As life changes, it is possible to adjust certain agreements made in your divorce. It is most common to adjust the child support payments and even the custody arrangement, should you or your family experience significant life changes. However, what about your property division agreement? Is that final? Answer? Yes. The order for property division is final once you finalize the divorce. That is why it is critical to take each step of asset division carefully, from the inventory of marital property to the review of the final agreement. This can help you secure your rights and finances during the ..read more

At the height of the summer season, school is the last thing that children – and perhaps even parents – want to think about. However, stores across North Carolina are already displaying their “Back to School” selections. If parents are unmarried and co-parenting, it pays to be prepared for the coming school year in advance. This is true particularly when it comes to determining how you will manage your child’s education expenses. 3 tips to handle school expenses It will help to be on the same page with your child’s other parent as you get your child ready for school. Considering these three op ..read more

From living separately for at least one year to negotiating the division of your marital property, you have nearly completed the entire process of ending your marriage. However, when is your divorce officially considered final? The judge must sign off on your divorce To finalize a divorce in North Carolina, a judge must sign the divorce decree. This is a requirement whether you resolved matters: In court, if the divorce involved serious conflict Or outside of court, in mediation Of course, the entire divorce process leading up to this point is not often as simple. Therefore, it is also critica ..read more

For some unmarried parents, co-parenting is a good solution. They divide time with their kids and work together to a certain level to raise them in separate households. However, a co-parenting arrangement might not be a solution that works for everyone. One parent might not follow the rules of the parenting agreement. In other cases, they might simply not be as cooperative as co-parenting often requires. What can North Carolina parents do if they are in this situation? The 3 Cs to address when facing co-parenting challenges The first thing to note if you are in this situation, is that it is no ..read more

It takes courage to inform your spouse you want to end the marriage. However, what if they disagree? They claim they do not want a divorce, or perhaps even refuse to divorce you. After building up that courage to take the next step, this response can be stress-inducing. What do you do now? Here are a few things to consider. 3 steps to take if they say “No.” You may feel stuck if your spouse does not agree to divorce. That is natural. To move things forward, it might help to: Give them time: If your spouse does not want to divorce, take a step back. In some cases, a spouse might simply need to ..read more

North Carolina law requires divorcing spouses to divide their marital property, but some people may try to prevent their ex-spouse from getting their fair share. They might hide assets in some cases. In others, they might try to dissipate marital property. The most common signs of dissipation often include high credit card balances and shopping sprees. So, it is important to pay close attention to your financial statements and accounts during the divorce proceedings. Even so, these are not the only forms of dissipation. It is important to be aware of some of the other ways this might appear so ..read more

A divorce may end a marriage, but it does not end your parental obligations. In turn, you likely still have regular contact with your ex-spouse and perhaps their family. They are still your child’s family, after all. In some cases, this can be a stressful situation, especially if an ex-spouse’s family exhibits toxic or hostile behavior towards you. What can you do in these cases? 1. Do not engage As Psychology Today notes, avoiding any engagement is one of the most important steps you can take when dealing with toxic extended family members. Whether harassing or snide comments are made in pers ..read more

Providing for your children is one of the most important parts of being a parent. Of course, parents must provide shelter, safety and emotional support, but they must also provide financial support. That is why child support is such a critical detail to address when parents separate or divorce. However, as we have discussed in previous blog posts, it does not take much for your family’s life or finances to change. When changes happen in life, it might be necessary to make changes to child support. How do you approach changing child support? Parents looking to adjust their child support payment ..read more

When parents live in the same house, it is often easy to touch base about how your child is faring and discuss any worries you may have about them. When parents are unmarried and living separately, this process is not nearly as simple. However, it is often still important to communicate with your co-parent. Many people nowadays do this through regularly scheduled co-parenting meetings. Whether these meetings are virtual or in-person, the following tips can help you ensure the meeting is worthwhile. Be professional Parenting is a job. Therefore, it can help to treat this meeting like you would ..read more

No one can predict the future. In some cases, that can be an uncomfortable reality, especially if the present leaves you facing incredible stress and uncertainty. The fear of the unknown is a real issue that many face during divorce. What can you do to manage this fear? 1. Do some research The adage is true: knowledge is power. So, one critical way you can combat the fear of the unknown is to make sure you know what to expect. It may help to: Take time to understand your rights in North Carolina Research the process of divorce, including the different methods available to you Speak with legal ..read more