The laws of North Carolina are specifically structured to encourage parties involved in family-related matters, such as divorce, child custody, child support, postseparation support, alimony, and equitable distribution, to settle their legal issues outside of court.
Read MoreThis year, in lieu of the annual Patton Parker House July 4th Freedom Gala, Siemens Family Law Group, Chop Shop Butchery, Downtown Asheville Racing Club, the Charlotte Street Business Association and others teamed up to bring Asheville socially distanced barbecue with a cause.
Read MoreWe are optimistic that more issues will begin to be addressed in court again starting in June, but those court sessions will look different than what we are accustomed to, and many issues may be addressed online through teleconference rather than in the courtroom.
Read MoreThe Court of Appeals published its opinion earlier this year on a case Jim Siemens argued before the Court in Raleigh in October. Jim was successful in defending the visitation arrangement in a custody modification order entered in Buncombe County.
Read MoreWhen preparing for a hearing or trial in family court, knowing what to expect and being familiar with the court process can make your day in court less stressful. We are here to guide you through that process.
Read MoreNorth Carolina’s Family Court Advisory Commission released a helpful resource providing general guidance to parents with existing child custody and/or visitation orders in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MoreWe are here to do our part when you are faced with challenges in your life related to separation and divorce. COVID-19 doesn’t change our mission of justice through zealous advocacy. You can have our best advice, consultation and services from the safety of your home.
Read MoreEvery case is different, and we are here to talk to you about the facts and circumstances of your case, and creative ways to deal with child custody disputes during a pandemic. While not a substitute for our legal advice, here are a few articles we have found interesting and potentially helpful.
Read MoreDue to Buncombe County’s Stay Home, Stay Safe declaration, we are conducting all business remotely beginning March 26th. Please know that we will otherwise continue to conduct business as usual and will remain available to you by email, phone and video conference during normal business hours.
Read MoreSiemens Family Law Group Clients and Friends: We want you to know that we intend to continue to conduct business as usual during this crisis using the best practices known to us, and in a way which will keep you, our staff, and our community safe.
Read MoreJim was first recognized by Super Lawyers in 2012 and is included again in North Carolina’s Family Law category. Jim is a family law specialist and family financial mediator with twenty-five years of trial experience, including over a decade as a family law specialist.
Read MoreSiemens Family Law Group is excited to welcome Ellen Rose to the Firm! Ellen is a family law attorney and certified family financial mediator with a special interest in custody cases, mediation, and collaborative law. Ellen brings over 20 years of experience in family law to her practice.
Read MoreA recent article from The New York Times about astronaut Anne McClain’s divorce and custody dispute notes that sorting out legal questions, such as how to handle discovery requests involving NASA and extraterrestrial communications, will become inevitable as people spend more time in outer space.
Read MoreResearch finds that splitting up after age 50 can be far more damaging to emotional and financial health than divorcing at younger ages. Distribution of assets and allocation of support in a divorce settlement can have a major impact on your long-term future.
Read MoreMoney-related issues frequently cited as reasons for divorce, including mismatched financial priorities, credit card debt, impulse purchases, financial infidelity, and loss of financial control, are often factors in how final divorce settlements are negotiated or determined in court.
Read MoreBray Creech, a local financial planner with Joel Adams and Associates, recently wrote an article I enjoyed in the Asheville Citizen Times about divorce and Social Security benefits, specifically the potential advantages of receiving benefits based on an ex-spouse’s earnings record.
Read MoreWhat does it mean to be an “effective” lawyer? I’ve had 25 years in the practice to study the question. For me, today, being effective means providing zealous legal representation, which is a lawyer’s mandate.
Read MoreJudges evaluate marital standard of living to determine whether the alimony or child support a party is seeking is reasonable and necessary. The expenses incurred by a dependent spouse seeking support should correlate with expenses incurred during the marriage for similar purposes.
Read MoreThe assets and debts you receive through the equitable distribution process can lay the foundation for your post-divorce lifestyle and future financial security. There are many factors a judge in North Carolina may consider when distributing a marital estate between parties.
Read MoreOne of my goals for 2019 is to sharpen my focus on complex equitable distribution cases. The identification, classification, valuation and distribution of assets in equitable distribution is a sequential process that I enjoy and understand.
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