November Family Law Section Update

Ketan, a man with black hair, wears a white shirt and black jacket. The photo is in black and white.By Ketan Soni

I’m thankful that I’m still your chair. You are probably thankful that Jill Jackson will be your next chair. Please don’t impeach me. We just had a Council meeting on November 17.

Here’s an update on my goals.

1. Succession Plan: It’s going to get done by December 31, 2022. So far, zero progress. I only get to fail on December 31, 2022, if I still haven’t done it.

2. Financial Affidavits: We can’t stop winning. We have broken down how to update the financial affidavits by delving into 6 buckets:

  • “Form” of the Financial Affidavit
  • “Income” section of the Financial Affidavit
  • “Fixed” or “Shared Family” section
  • “Individual Monthly” expenses
  • Depicting Standard of Living v. Current Standard
  • User Experience. “User” means our clients, the judges, and ourselves.

We have over 20 people working on this across the state: large counties, small counties, paralegals, attorneys, and more!

3. To streamline Council meetings. It’s an 80/20 on this one now. We’ve made progress. Our last meeting was only 1.5 hours.

Below Is A Section Status Update Since November

Adoption

Brinton still has to get the committee together to “eat sandwiches for lunch, and have cookies for dessert” as promised. Otherwise, nothing new, except the legislative proposals that were submitted to the LAC are now moving on to the NCBA Executive Committee.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Be on the lookout for a survey. Also, Wade Harrison (yes, that guy I aspire to be) is working on updates to Rule 53: Referees.

Child Support

Updated Child Support Guidelines effects January 1, 2023, are out. Let me know if you ignored my previous email distributing this information.

CLE

Blowing it out of the water via Amy Britt. Next event: Annual meeting in Charleston in April 2023. Now this happens to coincide with some lady named “Taylor Swift” doing a show in Atlanta. However, one can still take a flight from Charleston to Atlanta, on the cheap, and do both events.

Equitable Distribution

Whit Clanton’s committee continues to fight the good fight to disallow waiver of Equitable Distribution rights in a deed. Also, the legislative proposal submitted to the Real Property Section is moving on to the NCBA Executive Committee.

Family Law Bench Book

I have finished the tax chapter. The other people have (I think) finished their chapters. This thing is getting published – hopefully in February 2023!

Modern Family

Jennifer Tharrington promises we are on track to get a finished product to review by January. How? Through joint efforts with Maren Funk, Stephanie Gibbs, Paula Kohut, Jeff Williams-Tracy, and a bunch of other people. I’m not purposefully leaving volunteers out of this mix. I just can’t keep track of everyone!

Social

Christy Kaliner and Emily Jeske are like Zuckerberg, planning the following socials:

  • Joint social with Military & Veterans section on November 16 (McGirt was basically the only family lawyer☹)
  • Greensboro on January 12
  • Charleston on April 28 for the annual meeting.

Generally:

In conclusion: I’m no longer completely failing. Hope to see you all soon in person!

Ketan Soni is the 2022-23 Chair of the Family Law Section. 

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