Your spouse of 25 years just completely shocked you by asking for a divorce. You are stunned and don’t understand what is happening. The two of you have been together since your freshman year of college and divorce was never on your radar. As you sit there in...
Kennedy Law Associates’ Blog
Should I get a prenup if I have a dog?
If you have a dog and are going to get married, one of your questions may be if you should put together a prenuptial agreement to make sure you keep your dog if you get a divorce. As a pet parent, a prenuptial agreement is actually a very good choice if you’d like to...
Can your ex lay claim to your retirement account in a divorce?
Aggressively saving for retirement is important, as the money you set aside while you work will later help ensure your standard of living after your retirement. You may have spent decades taking a portion of your weekly paycheck and setting it aside to support...
Why do divorced parents go on summer vacation together?
This is your first summer as divorced co-parents, and you know it's going to be a bit different for the children. They're used to going on summer vacation trips, and you used to do it as a family. Now that you've gotten divorced, you're not sure exactly what that's...
Should you ask for a postnuptial agreement if you don’t have a prenup?
Prenuptial agreements used to be regarded pretty negatively, but they’ve become increasingly accepted and downright common – except you didn’t get one. Maybe you were married before social attitudes about prenups started changing or maybe you simply felt too...
What is the dissipation of marital assets?
As you move toward divorce, you have probably heard about individuals who will attempt to hide assets from their spouses. You may already be worrying that your spouse could try to do this in order to keep those assets from you. Some ways people do this include giving...
How to support paternal involvement in kids’ lives
After a divorce or breakup, the noncustodial parent often experiences a decline in quality time spent with their child. It can be unintentional as the collateral damage that results from relationships going bust. Sometimes, it can be intentional, suchas when the...
What happens to your pet during a divorce?
In some states, it’s normal to set up pet custody if you get a divorce. Is that how things work in North Carolina? Unfortunately, no. If you get divorced, your pet will be subject to division as if it is any other kind of property. You won’t be able to fight for...
What will a divorce mean for your retirement plans?
You may have started saving for retirement before you even got married, and then you combined those savings with your spouse's. The two of you may have planned to travel together or move to a specific retirement community later in life. Your retirement plans involved...
Don’t forget about mental health when making advance directives
Have you ever heard the terms advance medical directives or advance health care directives? These two estate planning terms mean the same thing—they allow you to make plans for your future medical care needs. If you become incapacitated or cannot speak your wishes...