Written by Jonathan Breeden
According to the American Psychological Association, as many as 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce. While getting a divorce is probably one of the most taxing and emotional events you can go through, it may be necessary. Although the process may feel painful, it’s something that you don’t have to go through on your own — the right North Carolina divorce lawyer can guide you through the process and give you the answers you need.
The Breeden Law Office understands how difficult divorce may feel and how overwhelming the whole process may be. We’re here to help you protect your future. Call (919) 661-4970 to schedule your consultation now.
Although it may feel impossible at times, ending your marriage through North Carolina’s divorce process may be the best way to help your family towards peace of mind and a secure future. Many of these steps may feel like common sense, but sometimes it’s easy to lose track when so many people are giving you advice. Check these tips to see if they’re helpful and call our office to get more answers.
A divorce is an emotional period, even if all the parties involved agree the marriage should end. There are many stressful decisions, like who gets to keep the house or who has to pay alimony once the divorce is finalized. Tensions can rise and feelings can spill over into arguments. It’s crucial that you try to maintain a calm, practical attitude with your spouse. Try to keep your communications professional and copy your divorce attorney into any written dialogue.
A divorce is like other legal or business proceedings — there is going to be a ton of paperwork. The court will need to see everything in order to make a fair decision. That means you should track down all proof of marital property and assets, bills, bank statements, car loan documents, mortgages, credit card statements, retirement plans, and anything else to show how much is at stake in the divorce. Collecting all of this evidence may take some time, so getting started sooner rather than later will help you and your divorce attorney.
Children can pick up on their parents’ emotions even in the best of times. When high-conflict feelings overflow in a divorce, your kids may feel these emotions clearly. You should do your best not to let your children get personally involved with your divorce. Whatever goes on between your spouse and you does not have anything to do with your children, so it’s best not to fight in front of your kids or speak badly about each other to them. When presiding over a divorce involving minor children, the court will always strive to do what is in the best interests of the children, and you should adopt the same attitude as well. Knowing how to talk about your divorce with your kids can make things easier for them as well.
It’s tempting to want an outlet for negative thoughts, and many people have started using social media to vent. However, going online to bash your spouse or to brag about how you’re getting one over on him or her is severely frowned upon and can be detrimental to your case. It’s best to only minimally use social media accounts during your separation and divorce. If you need an outlet, you can always talk to your attorney, a close friend, or start a journal.
Because North Carolina is an equitable distribution state, you can ask the court to divide your marital assets and bills equitably. However, you also have the power to do this yourselves, which many couples elect to do during their mandatory one-year separation period. If you let the court decide, keep in mind that its decision regarding separation of property will be final, so it might be in your best interest to make these choices yourselves. A divorce attorney can help you negotiate separation of property in a way that will be approve by the court.
Be sure to review your will, as well as any powers of attorney, retirement accounts or investment accounts where your spouse is listed as the primary beneficiary. A divorce will end your marriage but does not automatically remove your spouse from your estate or your financial accounts. Your family law attorney can help you create new documents that supersede all previous determinations of beneficiaries.
Once you’ve got all of your finance documents together, you should be setting yourself up for a stable future. That could mean different things, depending on your situation, but for the most part, it’s knowing how your finances will work. You should have your own individual bank account, your own credit card, and ways to attribute debt to the appropriate person. You should also prepare any arguments for child support, alimony, or child custody. Working through these objectives with your divorce attorney can ensure all of your goals are outlined and you are prepared for your case.
Divorce is complicated, even when both spouses want to end the marriage. Issues you thought you agreed upon may easily turn into hurdles that delay the final divorce decree. It’s possible to file for divorce on your own, but it’s less stressful to work with a skilled North Carolina divorce lawyer. They can explain your legal options, guide you through difficult decisions, and ensure your case is on its best footing.
The right divorce attorney can help you through the stressful divorce period, spotting potential pain points before they interrupt your daily life.
With more than 20 years of experience helping North Carolina families with their divorce, Attorney Jonathan Breeden understands what your family needs to achieve peace and move towards the future. Jonathan founded his firm with the intent to help people like you make it through your divorce with as little issues as possible.
Attorney Breeden has helped many North Carolina residents by making their divorce proceedings as stress-free as possible. To see what he can do for you, call (919) 661-4970 today.