Morehead City Personal Injury, Divorce and Family Law Attorneys

Clear Communication and Expectations

At Irons and Irons, P.A., we know how important it is to work with a divorce lawyer you can rely on and who is there when you need them. That’s why we make it a point to limit our caseload so we can focus not only on handling the case to the best possible outcome, but we also make our clients a top priority.

We believe every client should have clear expectations and a thorough understanding of the process, timelines, and even potential obstacles. This is even more necessary when there are children involved in the proceedings. At every step during your divorce or custody proceedings, we’ll take time to walk you through what is happening, what it means, and how you can begin planning for the next step or for potential outcomes.

Solutions Offered By Your Morehead City Divorce Attorney

No two marriages are the same, and that also applies to divorce. While sometimes traditional divorce proceedings are the best course of action, it’s not right for every couple. That’s why we work with each client to provide a personalized legal strategy that pairs the right steps toward divorce to your unique case.

Separation Agreements

In a legal separation, a divorce lawyer will represent a party as the couple takes steps to separate every aspect of their lives, including the finances, living situation, possessions, and child custody. The court orders the child custody arrangements, how assets and debts are divided, and any support that is awarded.

However, the main difference from a divorce is the couple is still legally married to one another, meaning it’s not possible to get remarried, property can be inherited from one another, and a child born to a woman in the relationship is still legal issue of the other party unless a DNA test proves otherwise.

A legal separation may be beneficial for couples in situations including:

• Religious or personal beliefs prevent divorce but the couple wants to live separately.
• Wanting to work out issues without the finality of divorce as a separation is reversible.
• Fulfilling a state-required separation period. In North Carolina, a couple must live separate and apart for one year in order to be eligible for an absolute divorce.

Our team of divorce lawyers has experience in all aspects of the divorce process from creating a separation agreement that protects you during the one year required separation period to legal representation during the negotiation and litigation process.

Contested Divorce

A contested divorce is often a hostile and lengthy process due to a couples inability or unwillingness to come to a mutual agreement on terms. All details, including spousal support, child custody, and asset distribution must go through a negotiation process between you and your divorce attorney and your spouse and his or her attorney which often leads to multiple hearings. Those hearings end in a court trial in which in which all decisions of the settlement are determined by a judge.

Arbitration

In this divorce option, you and your spouse will hire a third party to make decisions similarly to how a judge would in a contested divorce. While this is often easier and more harmonious than a contested divorce, there may be multiple meetings before coming to an agreement. We often work in cases involving arbitration to ensure our clients are treated fairly and are able to voice their needs and concerns.

Mediated Divorce

Mediated divorce requires a third party to step in and work with both you and your spouse to come to a fair settlement quickly and amiably. A divorce lawyer is still necessary during this process to help you draft an initial agreement and help you look over the final results to ensure you are receiving a fair settlement. However, a mediated divorce is often much less expensive and more peaceful than either arbitration or contested divorce. At Irons & Irons P.A., we often assist our clients through mediation to help them determine their needs and review their final settlement agreement prior to signing.

No-Fault Divorce

If you’ve heard the phrase, “irreconcilable differences,” you’re familiar with a no-fault divorce. In this option, there is no blame placed on either party, meaning that it often starts out as a simple process. However, as both parties try and come to a settlement agreement regarding child custody, child support amounts, and division of assets, the divorce can quickly become stressful and complicated. In these divorces, we help our clients settle quickly without sacrificing a positive outcome for the future.

Absolute or Simple Divorce

An absolute divorce or simple divorce is simply the declaration by the court that the marriage is legally dissolved. While this is a quick, easy method of divorce in which both parties can avoid the courtroom, it’s important for both parties to understand how the process works. Our team can work with you to ensure you bring any claims for assets, property, and spousal support prior to the divorce judgment and help you complete the divorce process in less than 60 days.

Collaborative Divorce

A collaborative divorce is a transition away from the traditional divorce in which both parties choose to end their marriage with mutual respect rather than with acrimonious proceedings. The goal of a collaborative divorce is for both parties to work out an agreement that is mutually beneficial without going to court.

Both spouses meet with their attorneys present with the goal of a smooth process and an amicable settlement agreement. However, as part of this proceeding, there is an agreement that if the divorce does not resolve through collaboration, each party will hire a new lawyer to take the divorce to a trial. Most collaborative divorces end easily with minimal stress and hostility.

High Net Worth Divorce

In the case of a high net worth divorce, it is crucial to work with a divorce attorney with experience in this type of divorce. Due to the sheer amount of assets, often including stock options and investment accounts, distributing property is highly complex and often requires external financial experts to help ensure favorable outcomes. Our team of attorneys understands the complexities of high net worth divorce and will fight to protect your assets and secure your future.

Solutions Offered by Your Morehead City Family Law Attorney

Child support and child custody can be incredibly challenging for families as you are focusing to provide the best future as you move forward from divorce. We are experienced in family law and can work with you to help you understand your rights and your options while creating a strategy that aligns with your goals for the future.

Child Custody

At the time of a divorce, one of the most difficult aspects of negotiation is setting up custody schedules that work for both parties and especially the children. While most people only factor in physical custody, which is referring to the person with whom the child lives, it’s important to consider legal custody. Legal custody refers to making decisions regarding health care, education, and major life factors, and while most parents are awarded joint legal custody, there are times we help clients fight for sole custody for the sake of the child’s welfare. We work with our clients to tailor solutions that ensure the best outcomes for both legal custody and physical custody.

Child Custody Modifications

A child custody schedule is often determined with a long-term outlook in mind. However, circumstances do change, and it’s important to take those changes into consideration. In situations in which a parent’s availability changes, such as going back to school, changing jobs, or moving closer or further from the other parent, the custody schedule can be modified to meet everyone’s best interest. Sometimes, the needs of the child require a shift in the custody schedule.

The most important aspect to modifying a custody agreement is showing that a major change has taken place, and it would be beneficial to the child to adjust the schedule. We help families deliver the optimal results for their children whether they are seeking child custody modifications or need to voice concerns.

Child Support Modifications

Determining child support is a complex formula with the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines serving as its foundation. However, having a family law expert who understands the variables such as self-employment salaries, the custody agreement, and other responsibilities is necessary to ensure a fair and appropriate child support amount.

However, after the initial child support determination, it may be necessary to revisit the amount as life changes occur. Our team of family law attorneys work with clients to help modify support amounts based on in-depth examinations of income, health insurance, education costs, and other factors that go far beyond just year-end tax forms.

Contact a Morehead City Divorce Attorney Today!

If you have questions regarding divorce and family law in Morehead City reach out to the team at Irons & Irons, P.A. We offer the experience you need to ensure the best possible outcome and are here to provide you expert legal assistance. Schedule your initial consultation today by calling us at  252-585-5150 or filling out our convenient contact form below.  Protecting your Privacy ~ Your privacy is our primary concern.  At Irons & Irons, we understand the importance of protecting your privacy and will never share your contact information with a 3rd party.