Bar hopping, a cherished pastime for many, involves going to multiple bars within a single evening. Often times, this is done in a downtown area where friends can walk from bar to bar, and other times, it is done by driving or Ubering to other bars. However, the thrill of this social activity can come with legal consequences in North Carolina. Understanding alcohol consumption laws North Carolina strictly regulates alcohol consumption. It mandates that individuals must be 21 years or older to purchase, possess or consume alcoholic beverages. Moreover, serving alcohol to minors carries severe p ..read more

Parental alienation is manipulation of a child in hopes of damaging their relationship with their other parent. It’s a more commonly utilized tactic than many people realize, and the ramifications can be devastating. Of course, parental alienation can negatively impact a child’s relationship with their other parent, and it may even lead to a custody modification that restricts the other parent’s time with their child, but alienation can also cause extensive emotional and psychological trauma in your child if it goes unaddressed. What are the signs of parental alienation? If you want to prevent ..read more

At this time of year, many of us are thinking about taxes. Some have already filed their returns, while others know the deadline is coming up soon. Some are grumbling about what they must pay while others are looking forward to a nice refund. Some may even wonder if they can get away without paying their taxes, but a recent North Carolina case illustrates why that would be a bad idea. Trust fund taxes case A jury found two Charlotte businessmen guilty of multiple counts of tax fraud. Prosecutors said the men, who ran a software sales and support business, failed to pay more than $150,000 in ta ..read more

They try to convince you that you are the problem. They trick you into thinking you’re responsible for their happiness and to blame for their misery. Many people in North Carolina and beyond say the only thing that’s worse than being married to a narcissist is navigating a divorce with one. By the time you file the petition, you have hopefully learned that you are not the problem. During proceedings, however, as you negotiate a child custody agreement and determine how to divide assets and resolve other important issues, your ex might try to pull a few schemes to complicate the process as much ..read more

Generally speaking, most theft offenses sound straightforward – they’re crimes where a person deprives another person of an object or money. But not all theft offenses involve directly taking items from others. Theft by deception involves obtaining property by intentionally misleading the owner, whether through trickery or lies. This is a serious offense in North Carolina and anyone convicted can face severe penalties. Obtaining property through false pretenses North Carolina law considers theft by deception as obtaining property by false pretenses. It’s a felony offense, and its criminal grad ..read more

In the event of a divorce in North Carolina, the terms of your prenuptial agreement, commonly known as a “prenup,” often become a primary focus. This legal contract aims to protect individual assets and establish financial expectations within your marriage. However, when the marriage ends, the focus shifts from the agreement’s terms to its fairness and its effect on the division of assets and property. Factors that make an agreement unenforceable In North Carolina, a prenuptial agreement may be considered “unconscionable,” or unenforceable, if it doesn’t meet certain standards. The court first ..read more

You can assume the North Carolina police officer who has pulled you over suspects intoxication if he or she instructs you to exit your vehicle. Perhaps the officer witnessed your tires breaching the yellow line while driving or noticed that you weren’t using headlights after dusk. These and many other issues constitute justifiable reasons for a traffic stop. However, to make a DWI arrest, one must establish probable cause. One of the swiftest means of establishing probable cause during a traffic stop is to ask the driver to take a breath test or field sobriety test. There are typically three f ..read more

A driver’s license is more than just another form of identification; it’s a legal authorization from the state that the bearer of the license can operate their vehicle on public roads. Licenses come with responsibilities, chief among them the responsibility to drive safely and obey traffic laws. This is why driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a criminal offense in North Carolina and other U.S. states because an impaired driver endangers themselves and others through their reckless actions. But if a driver under 21 commits DWI, they violate both traffic laws and North Carolina’s laws prohibiting ..read more

In North Carolina, possessing stolen property can be just as serious as the act of theft itself. After all, the law generally discourages individuals from benefiting from the proceeds of crime. This blog aims to shed light on what constitutes the crime of receiving stolen goods under North Carolina law and the potential legal consequences. What is “receiving stolen goods?” It takes more than a piece of stolen merchandise falling on someone’s lap for them to face criminal charges. According to state law, anyone who knowingly receives any stolen money, property, or valuable security – while bein ..read more

The grounds for divorce in other states might range from irreconcilable differences to specific fault-based reasons. However, North Carolina only mandates that couples live apart for an entire year before they can file for divorce, with at least one party intending the separation to be permanent. Therefore, while other states have some version of no-fault divorce, North Carolina is a “no-fault state.” You do not need a reason to divorce your spouse. Spouses who intend on pursuing an absolute divorce need only to live separately and apart for a year unless they file for divorce based on the inc ..read more