Lincolnton North Carolina Legal Blog

Types of wills considered valid in North Carolina

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Estate Planning on Friday, July 19, 2019.

People who live in North Carolina should be aware of the requirements for wills in this state. Your will is the key to ensuring that your assets go to who you want them to go to and so that you can do as much as possible to take care of them. If you don't comply with the required elements, your will can be considered invalid by the courts, which would mean that your belongings would be distributed according to the intestate laws in this state.

In order to write a will in North Carolina, you must be of sound mind. This means that you know what you are doing and that you understand how it affects your estate and the individuals named in the will. You also have to be at least 18 years old.

Tips to help you make the most of co-parenting

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Family Law on Friday, July 5, 2019.

Co-parenting is sometimes a challenging situation but remembering a few quick points might help you refocus your efforts and ensure that your children have the environment they need.

One of the most important things to remember is that your children are always watching you. They try to see how to navigate through some of life's situations by watching what you do. What they observe can shape how they react to similar situations later in life.

Zoning laws keep cities in order, but might be problematic

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Land Use and Zoning on Friday, June 21, 2019.

Keeping order in cities is a vital function of the city government. In order to do this, laws must be put into place. Some of these laws outline what types of structures can be erected in certain areas, which is known as zoning laws. It is imperative that anyone who plans on purchasing or building a structure ensures that the structure and the intended use fall within the zoning regulations.

Besides keeping some type of order in the city, zoning laws have other purposes. They seek to protect the value of properties in the area. They also allow people to enjoy using their property in the intended manner. They ensure that there is suitable infrastructure to support the activities that will occur in a specific area. For example, a dirt road likely wouldn't be suitable for a very busy outlet mall, but it would be fine for a farmhouse.

Property surveys can help you avoid real estate problems

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. on Friday, June 14, 2019.

Real estate problems are complex, sometimes costly legal concerns. They can cost you time and money, and they can ultimately impact what you are able to do with your land in the future. As a property owner, it is in your interests to learn as much as you can about your land. One way you can do that is by having a survey of your property done.

Property surveys can allow owners to find out certain important things about their property. This includes things like where boundary lines are and if there are any factors that could hinder future development. Whether you want to buy land, are considering this step in the future or already own property, you will find it a great benefit in seeking a new and up-to-date survey of your land.

Co-parenting relationships should be built on positivity

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Family Law on Friday, June 7, 2019.

Your co-parenting relationship begins at the second that you find out about the divorce. The tone of this relationship can be impacted by what happens during the child custody negotiations. It is imperative that you and your ex set the right stage for these situations. Everything that happens during this process can have a direct impact on your children.

It is going to take both adults to keep the co-parenting relationship on track. Both have to decide that they will focus on the positive. This might be a challenge during the times when there are disagreements, but there are some ways that you can keep your focus where it needs to be.

Knowing your rights can help you plan your defense strategy

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, May 24, 2019.

Facing criminal charges should spur you into wanting to do what you can to build up your defense. There are many things that you have to consider when you are working on the strategy you are going to choose. Working with a criminal defense attorney who is familiar with your type of case can be beneficial in these cases.

You have to think about the evidence that the prosecutor is using in the case against you. One of your priorities must be determining how you can make the jurors question the claims that are being made. Juries can't convict someone if they have a reasonable doubt about the guilt of the person. In some cases, this might mean offering an alibi, but you should only do this if you have proof to back up the claims you are making.

Parents should include plans for their children in their estate

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Estate Planning on Friday, May 10, 2019.

Parents of young children need to ensure that they have plans for the kids just in case something happens to both adults. This isn't an easy thing to think about, but making these estate plans now can help you feel more secure since you know that your children will be cared for if you aren't around any longer.

There are several things that you need to do when you are making these plans. One of the most pressing is to decide who is going to raise the children for you. This individual needs to be named as a guardian for the kids. It is a good idea to have more than one option in your estate plan. You could have a primary, secondary and tertiary just in case there are issues with the primary option.

Ease the stress that children feel on transition days

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Family Law on Friday, April 26, 2019.

One of the most stressful things that children have to deal with during their parents' divorce is having to move back and forth between homes. For likely their entire lives, they have been living in the same house with both parents. The days that might be the hardest for them are the ones when they go from one parent's house to the other's. It is up to both adults to help them thrive despite these challenges.

Children who understand the concepts of days and hours might benefit from knowing the schedule ahead of time. This could help them plan for the transition ahead of time. You might consider making a calendar to show when they will go to the other parent's house. If there are schedule changes that deviate from what the child is accustomed to, let them know ahead of time.

Be sure to put estate planning on your baby to-do list

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

If you are like other North Carolina expectant parents, you have a long to-do list before the baby arrives. With so many tasks to take care of in a relatively short amount of time, you may wonder whether you will forget something.

What you may forget to even put on your list is estate planning. This is something that many new parents neglect to address, but it could prove one of the most important things you can do for your new arrival.

First-time homebuyers must be careful

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Real Estate on Thursday, April 11, 2019.

Buying your first home is a big step in any adult's life. Many don't realize that they need to ensure that they have legal protections during the process. The last thing you want to do is to buy a home only to find out that it has major problems and then to find out that you don't have any recourse. Having an experienced team to work with you is beneficial.

When you are looking for homes, make sure that you are thinking about your needs first and your desires last. One mistake that some first-time homebuyers make is trying to buy more house than they need or having too big of a mortgage. Just because you are approved for a specific loan amount doesn't mean you have to buy a home that is that much. Instead, that is the upper cap on your purchase. Make sure that you know how much you can afford monthly, as well as what down payment you can make.