By Annelisse Velazquez-Fernandez In the complex world of family law, the stakes can be incredibly high, particularly when it comes to the termination of parental rights. The recent unpublished opinion of In Re: B.L.K., decided by Judge Arrowood in Moore County on September 17, 2024, highlights the profound implications of parental involvement — or lack […]
By Elysia Prendergast-Jones and Jay Jerkins Jay Jerkins and I, co-chairs of the Pro Bono section, want to welcome you to a new bar year with new opportunities for pro bono work. Why is pro bono important? The North Carolina State Bar asks each lawyer to commit to providing 50 hours of legal services to […]
By Jennifer Tharrington As your new Chairperson of the Family Law Section, it is my distinct pleasure to unveil an initiative that is close to my heart and crucial to our collective well-being. I am calling it the Family Law Attorney Wellness (FLAW) initiative. In our demanding field, we are often so focused on the […]
By Lori Vitale Coleman Cowan – featured speaker! Attorney Coleman Cowan, former Emmy award-winning 60 Minutes producer, and successful personal injury litigator, also just became a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke University School of Law. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (undergrad) and Wake Forest University School of […]
By Elysia Prendergast-Jones Welcome to the first DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) blog post. Let’s make a splash by supporting our new DEI Committee with as many members as possible. We want to make the Family Law Section supportive of our racial and ethnic groups, specifically African Americans, Black Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Hispanic […]
By Jennifer S. Tharrington Dear Section Members, As you know, I’ve identified a major goal for my chair year as being the establishment of a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) committee within the Family Law Section. I’ve spoken with Ebony Bryant, who is the director of DEI for the NCBA, and she is excited to […]
By Jennifer S. Tharrington Dear Family Law Section Members, First and most importantly, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Family Law Section for the 2024-2025 bar year. I’m honored to be entrusted with this important work. This year, I’m looking forward to continuing down the roads that so […]
By Chelsea E. Gajewski Are you attending the Annual Family Law CLE this year in Asheville? Are you looking for something fun to do that Friday night? Are you interested in meeting other family law attorneys? Do you enjoy good conversation, laughs, and delicious food? Are you curious about who Jonathan McGirt really is? Well, […]
By Kris Hilscher A common challenge attorneys face in a military divorce is how the Frozen Benefit Rule (FBR) will affect pension division.[1] To avoid a call to the malpractice carrier, attorneys must understand the FBR, and when it does – and does not – apply to their case. The Frozen Benefit Rule: Is Your […]
By Elysia Prendergast-Jones How are you giving thanks? I recently attended the lunch that honored the 2023 Branch Professional Award winner, Brian Beverly. His speech was so inspiring, particularly when he spoke about the importance of pro bono service. He mentioned how pro bono does more for the person doing than receiving. Nothing is truer. […]