Domestic violence has been labeled as an “epidemic” in our country. Statistics show that one in every three women and one in four men in the United States will experience some form of domestic violence at the hands of their intimate partner. Just as domestic violence can affect heterosexual relationships, it can affect LGBTQ+ relationships as well. North Carolina provides two avenues for individuals to seek relief from their abuser: N.C.G.S. § 50B and N.C.G.S…. Read More
Ward Family Law Group is pleased to announce that Attorney Ryan M. Tarrant has been selected for inclusion in the 2021 North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars List. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented annual selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. No more than 2.5 percent of the State’s… Read More
Ward Family Law Group is pleased to announce that Dale V. Stephenson has been selected for inclusion in Business North Carolina Magazine’s Legal Elite for 2021 in the categories of Family Law and Young Guns. For two decades, Business North Carolina asks all active members of the North Carolina Bar one simple question: Of the Tar Heel lawyers whose work you have observed firsthand, whom would you rate among the current best in selective categories? There… Read More
We are honored to be recognized by Wake Living Magazine as BEST FAMILY LAW FIRM in their 2020 Reader’s Choice Awards. Thank you!
Mediation is a way to resolve family law disputes where a neutral third party, the mediator, assists parties in trying to reach an agreement. The mediator does not advocate for either party or make any decisions. The decision-making authority is left to the parties. The mediator’s job is to help parties work out their own agreements by exploring the parties’ needs and interests and by helping them formulate specific solutions to resolve the disputed issues…. Read More
Practically every aspect of our world has been drastically altered by the protections (and limitations) enacted to combat the spread of COVID-19. Our court system is no different. On March 13, 2020, Chief Justice Beasley of the Supreme Court of North Carolina issued an emergency order declaring the North Carolina courts “on hold” for a majority of matters. Over the course of the last few months, these directives have been extended in a number of… Read More
Beginning June 1, 2020, we will accommodate in-person meetings as clients and lawyers may agree, with certain limitations and cautions in place. We will continue to utilize and encourage phone calls and Zoom videoconferencing for most communications, but we will allow in-person meetings if there is a specific need to meet with your attorney in the office, and you and your attorney agree to an in-person meeting. We will continue to practice safety methods such… Read More
The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) changed Family Law. While there was a lot of hype over the TCJA after it was first passed in December of 2017, for most people, the real effect of the tax law changes will be felt with the filing of their 2018 tax return. This is the first of a series of blogs on the new tax law changes affecting the family law world. Bye,… Read More
The stress and grief of a divorce ranks only second to the death of a loved one. Divorce not only affects the divorcing spouses, but it has a life-altering effect on their children. Children depend on their parents for love, support and guidance, and stability, and they can experience feelings of confusion, abandonment and anxiety when their parents separate. Estimates suggest that between 1 and 1.5 million children experience the divorce of their parents each… Read More
The domestic case—whether it’s custody, divorce issues, or domestic violence—is often the first time a party will consult with an attorney. It can be a time marked by confusion, anger, frustration, fear and uncertainty. The following is an article entitled TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES: WHY HONESTY IN THE BEST POLICY WHEN DEALING WITH YOUR LAWYER by Katie McClaflin published in the Family Advocate, a publication of the American Bar Association, Family Law Section. At Ward Family… Read More
