Experienced, Client-Focused Divorce Attorneys Serving New Bern
The experience of going through a divorce can be one of the most challenging times in a person’s life. In many cases, divorce can turn contentious, leaving both parties in an unstable future, and if children are involved in the separation, both the legal and the personal aspects become much more complicated.
Working with Irons and Irons P.A, you have an experienced team you can rely on. We offer comprehensive legal services related to family law to meet your unique circumstances while providing you with the legal representation to ensure a secure, confident future. We are with you every step of the way, from your first consultation to the final agreement, so you have clarity and confidence in your case and your options.
Clear Communication and Thorough Understanding
We know the importance of working with a divorce lawyer you can rely on and trust to have your best interests at the forefront. Our goal is to be here when you need us which is why we make it a point to limit our caseload so we can focus on you as a top priority.
Through clear communication, we help our clients to have appropriate expectations and a thorough understanding of the process, timelines, and potential obstacles. Our attorneys take the time throughout the process to walk you through every step, from explaining documents and legal jargon to how you can begin planning for the next step or for potential outcomes.
Comprehensive Family Law Services from Our Divorce Attorneys
All marriages are unique, and the same goes for divorce. Sometimes traditional divorce proceedings are the best course of action, but traditional may not be the right choice for every couple. That’s why we work with each client to provide a personalized legal strategy that pairs the right steps toward divorce for each case.
Separation Agreements
In a legal separation, a divorce attorney represents 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.
The primary difference from a divorce is that the couple is still legally married to one another, which means they can’t get remarried, property can be inherited from one another, and a child born to a woman in the relationship is still the legal issue of the other party, unless a DNA test proves otherwise.
A legal separation may be beneficial for couples in situations where:
- Religious or personal beliefs prevent divorce but the couple wants to live separately.
- The couple wants to work out issues without the finality of divorce, as a separation is reversible.
- The state of residence requires a 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 completely decided by a judge, often because the two spouses are in a contentious relationship and unable to work together to decide a settlement arrangement. All details, including spousal support, child custody, and asset distribution must go through a negotiation process between the spouses and their attorneys, which often leads to multiple hearings. Those hearings end in a court trial in which all decisions of the settlement are determined by a judge.
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 who has experience in this area. Due to the amount and diversity of assets, which usually includes 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.
Absolute or Simple Divorce
An absolute divorce or simple divorce is simply the declaration by the court that the marriage is legally dissolved. Even though 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.
Arbitration
If you decide on an arbitration, you and your spouse hire a third party to make decisions similarly to the way a judge does in a contested divorce. While this option can be easier and more harmonious than a contested divorce, it may take some time having multiple meetings before coming to an agreement. We often work in cases involving arbitration to ensure our clients are treated fairly and have a setting to voice their needs and concerns.
Mediated Divorce
Mediated divorce requires a third party to be involved, working 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 then to 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 amicable than either arbitration or contested divorce. Our role in this process is to assist our clients prior to mediation to help them determine their needs and review their final settlement agreement before signing.
No-Fault Divorce
If you’ve heard the phrase “irreconcilable differences,” you are 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, many times the divorce can quickly become stressful and complicated as both parties work toward an agreement regarding child custody, child support amounts, and division of assets. In these divorces, we help our clients settle quickly without sacrificing a positive outcome.
Solutions Offered the Family Law Attorneys at Irons & Irons P.A
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 outcome 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 can change, and it’s important to take those changes into consideration. In situations where 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 that 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 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.
Schedule a Consultation with Our Divorce Attorneys
If you have questions regarding divorce or family law in New Bern, reach out to the team at Irons & Irons, P.A. Our experienced attorneys will work on your behalf to help you move forward into your new future with security and confidence. 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.
