Beaufort Estate Planning News

signing prenuptial agreement

Prenuptial And Postnuptial Agreements In North Carolina

May 18, 2023

Are you considering tying the knot or looking to safeguard your financial future in your existing marriage? If you’re in North Carolina, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements can provide the peace of mind and financial clarity you need. These legal tools help couples navigate the often complex financial aspects of their relationships by outlining the division…

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signing paperwork

Five Reasons Having A Will & Estate Plan Are Important

April 27, 2023

Having a well-drafted will is of utmost importance in North Carolina to ensure that your estate is administered according to your wishes upon your passing. A will serves as a legally binding document that can outline the distribution of your assets, appoint a guardian for your minor children, and name an executor to oversee the…

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Bradley Schulz Honored With NCBA Citizen Lawyer Award

April 14, 2023

We are proud to announce that Bradley Schulz of Schulz Stephenson Law has been awarded the Citizen Lawyer Award by the North Carolina Bar Association. The Citizen Lawyer Award was established to recognize and thank lawyers who, in addition to their legal work, exemplify the ideals of a citizen lawyer by volunteering their time for…

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divorce paper and rings on table

What to Expect in a North Carolina Divorce

March 17, 2023

The fabled seven-year itch is a real thing. That’s roughly the average length of a marriage that ends in divorce. Over these years, these couples usually forge significant emotional and financial bonds. Breaking these bonds is never easy and is often quite tricky. That’s especially true if, as is typically the case, the couple has…

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prenup papers

Making and Breaking Prenuptial Agreements

February 16, 2023

Many people think prenups are only for super-rich individuals who have substantial nonmarital property assets to protect and anticipate a divorce. These things might have been true once upon a time, but not anymore. North Carolina lawmakers recently approved the Uniform Premarital and Marital Agreements Act. The UPMAA replaced the web of laws and judicial…

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dividing money

Top Five Property Division Factors in North Carolina

January 19, 2023

The Tarheel State, like most other jurisdictions, is an equitable division state. NCGS 50-20 basically means two things. First, upon divorce, marital property, including debts and assets, must be divided equitably (fairly). So, “equitable” is usually, but not necessarily, the same as “equal.” This principle becomes clearer in light of the second one. A divorce…

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parents fighting, child watching

What You Should Know About Domestic Violence and Protective Orders

December 21, 2022

Many domesticviiolence statistics are self-reported, so their reliability is something of a question mark. This one is absolutely verifiable and also absolutely chilling. Nearly half of all female homicide victims are killed by a current or former male intimate partner. So, no matter which way you color it, domestic violence is a serious problem in…

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couple sitting with wedding rings on table

What are the Requirements for Divorce in North Carolina?

November 18, 2022

The overall divorce rate has leveled off in recent years, mostly because the marriage rate has declined as well. However, divorce’s moral acceptability rate recently hit an all-time high. So, family courts in Carteret County hear about as many divorces now as they did back in the day. Many states have streamlined their divorce procedures.…

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child support spelled out with blocks

Child Support Enforcement: A Closer Look

October 20, 2022

Most child support obligees depend heavily on these payments to make their bills. Yet less than half of custodial parents receive their full monthly child support allotments. So, in most cases, child support enforcement is part of post-divorce life. Frequently, enforcement actions are part of modification actions. Sometimes, enforcement actions are standalone proceedings. Technically, the…

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judge at desk

Top 5 Child Custody Factors in North Carolina

September 15, 2022

Overall, child custody and parenting time orders must be in the best interests of the child. Most good parents agree with that general principle. However, most good parents disagree on specific points. To help translate this rather obscure principle into everyday language, North Carolina law sets forth a number of factors in this area. Some…

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