The Lake Norman Brief
Family Law
Plain-English guides to North Carolina family law, including custody, divorce, child support, alimony, property division and protective orders, written by attorney Christopher Adkins.
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North Carolina Alimony: Actual Income, Financial Need, and Business Ownership
North Carolina alimony is not determined by a universal percentage or a fixed fraction of the marriage’s length. The court considers entitlement,…
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Valuing Property in a North Carolina Divorce: Houses, Accounts, Businesses, and Cryptocurrency
A useful property value needs a date and a legal purpose. North Carolina equitable distribution requires classification, valuation, and distribution; treating those…
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Preparing Evidence for a North Carolina Custody Hearing: What Recent Appeals Teach
A custody case needs evidence connected to the child’s welfare and a fair opportunity to present and challenge it. Recent decisions illustrate…
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Planning a Move With a Child in North Carolina: A Relocation Evidence Guide
A relocation proposal should explain what the move means for the child’s daily life and relationships. A job offer or larger home…
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North Carolina Child Support Worksheets A, B, and C: Overnight Counts and Common Mistakes
The words joint custody do not determine the child-support worksheet. North Carolina’s guidelines distinguish primary, shared, and split physical custody using the…
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Changing Child Support in North Carolina: Three Years, Fifteen Percent, and Arrears
Changed income or parenting arrangements can justify reviewing support, but they do not automatically change an order. Separate the basis for modification,…
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Self-Employment and Child Support in North Carolina: Reading Beyond the Tax Return
Taxable business income and income available for support may differ. North Carolina’s guidelines call for careful review of receipts, necessary expenses, and…
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North Carolina’s 2027 Child Support Guidelines: What Changes January 1
North Carolina adopted revised child-support guidelines effective January 1, 2027, for actions heard on or after that date. As of October 20,…
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The Financial Records to Gather When Separating in North Carolina
A clear financial record helps separate immediate household decisions from property division and support analysis. Build a dated, explainable picture of assets,…
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Before Your North Carolina Divorce Becomes Final: Protecting Property and Alimony Claims
An absolute divorce ends a marriage. It does not automatically divide the house, allocate retirement benefits, or award alimony. Before entry of…