More
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the statistics are sobering. • 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men aged 18 and older in the United States have been the victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. • 37.3% of women and 28.3% of men experienced intimate partner sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking at some point in their lives. • More than 12 million Americans are victims of domestic violence every year. • The costs of intimate partner violence in the United… Read More
The Pew Research Center estimates that almost 70% of American adults use some form of social media, and that roughly 75 million of them check their social networks every day. With those kinds of statistics, it is clear that social media has become a part of our daily lives, and an increasingly significant factor in divorce and custody disputes. If you post to Facebook or Instagram, or if you Tweet, blog, post to YouTube, or use any other form of social media, you need to be aware that whatever you… Read More
It does not take a family law attorney to tell you that it is not easy to separate and ultimately divorce your spouse. For some, making up your mind is the easiest part of the process, but for most it can be a grueling task fraught with difficult choices and emotional landmines. The idea of beginning anew and starting a new chapter of your life can be both exciting and motivating, but what we tell our clients is that it is better to travel the road to divorce with eyes… Read More
For years, the media has perpetuated the belief that Super Bowl Sunday is the most dangerous day of the year. However, the research shows that this is just a myth, and there is no specific link between the Super Bowl and an increase in domestic violence. What the research does show is domestic violence spikes on weekends and holidays or on other special occasions that center around family and….alcohol. So, you might see increases in domestic violence on the Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, a Saturday night or…..on Super… Read More
