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I got you something while you were away
If “World’s Greatest Husband” were a formal competition, one man in Mecklenburg County could be safely removed from the running after he got a divorce judgment on the sly and then tried to keep it in his back pocket in case it ever came in handy. Wenbin Chen and Yaling Zou separated in September 2011, […]
Civil Practice – Rule 60 Motion – Service by Publication – Domestic Relations – Divorce – Void Judgment
Chen v. Zou (Lawyers Weekly No. 15-07-1047, 10 pp.) (Chris Dillon, J.) Appealed from Mecklenburg County District Court (David Strickland, J.) N.C. App. Holding: Since the plaintiff-husband knew the defendant-wife was in New York City, service of process by publication in Mecklenburg County was ineffective, and the divorce judgment subsequently obtained by the husband was […]
#divorceselfie a portrait of modern parting
The comedian Louis C.K. likes to say that a divorce, paradoxically, is always good news—it frees the participants to move on to something happier, and you never hear anyone complain that their divorce is falling apart. On social media, some couples have taken that attitude to heart and may be kicking off the next evolution […]
Blended families add complexity to estate planning
BALTIMORE, MD – Estate-planning attorneys have taken on increased importance with the rise in blended families over the past generation. Forty percent of marriages are remarriages and, since 1980, the number of people who have married multiple times has nearly doubled, according to the Pew Research Center. This has created more families with children and […]
Married to student loan debt
The word ‘crisis’ has become ubiquitous in news stories about unpaid student loans, which now total an estimated $1.2 trillion. But the North Carolina Court of Appeals has introduced a new term into the student loan lexicon: marital debt.
Digital evidence a hot potato in domestic cases
Divorce lawyers, beware. Tech-savvy clients may be arriving at your office bringing a host of ethical—and even criminal—problems wrapped up with their domestic cases. They may be using cell phone software to illegally gather information, or they themselves may be victims of unlawful snooping. The spyware that sneaky spouses once used to keep tabs on […]
Domestic Relations — Civil Practice – Interlocutory Appeals – Divorce – Rule 60(b) Order – Equitable Distribution
Campbell v. Campbell (Lawyers Weekly No. 14-07-0977, 12 pp.) (Richard Dietz, J.) Appealed from Forsyth County District Court (William Reingold, J.) N.C. App. Holding: Plaintiff appeals from the trial court’s order setting aside a judgment of absolute divorce and allowing defendant to file his counterclaim for equitable distribution. The trial court’s order is interlocutory and […]
Divorce ‘documentary’ shows little to no reality
MILWAUKEE — Now that we’re in the thick of winter and as Oscar season approaches, thoughts turn to spending some time at the warm local cinema for diversion. But a film I won’t be seeing anytime soon is a new documentary “Divorce Corp.,” billed as an “expose” of the divorce “industry.” According to its marketing […]
As economy rebounds, so does divorce
In 2009, family law practitioners were worried. The phones were quiet and new clients were walking through the door with less frequency. The Great Recession was so bad, couples were actually waiting to divorce. With 401(k) plans and stocks low and some houses so underwater they were basically upside down, even the most incompatible couples could not afford to establish two separate households.
Tax questions, property values dog ‘abominable appeal’
One popular vehicle for dodging taxes may come back to haunt couples if they ever get divorced, the North Carolina Court of Appeals has ruled. Charles and Dawn Hill married in 1996 and separated in 2009, leading to a protracted dispute over how to split up their assets. In 2001, they incorporated a company called Speaking Of, Inc. through which Dawn worked as a speech pathologist, and were its onl[...]
Husband wins $1.4M after wife has affair with employer
Dating a “Bond Chick” can be expensive, especially if she’s married. Bail bondsman David B. Mayfield is on the hook for close to $1.4 million after a Carteret County judge awarded his girlfriend’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Gregory Alan Szczepaniak, damages on claims of alienation of affection and criminal conversation.
Sex, lies, videotape … and a foot fetish
The sordid divorce case of Rowan County couple Curtis and Alice Buck makes “The War of the Roses” look like G-rated child’s play. Their story features criminal allegations, a hidden video camera, pornography, foot fetishism and was recently capped off with a six-figure damages award.
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Commentary
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