Domestic Violence: The Protective Order
Domestic Violence is the habitual assertion of control over an intimate partner or household member. The assertion of control uses a variety of tactics which include intimidation, threats, undermining one’s self-worth and capabilities, sexual violence, and physical force against the partner. The prevalence of domestic violence in our community is an undefined number, but the […]
Teen Dating Violence
High school – the time of your life. After all, what is there to worry about in high school? The Friday night football game? Your SAT score? A pending application to your dream college? In recent years, domestic violence has become a more popular topic of discussion than it has ever been. We’re seeing more […]
HB2 does not absolve employers of LGBT discrimination liability
With all of the media attention surrounding HB2, many are under the impression that North Carolina’s “at will” employment state laws allow employers to treat LGBT workers differently. Read our post “HB2 does not absolve employers of LGBT discrimination liability” on GoQNotes and find out why this isn’t the case for many employees.
The Intricacies of Estate Planning for Same Sex Couples
When the Supreme Court announced its decision in Obergefell v. Hodges* last summer, it was rightly viewed as a victory for equality for same-sex couples across the country. As a result of the ruling, same-sex marriages that had once been ignored, disregarded, or deemed illegal were immediately granted the same full faith and credit as […]
If You Don’t Have Anything Nice To Say, Don’t Post it on Social Media
The use of social media has impacted and changed many of our day-to-day lives. Did you know there are approximately 2.2 billion social media users in the entire world*? Actually, most of you reading this article probably have at least one of these accounts. Social media includes social networks and forums such as Facebook, Instagram, […]
Sodoma Law Principal Recognized Among Mecklenburg County’s Most Influential Women
Penelope L. Hefner Named a 2016 “50 Most Influential Women” Honoree for Her Leadership and Commitment to Local Community Sodoma Law, a leading Family Law firm based in Charlotte, is proud to announce that Penelope L. Hefner, Principal at Sodoma Law and leader of the Sodoma Law Union office, has been recognized as one […]
Career Day
Months ago, after just completing a settlement, I received an email from a local Charlotte, North Carolina elementary school inquiring about my availability to speak at their career day. In a moment of weakness, thinking “there’s plenty of time on my calendar for this!”, I excitedly agreed. Frankly, I would have done it even if […]
Let’s Talk Taxes
It is that time of year again. No, it is not your birthday—it is tax time! For most parents, it is a foregone conclusion that you will claim your qualifying minor children on your personal tax returns, but for parents not living in the same household, it may not be that simple. For these parents, […]
Not So Sweethearts
A request commonly heard by family law attorneys is, “I need to legally separate from my spouse.” This is actually one of the most straight forward legal concerns our clients have, but it’s the other considerations that go along with a separation that become more complicated. While you may be eager to move on from […]
Divorce Effects on Children
It is easy for parents contemplating or going through a divorce to forget how detrimental this process is on kids both during and after. This is especially true if the divorce is brought on by one parent’s actions or decision or due to traumatic events in the marriage. These types of situations are stressful and […]