Winston-Salem Family Law Blog

How long does it take to finalize divorce?

On behalf of Susan Gray Law, P.A. on Monday, December 17, 2018.

North Carolina currently requires married couples to separate for one year before they can officially file for divorce. This law is controversial, and a few lawmakers have tried to get rid of it. One recent attempted law that failed to go in front of a committee tried to reduce this one-year requirement in cases where one spouse has a felony conviction, with the victim being the other spouse.

As a result, divorce takes much longer in North Carolina when compared to other states. After this one year, one spouse can serve the other with divorce paperwork. From there, the proceedings can go by fairly quickly, as long as both spouses are on the same page.

How to use social media during a divorce

On behalf of Susan Gray Law, P.A. on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

Social media has fundamentally changed virtually every aspect of people's lives. It can become a major point of contention within a marriage, and it is increasingly playing a role in people's divorces.

The statuses and pictures you post on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can come up as admissible evidence in divorce court. Therefore, you need to use it wisely until your divorce has concluded. Here are some tips for using social media during this time.

Why joint custody often is the best solution

On behalf of Susan Gray Law, P.A. on Saturday, June 23, 2018.

As a North Carolina parent, your children are your biggest concern if you and your spouse are contemplating divorce. In all likelihood, they also are your spouse’s biggest concern. Neither of you wants to be the absentee parent because both of you love being a big part of your children’s lives. If this situation describes yours, you would do well to consider a post-divorce joint custody arrangement.

Opinions regarding joint custody have changed dramatically over the years. Where once it was almost a rule that mothers got custody of children, particularly young ones, most judges, child psychologists, legislators and parents now believe that joint custody usually is better for not only the kids, but also the parents.

Is it the court's business what I spend child support on?

On behalf of Susan Gray Law, P.A. posted in blog on Wednesday, March 28, 2018.

You receive child support to help you meet your children's needs, whether emotional or physical. Raising a child on your own is not easy, and like most custodial parents in North Carolina, you need the other parent to contribute. Does this mean your ex can dictate how you spend the child support you receive from him or her? Your ex-spouse may have threatened to get the family law court involved if you do not prove that every dollar of child support you spend is on the children.

Fortunately, as FindLaw explains, the law does not require you to keep records on your child support spending or tell the court where the money goes. You also do not need to tell your ex how you spend the money. There are no restrictions on how you spend child support, but keep in mind that its purpose is for your children's well-being. It would be within your rights to spend child support in the following ways:

Basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing and electricity
Doctor's visits, counseling, co-pays and medicines
School fees, classroom supplies and extra-curricular activities
Entertainment, such as birthday party supplies, movie tickets, restaurant meals and gifts

Your divorce New Year’s resolutions

On behalf of Susan Gray Law, P.A. posted in blog on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.

You managed to get through the holidays in one piece, but the New Year left you with the feeling that your marriage is over. You are not alone – divorce filings are more prevalent right after the holidays than any other time of year. Now is the time for you and other North Carolina residents preparing for a divorce to organize and start planning.

According to many family law attorneys, the Monday following holiday break is Divorce Day due to an inundation of phone calls and emails about divorce during this time. Why does this happen? There are many reasons: You might have decided to give a last-ditch effort to save your marriage during the holidays only to realize there is no hope. The New Year signals new beginnings for many people, and it might seem like a fresh start to you. Financial and tax considerations might also be good reasons to file before you are well into 2018.

Actions to take before filing for divorce

On behalf of Susan Gray Law, P.A. posted in blog on Thursday, September 21, 2017.

Divorce is arguably the most difficult topic to bring up to a spouse. However, sometimes it is an essential action so both people can ultimately be happier.

First, it is important for a person to review all options. This can involve acquiring all the essential paperwork to make sure the divorce goes smoothly. It also involves speaking with an attorney to receive advice and to be ready once you finally pull the trigger. Anyone unsure if a divorce is truly best should follow some key actions to reach a decision one way or the other.

Divorce mediation in North Carolina

On behalf of Susan Gray Law, P.A. posted in Divorce on Thursday, July 20, 2017.

The divorce process can be time-consuming, uncertain and expensive, particularly when spouses are resolving their differences through litigation. Mediation is a positive alternative to litigation for many couples. In divorce mediation, spouses work with a neutral mediator to work out their differences and reach solutions.

A mediator does not make any decisions about how a case will be resolved. Rather, the mediation will make suggestions and try to facilitate agreement. In mediation, nothing is resolved until both parties agree. In mediation, parties may also work with their lawyers in addition to the mediator.