The North Carolina Court of Appeals released several family law opinions on April 15, 2026, including a published equitable distribution decision and multiple unpublished opinions addressing recurring issues in classification, valuation, and procedural compliance.
The North Carolina Court of Appeals issued two family law decisions on March 18, 2026—one published and one unpublished—addressing equitable distribution and alimony.
This legal guide from Siemens Family Law Group explains how North Carolina law applies to child custody and support, spousal support and alimony, and equitable distribution of marital assets during a high-income divorce.
The North Carolina Court of Appeals clarifies that non‑economic marital misconduct cannot justify an unequal equitable distribution in Wheeler v. Wheeler, a new published decision affecting divorce cases across North Carolina.
The 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.
One 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.
North Carolina uses a concept known as “equitable distribution” to divide property between divorcing spouses. There are four types of property that must be identified and classified as part of the equitable distribution process: marital property, separate property, mixed property and divisible property.
The NC Court of Appeals published its opinion this week on a case Jim argued before a special session of the Court in October. Jim was successful in defending equitable distribution, alimony and child support orders entered in Buncombe County last year.
Jim Siemens traveled last week to the mountain town of Sparta, North Carolina to present an oral argument before the Court of Appeals. The argument was part of a special session celebrating the 50th anniversary of the NC Court of Appeals, holding a session of court in a hometown or county with a special connection for each judge.
