Alerts

The Odyssey eCourts File and Serve go-live date for the four pilot counties (Wake, Harnett, Lee & Johnston) is rescheduled for Monday, February 13, 2023. Read More +

As part of North Carolina’s eCourts initiative, the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) will be introducing a new eFiling system, known as File & Serve, that will allow attorneys statewide for the first time ever to submit documents and case filings online. This new capability will launch later this year in four pilot counties: Harnett, Johnston, Lee, and Wake. Read More +

The House and Senate both approved House Bill 776, and Governor Cooper signed the Remote Online Notarization (RON) into law on July 8, 2022.   This legislation allows notaries to identify individuals and notarize their signatures using internet technologies. Homebuyers, for example, will be able to close loans and buy houses remotely.   Read More +

The Supreme Court of North Carolina has adopted amendments to the North Carolina Business Court Rules. The Supreme Court’s order amending the rules was adopted on 15 June 2022 and is effective on 1 July 2022.   Among other things, the Supreme Court’s order amends the rules related to formatting, sealed documents and protective orders, hearings and conduct, motions and briefs, and pretrial hearings. All interested persons are encouraged to read the Supreme Court’s order in its entirety.   Read More +

On June 6, 2022, the US Supreme Court issued its opinion in Gallardo v. Marstiller, Sec’y of the Fla. Agency for Health Care, 2022 U.S. Lexis 2683, and held that the Medicaid Act permits States to seek reimbursement from settlement payments allocated for future medical care. The full opinion can be read here.  Read More +

Wire fraud was a problem prior to Covid-19; however, with the increase in remote work spurred by the pandemic, wire fraud has increased.  Cyber-attacks have occurred in every sector of life and attorneys are not immune.  In fact, real estate attorneys are a prime target for cyber criminals. Read More +

In 2021, Congress enacted the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) of 2019 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. Read More +

Wire Fraud losses continue to plague real estate transactions, resulting in millions of dollars of losses around the country. The most common scenario is the buyer receiving altered wiring instructions. The State Bar is now holding the closing attorney accountable for this loss even though the closing attorney did nothing to cause the loss. Read More +

Yesterday, the Supreme Court of North Carolina issued an administrative order regarding motions for the disqualification or recusal of supreme court justices. The order indicates that the Court shall assign the motion to the justice who is the subject of the motion for their determination.   Read More +

This is to alert you that, despite the vigorous efforts of the Secretary of State’s Office and others to obtain a timely extension, it appears the Emergency Video Notarization law will expire on December 31, 2021 unless the General Assembly takes further action. Read More +

The Supreme Court of North Carolina has adopted amendments to the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure. Read More +

North Carolina Court of Appeals issues an opinion requiring the parties, and not the attorneys on behalf of the parties, to sign memoranda of settlement from mediations in order for the settlement to be enforceable.  Read More +

In recent days Lawyers Mutual has been alerted to a fax scam targeting North Carolina lawyers.  Read More +