We are excited to announce that Jordan H. Gross repeats as a selectee to the 2022 North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars list!
No more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in North Carolina are selected as Rising Stars. Congratulations!
You probably saw the viral video of the lawyer appearing as a cat that went viral lately so we want to share some “dos and don’ts” of virtual hearings.
Do be on time for calendar call and the start of your hearing if the judge tells you to come back later in the day for your hearing. Even make sure you try logging on early so that you can ensure any technical issues are resolved.
Don’t login to calendar call late as your case may be dismissed if you are not present. If you have issues logging on and your case is in Wake County email your judge’s case coordinator immediately to let them know. More information can be found here: https://www.wcfcc.com
Do dress like you would if you were appearing in person in court. Even from the waist down. You never know if you may have to stand up.
Don’t wear pajamas or other loungewear on a virtual hearing. Leave those Christmas jammies in the drawer.
Do logon in a quiet place away from other noises or distractions, even if that is your car. The judge wants to hear from you and not your dog or children.
Don’t have the television, radio, or music on in the background or logon in a public place. A court session is not the place for background white noise.
Do present yourself on the virtual hearing as if you were in person in front of the judge. Impressions still matter even in a virtual world.
Don’t display a background that is not appropriate for court or, most importantly, turn on any filters causing you to appear as a cute, fuzzy feline.
Call Stauff & Gross, PLLC at (919) 783-1260 for representation, assistance, or advice with an upcoming virtual hearing
Much has changed with how Family Court is run in Wake County over the last nine months during COVID restrictions. The biggest change is that the morning calendar is now run remotely by WebEx. The assigned judge will call that day’s cases and then tell attorneys and parties the time and location (either in-person or remote by WebEx) their respective cases will start.
Some cases must take place in-person. Examples include permanent custody matters, trials on property distribution, or hearings to modify orders. The parties can consent to these matters occurring remotely with the approval of the judge. However, domestic violence and contempt matters must be heard in-person. Other issues can happen remotely by WebEx and those include hearings on temporary custody or short motions.
For remote hearings you will need reliable Internet and a device that has a camera and microphone say you can be seen and heard as well as speakers and a screen so you can hear and see what happens. Specific rules also apply to the distribution and use of exhibits for remote WebEx hearings or objecting to WebEx hearings.
This process has evolved and changed several times over the last nine months so it is important to keep up to date on any changes. Contact our office at 919-783-1260 for a consultation to see how these changes affect your case in Family Court. Our office can also assist if your case is in a different county but you should review any specific rules or changes for your specific county on the website for the NC Administrative Office of the Courts. More information can be found here: https://www.nccourts.gov/covid-19
The North Carolina Family Court Advisory Commission provided guidance to families with custody or visitation orders already in place. The Commission is stressing that parents should do their best to provide consistency and stability for children if at all possible but should work together for the child’s best interests while also following advice of healthcare professionals.
You can see the full recommendations here: https://www.nccourts.gov/assets/inline-files/Custody%20and%20Visitation%20Recommendations_FINAL.pdf?oNHms1_UlIk.fBhyCxg8nWVR87.ougsC
If you have questions you should consult with an attorney about your specific situation in light of these recommendations and guidance. Our office remains open for telephone and Skype consults for both current and prospective clients.
As a result of the Coronavirus, the North Carolina court system extended its closure until June 1, 2020, to assist with slowing the spread of the virus. A limited number of courtrooms remain open to hear certain issues. For example, hearings for domestic violence protective orders or emergency child custody issues. However, the vast majority of hearings are continued automatically. Unfortunately, as the duration of social distancing remains in flux there is no guarantee courts will reopen within that time frame. For the most recent updates, you can review the court system website here: https://www.nccourts.gov/covid-19-coronavirus-updates
Our office will be in touch with current clients who have court dates between now and June 1 if we have not already to let them know their specific situation. We can provide consultations and appointments by either telephone or video conferencing to save both current clients and prospective clients unnecessary trips around town.
You are most likely still responsible for any child support or spousal support obligations if you are one of the many whose income is affected with the current “stay at home” order or—even worse—lost your job. If your amount is part of a court order that amount is due on the date ordered.
However, that obligation amount can change if you experience a “substantial change of circumstances.” The loss of income or employment due to recent events may very well qualify as a substantial change in circumstances. In order to seek relief from the payments you owe per a court order, you must file a motion to modify. If you file a motion to modify the amount now the court may retroactively change the amount back to the first of the month after you filed your motion.
Every case is different though, so it is important that you consult with an attorney. Contact our office at 919-783-1260 now to set up a consultation with one of our attorneys to discuss modifying your support obligation.
As a result of the Coronavirus, the North Carolina court system has largely shut down for 30 days to assist with slowing the spread of the virus. A limited number of courtrooms remain open to hear certain issues. However, the vast majority of hearings are continued automatically for 30 days. Tentatively, 30 days from the start of the shutdown would bring us to the week of April 13. However, as the duration of social distancing remains in flux there is no guarantee courts will reopen within that time frame. For the most recent updates, you can review the court system website here: https://www.nccourts.gov/covid-19-coronavirus-updates
Our office will be in touch with current clients who have court dates within these 30 days if we have not already to let them know their specific situation. We can provide consultations and appointments by either telephone or video conferencing to save both current clients and prospective clients unnecessary trips around town.
SGP is doing its part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community while also maintaining our high standards in serving our clients.
In doing so, we are using other methods to work with our clients rather than meeting face-to-face. Fortunately, modern technology provides many resources, such as Skype, email, and conference calls. We can offer these services for folks who are not presently a client but need to discuss their situation with one of our attorneys.
If events get to the point where we cannot staff our office we have a plan in place as well. Most of our physical files are also in digital format and saved to our secure network for our attorneys and staff to access from home. If you call the office and leave a message, rest assured that a member of our staff will receive it and call you back soon.
For the staff at SGP it is business as usual in this new (temporary) normal. We will continue to work on our current client’s cases and are also accepting new cases. Do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or how we can serve you better.
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4040 Barrett Dr, Suite 200.
Raleigh, NC 27609
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P.O. Box 19951
Raleigh, NC 27615
P: 919-783-1260
F: 919-714-0755
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The use of the Internet for communication with this firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship.