​Domestic violence is far more common than we know. It is a problem that affects people regardless of race, gender, sexuality or socioeconomic status. If you or someone you love is being abused, it is important to come forward to seek help.
 
What is Domestic Violence?
 
Domestic violence is causing, or attempting to cause, bodily injury to the victim. It can also be placing the victim in fear of imminent, serious bodily injury. This may include continued harassment if it causes severe emotional distress.
 
It is important to remember that domestic violence can only occur between people who have a current or former relationship. This includes spouses, household members, parent/ child or boyfriend/ girlfriend.
 
What to do if you are a victim of domestic violence? 
 
Your safety is the biggest priority—get yourself to safety and call 911. If you do not have a safe place, you can seek help at a shelter.
 
From there, you have the option of seeking a restraining order and/ or filing criminal charges. Criminal charges are recommended because the criminal system has some procedures in place that the civil system does not, like probation and violent offender programs. If the abuser is found guilty at trial, then the terms and conditions of his or her sentence depend on various factors including what crimes the abuser has committed against you and prior offenses
 
How does domestic violence effect custody and child support?
 
It is rare for those issues to be handled in the civil domestic violence process of getting a restraining order. Many judges prefer that issues of child support and custody be handled in a separate action. You will need to file a separate complaint seeking custody and child support.
 
What about alimony and property division?
 
The judge in your domestic violence can only deal with these issues on a very limited basis, such as addressing temporary distribution of vehicles and the home. Many judges prefer that these issues be handled in a separate action. You will need to file a separate complaint alimony and equitable division.
 
Domestic violence proceedings can be confusing and time consuming, especially when dealing with other family law issues. Contact Adkins Law today to set up a consultation and decide your next steps. 

In North Carolina, the goal of child support is ensure that the child is receiving the same proportion of their parents’ income as they would if they lived together. This is determined by a formula through the North Carolina Support Guidelines, which are designed to meet the needs of the child while being fair to both parents. The child support order will dictate the amount of money the non- custodial parent must pay.
 
How is the support computed?
 
Calculating child support requires determining the parents’ total gross income and calculating the percentage that each parent contributes to the total. The court may also consider overtime pay, bonuses, self- employment and other biological or adopted children. Step- children are not considered in the calculation.
 
It is important to remember child support has priority over all other financial obligations, and in addition to setting child support, the order may require one or both parents to provide health insurance coverage for the children.
 
How does the process work?
 
The non- custodial parent will be served with a Civil Summons and Complaint. They can respond to the document by filing an answer, providing financial information to the child support office prior to the hearing date and signing a voluntary support order, appearing at a hearing, or getting an attorney who will assist in responding to the Complaint.
 
If the non- custodial parent does not respond to the Compliant, the court may enter a default offer. This means the court takes everything the custodial parent says to be true, and enters an order based on that information.
 
Coming to an agreement between the parties is always preferred, and if both parents are able to find a solution that they can agree on then a court hearing is not required.
 
Contact Adkins Law today to set up a consultation and discuss the best way to move forward in your Child Support case. 

Undeniably, many families in the US experience serious domestic problems that often necessitate legal interventions. Just like other states of the US, North Carolina (NC) too has its unique laws, under the North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS), that govern all the family matters and that are applicable across its respective regions including Mecklenburg County and all the regions within such counties such as Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville in Mecklenburg County. As such, it is crucial for all persons residing within NC, particularly in Mecklenburg County to know the fundamentals of family law in NC likely to affect them such as separation and divorce, alimony, child support, and child custody.

Noteworthy, separation and divorce (NCGS § 50) are two different concepts under North Carolina’s family law statutes. A legal separation does not end one’s marriage. Instead, a legal separation lets the parties remain married but live separately. Marital misconduct may come into play here if a party wants to file an action for a forced legal separation. However, for an action for a forced legal separation (divorce from bed and board) to succeed, the complainant must provide evidence establishing that the spouse was at fault including cruelty, adultery, and indignities, etc. 

Significantly, although one can legally separate at whatever time, the parties must have been physically separated for a minimum period of one (1) year to succeed in a no-fault divorce. As such, one must meet the legal definition of “separation” to file a divorce case. Merely living in different rooms of the same house or living in separate houses but maintaining the appearance of a relationship does not qualify as a legal separation under the state’s law. If the couple reconciles, the separation period terminates. Additionally, another option other than separation exists, though rarely pursued. Here, the law allows a partner to file for divorce after being lawfully separated for three (3) years and believes that the other partner suffers from untreatable lunacy.
​
Alimony, child support, and child custody are also NC family law issues. According to NCGS § 50-16.3A, alimony is the act of paying for the upkeep and maintenance of a partner, either through a lump-sum or on an ongoing basis provided by the supporting spouse to the dependent spouse. In Mecklenburg County, forinstance, the general rule is that a dependent spouse is the one earning less income, though the NCGS contains sixteen factors (NCGS § 50-16.3A) that guide the court in making such a determination. When it comes to child custody in NC, the most common reference usually made is “the best interest of the child.” Here, the judge (not a jury) hears the evidence presented before the court and decides how the parents, either jointly or individually, will share time with the children and make decisions impacting the lives of the children. 

Often, the court appoints joint physical custody of the children to the parents. Sometimes the court will award one parent as having main physical custody while the other having ancillary physical custody accompanied with a visitation schedule. One parent is usually ordered to pay the other parent child support. Such support is usually assessed using the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines, especially if the combined yearly income of the two prior to taxation amounts to $300,00.00 or less (though also dependent on the custodial schedule), and such a support lasts until the child turns 18 years and graduates high school, or the child is lawfully emancipated. If you need to speak with an experienced family law attorney, contact Adkins Law. 

By: Jacqueline Keenan
How was custody established?
      The first step in changing child custody is knowing how it was established. If you and your ex are working off of a separation agreement or something that you decided outside of court, then one person needs to request the change. This should be done in writing, but because it is not a court order, it is up to the other party to decide whether or not they are willing to make a change. If that fails, then it may be time to bring the issue to court and have it put in a court order.
      If custody is determined through a court order, then the decision to make a change to a custody arrangement rests with the judge. The judge will decide if there is a substantial and material change in circumstances, and if so they may modify the order.
Substantial and Material Change
     In determining child custody, the goal of the court is always to look out for the best interest of the child, regardless of what the parents may want. So, when a judge is asked to change an order that has already established what serves the best interest of the child, they will need a very good reason. Because of this, the judge will look at what has changed since the original order was written. If they find a change that is both substantial and material, then they may be persuaded to make a change.
      Substantial and material change can include one parent losing a job or moving out of state. A new marriage or relationship that is having an effect on a child’s life may also be considered.
      Modifying child custody can be a complicated process. If you are interested in making a change to your custody agreement or order, contact Adkins Law to set up a consultation and decide your next steps. 

When a married couple dies, they are able to exempt a certain amount of their estate from taxes. Portability allows the first spouse who dies to transfer their unused estate tax applicable exclusion to the other, living, spouse. This amount can then be used for their gift or estate tax purposes when the second spouse dies. The exemption amount changes every year due to inflation.
The best way to understand this is as follows:
​
Example
Margaret and John are a married couple. When Margaret dies in 2011, the executor of her estate makes the portability election. Assume that Margret’s “deceased spousal unused exclusion” (DSUE) amount is $4 million. In 2013, the basic applicable exclusion amount equals $5.25 million, and John dies. Now the applicable amount available to John’s estate equals $9.25 million because he can add the $4 million that was not used by his spouse to his maximum amount.
This is calculated by adding the surviving spouse’s (John) basic applicable exclusion amount and the aggregate DSUE amount from Margaret.

Why does it matter?
The effect of portability is it potentially doubles the estate tax exemption available to the surviving spouse to use for lifetime gifts or at the second death. Because estates are taxed at such a high rate, preserving portability means that the heirs will ultimately be able to receive more money.
Even if your estate is not very large, preserving portability can protect your assets in the future if the surviving spouse experiences a windfall (like winning the lottery!) and is an option that can and should be explored by everyone, even if it ends up not being the best strategy for your estate.
How to utilize portability?
Portability is not automatic, and it is very important that the executor follow the proper protocol. In order to utilize portability, there are several requirements that must be met:

First, an election must be made by the executor of the estate. If an election is not made, portability is forfeited.

Second, the election must be timely filed on or before nine months after the deceased spouse’s date of death. If more time is needed, an automatic six- month extension of time to file the return can be requested through Form 4768. If the deadline is missed and there is no extension, then the couple will not have the benefit of estate tax portability, and this may result in thousands of dollars of unnecessary and avoidable estate taxes.

Third, a complete and properly prepared Form 706 must be filed.
 
If you are interested in learning more about the portability exception and how it applies to your estate, contact Adkins Law to set up a consult today! 

Happy 4th of July from Adkins Law!

​Contact us today to schedule a consultation!