What to Expect at the Initial Consultation

Charles-Ullman

During the initial meeting with Charles R. Ullman & Associates, you will meet with a compassionate family attorney who will ask you some questions to understand your domestic situation and your goals moving forward. Most people are unfamiliar with what the process of divorce involves. We will discuss how the North Carolina law applies to your specific situation and the legal options available to you. We will discuss how we can help you achieve your objectives and make the transition to a better place in your life.

You are considering visiting our law office because you need dependable legal guidance. It is important to work with a divorce lawyer who has a thorough understanding of North Carolina family law and experience handling the issues that your case involves. All of the legal professionals at Charles Ullman & Associates focus solely on family law issues. Our team has helped many people work through difficult domestic situations similar to yours. We craft a solution that is tailored to each client’s individual needs.

Attorney Charles R. Ullman has more than 20 years of hands-on experience helping clients successfully resolve family law matters including legal separation, divorce, child custody, alimony, property division and related domestic issues. He is a personable and caring attorney. Charles is recognized by the North Carolina State Bar as a Board-Certified Specialist in Family Law. Lawyers who are certified as specialists by the N.C. State Bar have demonstrated a depth of knowledge of a specific practice area. Only a small portion of attorneys hold the distinction. If you are facing a life-altering decision, turn to Charles R. Ullman & Associates for thoughtful guidance based on a foundation of experience.

Our Firm’s Values

Our legal team’s approach as domestic law attorneys is centered on understanding, consideration and fairness. Charles Ullman & Associates seeks to reach a reasonable, fair outcome within the bounds of the law. Attorney Charles Ullman’s compassionate approach is underpinned by his Christian faith and decades of experience helping people work through family issues. He is sensitive to ethical and religious concerns regarding divorce. While no one wins when a marriage fails, it is important to identify a solution that is fair and helps you move forward and get to a better place.

At Charles Ullman & Associates, we care about the people who come to us for help. We treat each client with professionalism, compassion and respect.

We want what is best for you and your family and will work hard to achieve your objective. We will always be honest with you and tell you what you need to hear —even if it’s not what you wish to hear. Take a look at what some former clients say about their experience with Charles R. Ullman & Associates, then give us a call to schedule an appointment.

What Can I Expect at My Divorce Consultation?

At the initial consultation, a Raleigh family law attorney will sit down with you and discuss in detail why you are seeking legal assistance. Whether you are dealing with an emergency situation involving domestic violence or you are just trying to determine what is best for you and your children, an experienced attorney can offer assistance.

If you are facing the end of a marriage, we will talk about what is most important to you and your loved ones as you move forward.

We understand that you are going through an emotionally difficult experience, and you may not know exactly what to expect. We have helped many clients in similar situations and we want you to feel comfortable. You may need to share details of your marriage that you would rather not tell anyone, so it is important to have an attorney who you trust and can confide in with confidence. At Charles Ullman & Associates, we will treat you with respect and genuine compassion and provide legal counsel based on experience.

We will make sure that you understand the law in North Carolina as it applies to your specific situation and what you wish to achieve. We want you to understand what will occur on a very practical level.

North Carolina has a no-fault divorce law. A couple can get a divorce without having to prove that one spouse did something wrong or was at fault. Most divorces are no-fault divorces. In certain situations, you may obtain a legal separation or a divorce from bed and board, which is a type of court-ordered separation. You are required to establish fault in these situations. We will determine what is most appropriate for you and your family based on the specific facts you share during the initial consultation.

Having helped many people go through the divorce process, we have a good sense of what will happen in a Wake County courtroom if you and your spouse cannot agree on a particular issue. We understand the types of settlements that typically arise from mediation. Having a solid understanding of the law and potential outcomes allows you to make well-informed decisions about how to proceed.

What You Need to Be Doing

At the initial meeting, you will need to decide if the attorney is someone who you feel comfortable talking to, who listens attentively and gives you confidence.

Divorce is emotionally difficult as well as financially and legally complicated. If you are ready to proceed with a divorce, we will ask you to gather copies of financial records, bank statements, retirement accounts, salary information and tax returns. The information contained in your financial and your spouse’s financial documents are used to determine child support, spousal support and division of property. Those kinds of documents are very important if you need to submit to the court a financial affidavit in a contested divorce case.

We will help you understand what qualifies as marital property under North Carolina law. The courts generally favor an equitable 50-50 division of assets and debts in North Carolina. Keep in mind that obtaining copies of your financial documents is generally easier before you move out of the house.

We will counsel you to take an extended break from posting anything on social media platforms during the divorce process. Posting on Facebook or another social media platform may be one of the worst things you can do. Any comments or information you post on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter may be used as evidence against you in a contested divorce. Photos, texts or emails that offer any evidence of substance abuse, extramarital affairs, reckless behavior may be used in court to establish marital misconduct. You or your spouse may be able to get a court order to view any texts or email messages sent to another person. Information on cell phones and the internet can be gathered.

What Our Firm Will Be Doing

You and your spouse will need to live separately and apart for at least twelve consecutive months to obtain a divorce in North Carolina. The time is measured from the date the spouses move to separate dwellings. In addition, one of you must have been a North Carolina resident for at least six months before initiating the divorce.

An attorney at Charles Ullman & Associates can prepare a separation agreement detailing issues such as division of debt and property, child custody, and spousal divorce. When preparing the separation agreement, we will take into account the tax issues related to the division of assets.

For example, a spouse receiving alimony must pay taxes on that income and the person paying the alimony is allowed a tax deduction for spousal support. To be valid, the separation agreement must be signed by both spouses at the time of the separation.

After you and your spouse have been separated a year, we can file the divorce petition and have your spouse served with divorce papers. You are required to wait 30 days after your spouse is notified of the divorce to request a hearing in Family Court. That allows your spouse time to file a response to your petition. Wake County has a Family Law Court with judges who have special training in this area of law.

The consultation is confidential and the information you provide will be treated with discretion.

Schedule a Consultation With a Family Lawyer Today

We understand that it is hard to pick up the phone and make the initial call to a divorce attorney. You may be uncertain whether you are ready to take the step of seeking a divorce. Having a confidential conversation with a knowledgeable and caring Raleigh family law attorney can be helpful in charting your future and looking at the big picture.

The selection of a family law attorney is important. Your attorney becomes your partner as you work through the legal issues in your family law case. It’s important to seek guidance from someone who is experienced in domestic law issues and understands what the possible outcomes are in a given situation.

Trust Charles Ullman & Associates to help you get through a difficult situation. Call today to find out how we can help.

About 

Charles Ullman & Associates provides you respected, experienced and knowledgeable divorce and family law attorneys. You can trust us to help you through the legal process efficiently and effectively so you can transition to the next phase of your life. Our community involvement reaches beyond charitable support of important causes. We launched our own movement in Fraternities4Family and provide scholarships to able students in need.