North Carolina legal guides for the decisions that matter.
Practical explanations from a Huntersville law firm serving families, employees, businesses, drivers, and neighbors across Lake Norman. Search the full library, choose a topic, or begin with a featured guide.
Start with the issue in front of you.
Each path connects legal articles with the related Adkins Law practice-area guide.
Divorce & Family LawDivorce, alimony, agreements, property division, and protective orders.Find family-law guides →
Custody & Child SupportParenting schedules, decision-making, support, relocation, and enforcement.Find custody guides →
DWI & TrafficSpeeding tickets, license consequences, testing, evidence, and DWI defense.Find driving guides →
Employment LawDiscrimination, retaliation, wages, leave, investigations, Garrity, and the EEOC.Find workplace guides →
Estate PlanningWills, trusts, powers of attorney, health-care directives, and legacy planning.Find planning guides →
Civil Matters & Local LifeContracts, defamation, civil disputes, mediation, and the Lake Norman community.Find civil guides →
Clear starting points for common questions.
Open any card to read the complete article, then follow the related links for deeper guidance.
CHILD CUSTODYWho decides where a child goes to school?School choice, joint legal custody, and resolving parental disagreement.Read the guide 
PARENTINGHow joint legal custody decisions are madeSchool, medical care, therapy, activities, and other major decisions.Read the guide 
SEPARATIONCan a separation agreement be changed?Understand modification, enforcement, consent, and court-order distinctions.Read the guide 
PROTECTIVE ORDERSWhat a court must find in a DVPO caseA practical case-law guide to evidence, findings, and protective orders.Read the guide 
PROPERTY DIVISIONStipulations and equitable distributionHow agreements and trial positions can shape a North Carolina property case.Read the guide 
CHILD SUPPORTSelf-employment income and child supportDepreciation, business income, documentation, and support calculations.Read the guide 
ALIMONYAlimony overpayments and reimbursementWhat a recent appellate decision teaches about payments and remedies.Read the guide 
CIVIL LAWDefamation in North CarolinaA broad overview of reputational harm, defenses, and civil claims.Read the guide
Choose a category, then go directly to the answer.
These subject boxes collect useful starting points from the Adkins Law archive. Open an article now, view every result in that topic, or continue to the complete chronological archive below.
Divorce & Separation
Agreements, property division, complex assets, and practical steps before and after separation.
Custody & Parenting
Decision-making, parenting schedules, school issues, modification, and third-party custody questions.
Support & Alimony
Income, self-employment, enforcement, contempt, overpayments, and changing financial circumstances.
DWI & Traffic
Stops, checkpoints, breath and blood testing, license consequences, speeding tickets, and defense.
Employment & Public Servants
Discrimination, retaliation, pay, leave, internal investigations, EEOC charges, and employee rights.
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Wills, powers of attorney, health-care directives, trusts, beneficiaries, and practical legacy planning.
Civil Litigation
Contracts, reputation, property disputes, statutory protections, and resolution through litigation or mediation.
Huntersville & Lake Norman
Local history, community change, and legal issues affecting the place Adkins Law calls home.
Continue your research at LKN Law.
Read additional North Carolina legal analysis, practical planning articles, and Lake Norman-focused guidance from our companion legal blog.
Browse every Legal Guide.
The newest resources appear first. Use the search above to find a specific issue, or move through the archive to reach all 499 published articles.
What is a Special Needs Trust?
A special needs trust supplements any benefits the person with special needs may receive from the government without risking their eligibility for government assistance.People who have special needs often receive assistance from the government in the form of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. These forms of government assistance are typically only available to individuals ...
Family Law Tip of the Day: What Do I Need to Do to Get Divorced?
You have to file a complaint (lawsuit) asking for a divorce. You cannot file a divorce complaint until after you and you spouse have been separated for one year. You have to serve your spouse with the complaint. Service is usually accomplished by certified mail or Sheriff. Then you will need a hearing in front ...
How can I get more parenting time with my child?
There are a multitude of things that one can do in order to maximize their chances of having more custody over their child/children. Documentation is key. The best thing you can do in this scenario is to document everything that takes place between you, your child/children, and the other parent.When discussing child custody, the first ...
What is the difference between Assault and Battery?
Assault and battery are intentional torts that are often used interchangeably as if they are one single course of action. While it is true that assault and battery often occur together, they are two different torts with their own common law requirements.AssaultAn assault occurs when there is a willful attempt or willful threat made by ...
What is a No Fault Divorce?
North Carolina is actually both, a No Fault and an At Fault state for divorce. Depending on the circumstances you are facing at the time, you may file for either. Each of these types of divorces, however, has essential legal requirements. In order to find out which type of divorce best suits your needs, it ...
Family Law Tip of the Day: How Long Does it Take to Get Divorced?
How Long Does the Divorce Process Take? The length of the process varies based on how long it takes to get service of your spouse and how soon the clerk schedules the divorce hearing. Generally, it should take approximately 60 days after the complaint is filed.
