LET'S TALK! (704) 827-3941
TEXT US! (704) 800-6454
office@shws.law
Real Estate & Title:
realestate@shws.law

Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil, PLLC

  • Our Team
    • Civil Litigation Team
    • Estate Planning & Administration Team
    • Guardianships & Special Proceedings Team
    • Real Estate Team
    • Commercial Real Estate & Municipal Law Team
    • Family Law Team
    • In Memorium
  • Practice Areas
    • Civil Litigation
    • Estate Planning & Administration
    • Family Law
    • Guardianships & Special Proceedings
    • Property Partitions
    • Real Estate
    • Surplus Funds
  • Blog
  • LGBT
  • Video
  • Resources
    • Attorney Resources
    • A Beginner’s Guide to the Most Useful Estate Planning Tools
    • The Divorce Process and Essential Documents Checklist
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Power of Attorney Misuse and Fraud
Real Estate Earnest Money and Wires

How Is Property Divided in a North Carolina Divorce?

October 12, 2026
Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil

In this blog: North Carolina generally presumes an equal division of marital and divisible property is equitable, although courts may consider factors supporting a different result.High-asset divorces may involve closely held businesses, investment accounts, real estate, retirement assets, deferred compensation, and substantial debt.Classification and valuation can have a major influence on which assets are Read More

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: Equitable Distribution, Divorce, Property Division, Marital Assets

What to Know Before You Pursue Divorce in North Carolina

October 5, 2026
Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil

In this blog: North Carolina spouses generally must live in separate residences for at least one year and one day before pursuing an absolute divorce.Property division and alimony claims generally must be asserted before the divorce becomes final or those rights may be lost.Custody and child support may be addressed separately from the divorce itself.Reviewing finances, parenting concerns, and long-term Read More

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: Divorce, Property Division, Separation, Alimony

CAN YOU FORCE A SPOUSE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE IF YOU WANT TO SEPARATE?

February 3, 2026
Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil

In North Carolina, you cannot unilaterally force a spouse to leave the marital home, even if you own it solely, without a court order or a signed Separation Agreement.  The reason for this is because both spouses have an equal right to remain in the home until a judge orders one spouse to move out or if there is a signed Separation Agreement in place, which requires the consent of both parties, and a spouse Read More

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: Marital Home, Property Rights, Divorce, Separation

Are People Getting Married Less or Obtaining Pre-Nuptial Agreements More? 

December 1, 2025
Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil

Here are 5 reasons why you need a Pre-Nuptial Agreement in today’s society:We know the grim statistics: Almost 50% of all first marriages end in divorce and in 2025, second marriage divorce rates are around 60%. Marriage is still a commitment that people want to engage in both culturally and sometimes for religious reasons. Many couples are prioritizing commitment and long-term partnerships, with marriage being one Read More

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: Property Division, Prenuptial Agreements, Marriage

5 Things You Should Know if You Are a Grandparent Seeking Visitation and/or Custody of a Minor Child in North Carolina: 

July 1, 2025
Joy M. Chappell

Grandparents have limited rights to seek visitation or custody of their grandchildren  in North Carolina, and timing is critical when a grandparent is seeking visitation after  the divorce or separation of the biological parents of the minor children.  Grandparents can seek visitation of their grandchildren when the children’s parents are divorcing or separating and have an open lawsuit for child custody Read More

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: Grandparents' Rights, Child Custody, Visitation

5 tips to help you win your child custody case

March 3, 2025
Joy M. Chappell

Hire an effective lawyer:Hiring an experienced lawyer will help take the pressure off of you and allow you to focus on your child. Navigating through the court system is difficult and an experienced lawyer can guide you through each step with confidence and ease. Keep your personal life off of social media:Keep in mind that anything you post on social media will come back to bite you in a court of law. It is never Read More

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: Child Custody, Parenting Plans, Custody Disputes

NEW YEAR – NEW START!

February 5, 2024
Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil

ARE JANUARY AND FEBRUARY THE MOST POPULAR DIVORCE MONTHS? Family lawyers tend to refer to January and February as the “National divorce months” due to the high number of people filing for divorce after the new year. Why is this and is there any truth to this assumption? Statistically, family law firms have reported increased divorce filings in the months of January and February as compared to the other months of the Read More

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: Divorce, Separation, Divorce Planning

5 tips to deal with stressful divorce situations during the holidays

November 30, 2023
Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil

The holidays can be stressful and trigger sad feelings, especially when you are going through a divorce. The holidays tend to remind people of the good times or how different your life is now. Here are 5 tips to help you cope with divorce and separation during the holidays:Recognize your emotions and honor them. Keep lines of communication open to family, friends and your therapist, and stay busy so you do not bear Read More

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: Separation, Holiday Parenting, Divorce

Alimony and Spousal Support in Divorce

October 2, 2023
Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil

What is alimony? Alimony in North Carolina is an order for payment for the support and maintenance of a spouse or former spouse, periodically or in a lump sum amount for a specified or indefinite term, ordered in an action for divorce or an action for alimony without divorce. N.C. Gen. Stat. §50-16.1A(1). Alimony is not automatically awarded in divorce proceedings.  The court must first determine that one spouse is Read More

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: Divorce, Alimony, Spousal Support

Important tips to consider when going through a child custody dispute

July 1, 2023
Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil

First, it is important to know your options in a custody case. The parents of shared children have the ability to negotiate and compromise to determine the best physical custody arrangement for their children. If the parents reach an agreement regarding child custody, a qualified family law attorney can draft a parenting agreement outlining the details of the child custody arrangement. If an agreement cannot be Read More

Filed Under: Family Law Tagged With: Divorce, Child Custody, Custody Disputes

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Search

Categories

  • Guardianships
  • Estate Planning
  • Property Disputes & Partitions
  • Estate Administration & Probate
  • Attorney Resources
  • Family Law
  • Real Estate Law
  • Civil Litigation
  • Special Needs Planning
  • Uncategorized
  • Firm News & Updates

Contact Information

Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil, PLLC 
Gastonia Office
401 E. Franklin Blvd.
Gastonia, NC 28054
Mount Holly Office
124 W. Catawba Ave.
Mount Holly, NC 28120
Phone: (704) 827-3941
Text: (704) 800-6454
Fax: 704-827-0644
Email: office@shws.law
Real Estate & Title: realestate@shws.law

Social Media

Free Resource

The Divorce Process and Essential Documents Checklist

Download

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Stay informed with the latest legal tips and updates that matter to you! Subscribe to our newsletter and let us keep you in the know.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent Posts

  • Stepparent Adoption in North Carolina: Making Your Family Official
  • What Is the Difference Between Legal and Physical Custody in North Carolina?
  • How Is Property Divided in a North Carolina Divorce?

(704) 827-3941

(704) 800-6454

704-827-0644

office@shws.law Real Estate & Title: realestate@shws.law
Gastonia Office 401 E. Franklin Blvd. Gastonia, NC 28054
Mount Holly Office 124 W. Catawba Ave. Mount Holly, NC 28120
Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM

Reach Out
to Our Law Firm

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • Free Resources
  • Testimonials
  • Newsletter
  • Firm News & Updates
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
© Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil, PLLC attorneys at law
All Rights Reserved
Legal Content Marketing and Design by