North Carolina is a no-fault divorce state. A couple that wants to end their marriage need only meet a few requirements, file the proper paperwork and appear before a judge to end the marriage. The North Carolina Courts even provide a DIY package online but caution that the packet cannot help with child custody, visitation, child support, alimony, or equitable division of marital property. These are all common issues in a divorce best handled by an experienced lawyer.
At Charles R. Ullman & Associates, we strongly recommend that each partner in a marriage that is ending meet with a separate divorce attorney to discuss their goals and seek professional guidance. When acting on your own, you can make decisions during a divorce that adversely affect your financial future if you are not careful.
An experienced divorce attorney knows what a judge will be looking for in your divorce petition and the questions the judge will want to have answered before granting a divorce. An experienced divorce lawyer can review your separation agreement to make sure your rights and interests are protected. An attorney will make sure you haven’t overlooked any important issues that could crop up and hurt you down the road.
Let our experienced divorce lawyers help you move forward. No matter how simple or complicated your divorce is, we can make sure everything is in order. Contact us today in Raleigh, NC, to get started.
5 Reasons You Really Need a Lawyer for a Divorce
1. Legal know-how. Any journey goes smoother if you have a knowledgeable guide who knows the way. An experienced attorney knows what is involved in obtaining a divorce in North Carolina, from a year of separation to an equitable distribution of marital property and resolution of child custody considerations. A knowledgeable divorce attorney can help you avoid unnecessary conflict and craft a separation agreement that is fair and protects your interests.
The attorneys at Charles Ullman & Associates know North Carolina family law and the divorce process in Wake County. Our legal team is familiar with the types of issues that crop up during divorce negotiations. We have found ways to address them time and again. Attorney Charles Ullman has more than 20 years of legal experience and is certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a Board-certified Specialist in Family Law.
2. Steady guidance. You may think you are headed to an amicable split, but emotions run high when discussing divorce. There are reasons marriages end. Friendly relationships can quickly sour and turn contentious when negotiating the financial issues that must be addressed as part of a divorce such as child support and spousal support.
A divorce attorney can offer legal guidance and help you work through the points of conflict while making sure that you don’t agree to anything against your interests without understanding what you are doing.
3. Alternative paths. If you and your spouse are mostly in agreement as to what your separation and divorce should look like, you may be able to pursue a collaborative divorce. This approach seeks to put both you and your spouse on the same side of the table as you work through various issues with your attorneys’ assistance. If there are issues remaining, but you are both ready to settle them in good faith, mediation is a form of dispute resolution in which a neutral third-party mediator facilitates the couple’s discussions toward an agreement. Some mediators specialize in collaborative divorce mediation.
When considering a lawyer to help you with your divorce, ask about their experience with alternative dispute resolution. Divorcing couples can often achieve forward-looking resolutions of matters in dispute with the help of a family law attorney who has broad experience.
4. Financial protection.
Many people don’t recognize that divorce is very much a financial matter and that the transition from the combined income of a married couple to living on one income can reduce a lower standard of living. Especially for older women, divorce slashes income and can drain retirement savings. There are also many divorcees who face financial hardship because of what they have agreed to give to their spouses.
Protecting you financially is one of the primary responsibilities of an experienced divorce lawyer. This means ensuring that spousal support is fair and reasonable, if it is
appropriate to your situation, whether you are receiving support or paying it. When financial differences cannot be resolved through negotiation, the court may need to intervene.
5. Protection of your rights. Many unhappy spouses think they just want out and don’t care about what they may leave behind in a divorce. In addition to your right to an equitable share of everything you and your spouse accumulated during your marriage, you have rights to everything that was yours before you married. Property division and the division of marital debts are often points of contention.
An experienced North Carolina divorce attorney will take the steps necessary to classify all of your assets as marital property or separate property and make certain that an accurate value is assigned to each marital asset. Property may need to be sold to accomplish an equitable distribution of assets. Ensuring you receive what you are due starts with proper identification and valuation of marital property.
Get Help You Need from an Experienced N.C. Divorce Attorney
If you are closing out one chapter of your life by getting a divorce, you need an experienced divorce attorney to help you avoid missteps. A divorce agreement that does not provide you with proper legal protection may cause you lasting financial harm and affect whether see your children when you want.
Charles R. Ullman & Associates focuses on family law matters, including collaborative divorce and mediation. Our divorce attorneys will take the time necessary to understand your family circumstances and help you find workable solutions. Contact us today by calling us toll-free or by filling out our online contact form.
