Because children are dependent on adults for so much in their lives and lack the agency to escape an abusive situation, they need special help if their parents become abusive or neglectful towards them. In these circumstances, Child Protective Services will ask a...
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Could a court order my spouse to pay my legal fees for a divorce?
A divorce is often an expensive process. If you are the spouse with less money, you likely feel overwhelmed by the expense associated with moving, maintaining separate homes, finding childcare and the like. Adding the cost of a divorce attorney into the mix may seem...
What makes property division challenging for same-sex couples?
Thanks to the 2015 landmark Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges, the LGBTQ community now enjoys the right to marry. This includes the right to end a marriage as well. Still, even with marriage equality the law of the land, same-sex couples still have unique...
Know how long alimony payments will last
When people divorce, one spouse may need to pay alimony. People may wonder how long they will need to make these payments. According to FindLaw, courts award alimony so that people can maintain the standard of living they had during the marriage. Ex-spouses may not...
Warning signs a spouse may be hiding assets
Infidelity has led to the irrevocable breakdown of many marriages over the years. Spouses should know that infidelity in a marriage can take many forms. It does not always relate to romantic or physical relationships with other people. Financial infidelity threatens...
What is parental alienation?
Divorce may bring out the worst in people, especially when trying to vie for children's affection. For some, it develops into a competition that rises to the level of parental alienation. When one parent psychologically manipulates children into turning on the other,...
When can you modify your North Carolina child support order?
When you pay or receive child support in North Carolina, a time may come when you have reason to request a change to your existing arrangement. Maybe the needs of your child have changed and the original amount given is no longer enough. Conversely, maybe you were...
How a guardian ad litem can help an abused child
Sometimes a child does not receive proper care at home from parents or caregivers. If a child is suffering from abuse or neglect and is not of legal age, the child may have no one to turn to for help. This is where the government may step in, appointing someone to...
What is alienation of affection?
If your marriage ended because your spouse deserted you, then you may have a unique opportunity to claim punitive damages from him or her. According to FindLaw, alienation of affection is something that might give you grounds to sue your spouse for damages after your...
Obstacles to adopting or fostering a child for same-sex couples
There are many ways to start and grow a family, and the 2015 Supreme Court decision affirming marriage equality opened up a lot of avenues for same-sex couples that discriminatory laws had closed to them before. However, if you and your same-sex partner would like to...