Asheville North Carolina Law Blog

Is it hard for grandparents to win visitation in North Carolina?

On behalf of Bull & Reinhardt, PLLC on Monday, October 1, 2018.

In many states, there is little grandparents can do to make sure they stay in their grandchildren's lives. However, it is important for extended family members to still have relationships with children and grandchildren when those relationships are positive.

Despite the fact that grandchildren may miss their grandparents, and vice versa, it is ultimately up to the parents of the children to decide if that relationship is necessary or beneficial for their children. There are exceptions, but on the whole, North Carolina's laws are not grandparent-friendly when it comes to visitation and custody.

Relocation may prove easier as children get older

On behalf of Bull & Reinhardt, PLLC on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

Americans move constantly. Statistics show that about 16 percent of people in the United States move every single year. Nearly half of them (43 percent) move outside of the town or city they lived in previously.

At the same time, the stats indicate that those between 20 years old and 34 years old move most often. For instance, many college students move every single year as they find new roommates or just rent new homes and apartments. But this trend continues long after college.

Modern families have more complexities than ever before

On behalf of Bull & Reinhardt, PLLC on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.

The modern family in North Carolina is a diverse, complex family unit. You can still find the homogeneity of the past, of course, but it does not dominate in the way it once did. People are more open-minded and it has changed family dynamics in numerous ways.

Below are a few key examples:

Family Law-Why do I need a separation agreement?

By Adam Bull of Bull & Reinhardt, PLLC on Thursday, May 10, 2018.

When representing our family law clients we are often asked why do i need a separation agreement? separation agreementWhen parties separate, either by choice or the result of one spouse leaving the marriage, multiple legal issues arise. These may include and raise questions concerning the division of asetts and debts, custody and visitation, child support and spousal support.

Should you worry about your spouse hiding assets during divorce?

On behalf of Bull & Reinhardt, PLLC posted in family law on Tuesday, March 6, 2018.

Hidden assets or the attempt to hide assets is a common issue in divorce. People with any income level and any amount of assets could attempt to hide something from a spouse or the courts. However, this issue does often seem to impact couples with higher marital assets. In other words, the greater the value of your household, the more carefully you need to consider potentially hidden assets.

Does your spouse have a competitive or vindictive streak? In other words, is he or she likely to want to "win" in the divorce or seek to punish you for filing? Do you have substantial assets? Does your spouse refuse to share critical information, like payroll or tax documents, with you? All of these factors can impact the likelihood of hidden assets during your divorce.

6 ways to ensure the validity of a prenuptial agreement

On behalf of Bull & Reinhardt, PLLC posted in family law on Wednesday, December 6, 2017.

"To a Mouse" is a poem written by Robert Burns in 1785. In this poem, he said, "The best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew, and leave us nothing but grief and pain, for promised joy." If you're one of the many individuals who've signed a prenuptial agreement, only to have a court invalidate the document in divorce court, then you are too familiar with the sentiments of this poem.

Many prenuptial agreements lay in ruin as ineffective wastes of time, but this doesn't need to happen with yours -- if you create it and execute it in the right way.

Interracial child custody situations don't have to be difficult

On behalf of Bull & Reinhardt, PLLC posted in family law on Monday, September 11, 2017.

Interracial relationships can produce interracial children. When the parents aren't in a relationship any longer, the child becomes the subject of a child custody case.

If you have a biracial child and are facing a child custody case, you will likely find that your case isn't handled any differently from any other child custody case. Here are a few things that you should think about when it comes to child custody involving a multiracial child.

What rights do grandparents have when their children divorce?

On behalf of Bull & Reinhardt, PLLC posted in family law on Wednesday, September 6, 2017.

You love your children and want them to have happy lives. You also love your grandchildren and want to have a positive, ongoing relationship with each of them. Unfortunately, your child's behavior during a divorce could result in issues with maintaining your relationship with your grandchildren.

Typically, the courts in North Carolina seek to arrange custody with the best interests of the child in mind. Generally that means ensuring continued, healthy interactions with both parents. In some cases, such as estrangement, abuse or chemical dependence, however, the courts will choose to terminate or temporarily suspend a parent's rights to custody or visitation. When that happens to your child, you could find yourself unable to see or even speak with your grandchildren.