Ranking Legal Processes by Cost

The television show “20/20” is planning a story about couples that are staying together only because they cannot afford to get divorced.  (They are actually looking for couples to share their stories on the topic if you are interested).  There...

When Should You File a Lawsuit?

  I spend a lot of time telling people why they should not go to court in this blog.  That is because in most cases, going to court serves no one’s best interests.  However, sometimes going to court is the best way to deal with an issue. ...

How to Avoid the Long Goodbye

Most of my clients are shocked to learn how long it can take to have their case heard in court.  Right now it can take four months or more to get into court on a short motion in Wake County family court.  Many clients assume that it will take a week or...

Want to Save Money on Legal Fees? Negotiate Early.

This is a very common scenario in family law cases: The parties enter litigation when someone files a lawsuit. The lawsuit begins an endless stream of legal pleadings, court appearances, document preparation, depositions and all of the other parts of litigation that...