The Law Office of Steven M. King

04/20/2026

North Carolina's rare "heart balm torts" allow the victim of spousal cheating to sue the person their spouse cheated with.

🔗: https://on.wsj.com/42iXZ7y

In October 2024, Heather Ammel found a message from another woman on her husband’s phone. “I miss you. Putting my hand on your heart. I’ll see you soon,” it said.

Ammel decided to write back: “Are you having an affair with my husband?” she texted from her spouse’s phone. “You took a married man away from his family.”

Then Ammel took a surprising step: She sued—not her cheating husband, but the woman who was having a romantic relationship with him. This was Kyrsten Sinema, the former U.S. senator from Arizona. Ammel’s husband, Matthew Ammel, was employed as a security guard for Sinema at the time.

North Carolina, where the Ammels lived, is one of just a handful of states with a “homewrecker law” that allows a jilted spouse to sue a third party for damages for a marital breakup. And it isn’t just illicit lovers who might find themselves in the crosshairs. Meddling in-laws, persuasive friends, even a therapist or clergy member are all fair game.

02/26/2026

How does a Court calculate child support in North Carolina? Put simply, there are usually three things that drive the number:

1. INCOME (both parents) - It probably won't surprise you to hear that income weighs heavily in a child support calculation. The Child Support Guidelines use both parents' gross income from almost any source. Means tested benefits such as SSI are not included, nor are child support payments a parent receives for a child other than a child for whom support is being sought.

2. OVERNIGHTS - The custody schedule matters. If one parent has 243 or more overnights with the children each year, that parent is considered to have primary physical custody of the children for child support purposes. The child support order will almost always be higher than if neither parent has 243 or more overnights.

3. COSTS - Specific named costs such as work-related childcare and health insurance premiums are added to the child support obligation and prorated between the parents based on their incomes. Certain other costs that qualify as "extraordinary expenses" can be included in the calculation as well, in the Judge's discretion.

One other factor that can play a role in the calculation is child support paid by one parent for a child who is not a part of the present child support calculation, or a parent is financially responsible for a biological/adopted child in that parent's home who is not a part of the present action.

Don't assume a "fair number" will happen automatically. If you need to seek child support, or if someone is seeking it from you, you'll want the help of someone who has experience with these issues. I represented the Buncombe, Polk, and Transylvania Child Support Services Agencies for over three years. You can reach out to me at (828) 424-0370.

Do you have any child support questions? Feel free to post them below.

This post is for general information only and is not legal advice to the reader.

Contact The Law Office Of Steven M. King at 828-900-3674 for experienced guidance in divorce and child custody issues in Asheville.

02/02/2026

If someone's going through a divorce or has a custody dispute, here's the rule:

Post like a Judge will read it later. Because sometimes, that's exactly what happens.

Better yet--don't post at all. Social media accounts are prime targets for attorneys looking for evidence to use in Court. I've seen people brag about income, publicly lash out against their ex-, and even admit to committing crimes, all on social media.

Worse yet, it's against the rules to delete a bad post if you're in a Court battle. On the other hand, setting a profile to private or deactivating an account is usually OK, as long as it's not deleted.

Do yourself and your attorney a favor, and think before you post.

What's the craziest social media post you've ever seen?

This post is not a comprehensive statement of the law and is not legal advice to the reader. If you have a family law situation and want to set up a consultation, call me at (828) 424-0370.

01/21/2026

Some people seem to think that they need a Court Order before they're legally separated in North Carolina--not true.

Separation affects the timing of a divorce, how assets are divided, and more.

Here are the basics:

* In order to get a divorce in North Carolina, the parties have to live separate and apart for a full year, with at least one party having the intention for the separation to be permanent.

* This is a "hard and fast" rule, meaning that there's no getting around it if you want a North Carolina divorce.

* BUT, other issues such as child custody, property division, and alimony can all be settled by agreement or Court action during the separation period.

This one-year period is where people can either (1) get organized, or (2) not deal with the issues, potentially making things FAR more complicated.

If you're separated now, do you have a plan--or just a lot of stress?

This post is for general information and entertainment purposes only. I'm a lawyer, but I'm not YOUR lawyer. None of this is legal advice. If you want to talk through the next steps, call me for a consultation at (828) 424-0370.

12/31/2025

12/25/2025

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas surrounded by loved ones!

12/19/2025

This attorney has good videos!

Learn the hidden courtroom mistakes that quietly destroy cases—and the simple testimony techniques that make judges trust you, keep you calm under pressure, ...

12/11/2025

Representing yourself is like trying to remove your own appendix!

Contact The Law Office Of Steven M. King at 828-900-3674 for experienced guidance in divorce and child custody issues in Asheville.

12/05/2025

"Do I really need a prenuptial agreement?" In North Carolina, most property and debts acquired during the marriage are divided under “equitable distribution” if you separate. Equitable distribution defaults to a 50/50 split, which could apply to businesses built or assets acquired during the marriage even if one spouse didn't play a part in their acquisition. A well-drafted premarital agreement allows you and your partner decide in advance how assets, businesses, and debts will be handled, instead of leaving those decisions up to a Judge later.

Some people may be tempted to download a cheap form and hope for the best. The problem is, North Carolina has specific rules for what makes a premarital agreement valid and enforceable. A one-size-fits-all form—or a “prenup mill” firm that barely gets to know you—may not protect you the way you think it does.

I offer:

Transparent pricing – no surprise bills.

Personalized attention – you'll talk to me directly about your goals, your assets, debts, business interests, and what really matters to you.

Statewide help – I can draft a North Carolina prenup no matter what part of the state you live in.

If you have questions about premarital agreements, don’t just rely on something you found online. Reach out and let’s see what makes sense for your situation.

📞 (828) 424-0370
🌐 www.attorneystevenking.com

This post is for general information only and is not legal advice or a complete statement of North Carolina law.

A family law firm based in Asheville, North Carolina.

11/20/2025

Being Involved in Your Kids’ Lives

Whether a family is intact or the parents are co-parenting under a custody order, one thing is always true: kids need their parents to be actively involved in their lives.

That doesn’t just mean loving them and keeping a roof over their heads. It means being part of the day-to-day work of raising them:

- Helping with the ordinary caregiving responsibilities

- Knowing what’s going on at school and staying on top of grades and behavior

- Understanding children’s medical needs and following up after appointments

Parents may not be able to be physically present at every doctor’s visit, school performance, or PTA meeting. Work schedules, distance, and other issues are real. But even when a parent can’t be in the room, it is important to take an interest and offer input: ask for updates, read the paperwork, talk with the child about how things went, and stay in the loop.

From a legal standpoint, this involvement matters.

When custody becomes an issue and parents end up in court, judges and lawyers focus heavily on each parent’s involvement in the child’s life. Common questions include:

Who takes the child to medical and dental appointments, and who follows up?

Who communicates with teachers and the school?

Who helps with homework, bedtime routines, meals, and activities?

If there are gaps in those areas, those gaps often show up later as allegations in pleadings and motions.

But even more important than what a court might think is what these habits are building between parent and child. When a parent is not taking part in these parts of a child’s life, they may be missing out on some of the most important work — and greatest privileges — of parenting. Showing up, paying attention, and pitching in strengthens the parent–child relationship now and for years to come. And if a custody issue ever arises, the court will be looking closely at exactly those things.

For children, for the parent–child relationship, and for any future court issues that might come up, it is crucial to be engaged, present, and involved.

If you’re facing a custody issue, the Law Office of Steven M. King is here to help.

Send a message through this page or call the office at (828) 424-0370 to schedule a confidential consultation about your situation and your options.

This message is for general information purposes only, is not a comprehensive statement of the law, and is not intended to be legal advice specific to the reader.

A family law firm based in Asheville, North Carolina.