January is one of the most popular months for divorce – a decision that is conflicted and full of overwhelming emotions. When divorcing in North Carolina, it is necessary to be aware of three important matters: property, spousal support or alimony, and custody.

Even if a couple has spent very little time married, it is highly probable that they have shared debts and property together. In North Carolina, anything that can be classified as “marital property” or “marital debt” is usually divided equally no matter who the title owner is. This policy can have exemptions, for instance in the case of an inheritance. In spousal support claims, adultery and other forms of marital misconduct can be considered as factors when deciding on them.

In child custody cases, a parent can win sole or joint custody depending on the decision of the courts. As a last resort, a parenting schedule can be crafted by a formal agreement or court order to ensure that the children will get to have both parents in their life as they grow up.

If you need legal representation for your family law case in North Carolina, do not hesitate to get in touch with our attorneys at Marshall & Taylor PLLC by calling our offices today at 919-833-1040.

Caledonia, Wisconsin resident Curt Johnson, 61, is now officially divorced from his wife, Tracie Stier-Johnson, 47. The development took place in late October in Racine County Court. The heir of the Johnson family has recently made national headlines for various sexual crime convictions.

The pair filed their divorce petition jointly on April 20, 2016, on grounds that the marriage was “irretrievably broken.” It was a second marriage for both Johnson, son of Racine-based manufacturer S. C. Johnson & Son owner, and Stier-Johnson, who tied the knot on May 5, 2001. Division of property and other assets is impending, but the couple allegedly had a prenuptial agreement.

Our attorneys at Marshall & Taylor PLLC provide legal services in Raleigh and other areas of North Carolina. We take on family legal issues such as divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, and property division, among others. Call our offices today at 919-833-1040 to speak with a qualified member of our legal team about your situation.

It is a good idea to stop viewing an argument as a contest that you have to win. Instead, you should “be able to view an issue as one that you are jointly solving” because doing so “creates feelings of connection and teamwork,” says San Antonio couples therapist Amy Kipp.

It is also a good idea to make it known to your spouse that you acknowledge his or her feelings, even if you don’t necessarily agree or empathize with them. Williamsburg, Virginia marriage therapist Amanda Deverich said, “Validating your spouse’s feelings doesn’t mean giving up your own truth, it just helps you reach a compromise.”

“Let’s say you were supposed to look after the kids when you came back from work. If your spouse remembers you saying you’d be home by 6 p.m. but you don’t recall saying that, you could validate it by saying, ‘I can see why you’d be frustrated if you thought that, given how many times I’ve been late in the past,” Deverich added.

Our attorneys at Marshall & Taylor PLLC, who provide legal services to our clients in Raleigh and other areas in North Carolina, handle family legal cases such as divorce and legal separation, among others. Call our offices today at 919-833-1040 to set up an initial meeting with one of our qualified legal representatives.

In general, America sees a pattern of women receiving better deals in custody battles than their estranged spouses. There are many cases of a judge presiding over a child custody litigation found in favor of the mother because our society still views women as the natural caretakers of children.

In recent years, the emergence of law firms that cater to men during divorce proceedings has increased. However, the existence of such law firms is controversial, with critics saying that such law firms are not pushing for equal rights between the sexes but instead propagating sexist stereotypes against women. Recent census data show that 82% of mothers have primary custody of their children and 53% of them collect child support, compared to 29% of men. Also, a recent survey from Pew Research Center showed that women spend twice as much time with their children than their husbands.

If you and your spouse are going through a family legal issue that could affect the welfare of your children, get in touch with our attorneys at Marshall & Taylor PLLC by calling our offices today at 919-833-1040.

According to sociological statistics, before the Farm Crisis of the 1980’s, the divorce rate among American couples who work in the farming industry was lower than the divorce rate among other American couples. This fact is an exemplary feat, considering around 40% of American marriages end in divorce.

Data from the National Vital Statistics System showed the divorce rate of people in states where agriculture is a major industry decreased over the past 25 years. Iowa had the lowest divorce rate (1.5 divorces per 1,000 married couples) and Nevada had the highest divorce rate (5.3 divorces per 1,000 married couples) in the year 2014. In the same year, the average divorce rate for 46 states and the District of Columbia was 3.3 per 1,000 married couples, lower compared to 5.0 in 1990.

A divorce is a particularly difficult time for both the separating couple and the people around them, especially their children, family members, and friends. Hire the legal services of our attorneys at Marshall & Taylor PLLC if you are filing for divorce in Raleigh or another area of North Carolina by calling our offices today at 919-833-1040.

In May 2013, Florida resident, Cindy Hausburg, who is now 59, filed for divorce from her husband. After having already been separated for two years, both Hausburg and her former husband expected the process to be rather smooth regarding their friendly platonic relationship. However, over the next two years, Hausburg found herself stripped of almost all of her rights after obtaining a legal guardian, who she believed would simply be helping her manage her finances on her own.

At present, she is struggling to make ends meet to pay for guardian and attorney bills that have amounted to around $125,000.

When someone is in a position where they are declared unable to make their own legal decisions, usually due to some sort of mental impairment, they are sometimes given a court appointed legal guardian. Nonetheless, Hausburg’s case, which began voluntarily and then became involuntary, was highly unusual according to legal experts – including her ex-husband.

Although the guardianship statute is intended to protect those who are incapacitated from being taken advantage of legally, many argue that the system actually makes this more likely. A lot of the secrecy around legal guardianship makes it easy for malicious attorneys or guardians to take advantage of the individual.

Cindy Hausburg lamented, “I was put on the bidding block. They saw my property, and there’s only $163,000 left of my marital assets. They weren’t the least bit interested in me at all.”

Divorce can be complicated and stressful, but the attorneys at Marshall & Taylor PLLC can help you navigate the legal process. Speak with a qualified member of our legal team today by calling our North Carolina offices at 919-833-1040.

Thirty-seven-year-old actress Keshia Knight Pulliam said that she did not expect that her husband of less than one year, 38-year-old former football linebacker Edgerton “Ed” Hartwell II, to file divorce papers that will end their marriage, as she claims that he cheated on her.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Pulliam said, “When he said he wanted our marriage, he wanted our family – I believed him. That’s why I gave him this one last chance, only for him to pull the rug from under me and blindside me.”

The three-page divorce papers, filed during the last week of July in Fulton County Superior Court in Georgia, did not contain much detail, except that “any and all marital assets and debts should be equitably divided between them”.

As a married couple, it is always difficult to come to a decision to go your separate ways, however amicably and pleasantly the decision was arrived at. Because emotions are high, sometimes the people involved in these cases are not always in the best of mind to deal with the legal matters. For more information regarding these issues and about the legal services that we offer, get in touch with our divorce lawyers at Marshall & Taylor PLLC in Raleigh, North Carolina by calling our offices today at 919-833-1040.

75-year-old evolutionary biologist and well-known atheist Richard Dawkins and 65-year-old actress and author Lalla Ward recently announced that they have parted ways and are divorcing. The scientist, who is famous for his best-selling books The God Delusion and The Selfish Gene, and his wife were together for 24 years.

Dawkins and Ward kept quiet about further details regarding their divorce and only said that they wished to have privacy during this trying time, The Sunday Times reported. The couple noted, “Our marriage, like everyone’s, is a private matter, and we are not prepared to share any details. We would, however, like to stress that we shall always be friends, and that we will, of course, continue to work together.” Dawkins met Ward, who is a mainstay in the cult classic science-fiction series Doctor Who, at a party hosted by the late English screenwriter Douglas Adams in 1992.

The family law attorneys  at Marshall & Taylor PLLC handle divorce cases and can help your family deal with separating. We serve clients in Raleigh and other areas of North Carolina. Call our offices today at 919-833-1040 to learn more about our services.

Sixty-two-year-old actor Dennis Quaid and real estate broker Kimberly Buffington-Quaid’s marriage of almost 12 years are coming to an end. Buffington-Quaid filed for divorce last Monday, June 27 in Los Angeles Superior Court in California after 12 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. She is seeking joint legal custody of their eight-year-old twins as well as spousal support.

Quaid started his acting career in the late 1970s and became known for films such as 1983’s “The Right Stuff,” and 2004’s science fiction “The Day After Tomorrow.” The couple, who legally separated last Monday, got married on July 4, 2004.

Our attorneys at Marshall & Taylor PLLC in Raleigh, North Carolina, who specialize in family law, can legally help with family law cases such as alimony, domestic violence and restraining orders, divorce, and divorce mediation and arbitration. Call our offices today at 919-833-1040.

A friend of 30-year-old actress Amber Heard has supported Heard’s claims that 53-year-old actor Johnny Depp was indeed guilty of domestic violence.

According to Heard’s friend, 30-year-old writer, photographer, and gender activist iO Tillett Wright, Heard did not file any reports with the police about Depp’s abuse because Heard wanted to protect Depp’s image and career. Wright added that the abuse reached the point that she and Heard’s closest friends had to convince Heard to do something about it, leading Heard to file for divorce from Depp on Monday, May 23.  Despite the allegations, Depp has several people on his side, including his daughter, 17-year-old Lily-Rose Depp, and his former longtime girlfriend, Vanessa Paradis. Wright still reiterated her position, saying she saw blood on Heard’s pillow, as well as her busted lip and clumps of hair on the floor.

A divorce is an especially emotional time for all parties involved. If you need compassionate, thoughtful, and competent lawyers who will handle your private affairs with discretion and ensure that your legal rights and interests protected, contact an attorney at Marshall & Taylor PLLC in Raleigh by calling our offices at 919-833-1040.