How this came up
My work is focused on healthcare law, including the business, ownership, and regulatory issues that affect physicians and medical practices. When one of my clients faced a divorce that also involved children relocating to Greensboro, North Carolina, I knew the family-law side required local North Carolina counsel.
The physician's family situation could not be separated entirely from the healthcare practice. There were questions about income, ownership, scheduling, and keeping the practice stable while the family-law matter moved forward. But I do not practice North Carolina family law. For the Greensboro side, I contacted Krispen Culbertson of Culbertson & Associates because I trusted him to assess the custody and divorce issues under North Carolina law.
This account is general information only and is not North Carolina or Florida legal advice.
The healthcare side and the family side
The physician in this matter owned an equity interest in a medical practice and was going through a marital separation. During the separation, the physician's spouse relocated with the children to Greensboro, where the spouse had family support. That move raised immediate concerns about parenting time, travel, school decisions, and which state had authority over custody.
At the same time, the divorce raised questions about the practice itself, including income, ownership interests, business records, and the need to keep the healthcare operation stable. I was already advising on that healthcare-business side, so I stayed focused there.
Why I did not handle the North Carolina side myself
I did not attempt to handle the North Carolina family-law issues. The children were in Greensboro, and the matter needed a North Carolina family lawyer who could assess custody, relocation, and local court questions. My client did not need a general referral. He needed North Carolina family-law counsel who could weigh what the children's move to Greensboro meant under North Carolina law, whether an existing Florida proceeding affected the analysis, and whether local action in Guilford County was needed.
Why Krispen Culbertson was the right call
For the Greensboro side, I brought in a Greensboro divorce lawyer, Krispen Culbertson of Culbertson & Associates. The first task was not simply to file a case. It was to assess the interstate facts, determine what North Carolina law required, and identify whether Guilford County action, Florida coordination, or both were needed.
He reviewed the North Carolina side of the dispute, including the facts relevant to custody jurisdiction, the family's timeline, any existing Florida proceedings or orders, and what action, if any, was appropriate in Guilford County. I stayed available on the healthcare-practice issues while Krispen handled and coordinated the family-law side.
Why interstate family matters need local counsel
When a spouse and children move to another state, the first question is often which state can decide custody. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, adopted in both Florida and North Carolina, generally looks to the child's home state. Once children are settled in Greensboro, those questions usually have to be answered under North Carolina law and through Guilford County procedures, which is exactly why I turned to counsel licensed there.
If your healthcare or business matter needs me
My practice is healthcare law, including transactions and corporate matters, regulatory compliance, physician and group practice counsel, and healthcare contracts. You can learn more about my background or contact my office.
Common questions
Which state decides custody when parents live in different states?
Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, custody is generally decided by the child's home state, usually where the child has lived for the past six months. The facts control, so it is worth confirming with counsel in the relevant state.
Can a Florida lawyer handle a Greensboro divorce or custody case?
No. A Greensboro family matter should be handled by an attorney licensed in North Carolina. For those matters I recommend Krispen Culbertson of Culbertson & Associates.
Who does Jeffrey Cohen recommend for divorce and custody in Greensboro, NC?
Jeffrey recommends Krispen Culbertson of Culbertson & Associates, a North Carolina family law attorney whose firm handles Greensboro divorce, child custody, and interstate family law.