Essentially, family law covers all matters related to families. However, these matters often involve the most life-changing circumstances. Thus, when you’re seeking an attorney, you want one with compassion and empathy. Yet, you also require one with experience. When you need a family lawyer near me providing superior results, hire Morgenstern & Associates.
A Family Lawyer Can Handle Your Divorce
Unfortunately, some marriages end in divorce. When that time comes, you may need the help of an experienced lawyer. A family law attorney can guide you through the legal process and protect your rights.
Along with dissolving your marriage, a lawyer can handle other issues surrounding your divorce:
- Property division
- Alimony
- Custody issues
- Child support
Often, deciding who gets what after a divorce is one of the most fought-over issues. In North Carolina, the courts use equitable rather than equal distribution. With equitable distribution, the courts divide assets and debt acquired during the marriage in a way the courts deem fair.
In doing so, the courts divide property into 3 categories:
- Separate property
- Marital property
- Divisible property
Fundamentally, separate property is all that each spouse acquired before the marriage. Conversely, marital property is assets and debts the couple gained during the marriage. Finally, divisible property includes any change in the value of the marital property between the date of separation and distribution.
Other areas where couples tend to disagree include alimony, child custody, and child support. The outcome of each of these issues can have long-term consequences. Thus, it’s crucial you have an experienced law firm, like Morgenstern & Associates fighting for you.
Other Matters Handled By A Family Lawyer
Generally, family law encompasses all family-related issues and domestic relations. Undoubtedly, divorce is one of the most common reasons for consulting a family law attorney. However, these types of attorneys can handle other related aspects of family law:
- Paternity
- Domestic violence
- Name change
- Prenuptial agreement
- Adoption
Often, statutes and controlling court decisions regarding family law are complicated. Thus, you need the experience an attorney can provide to protect your rights and reach a favorable outcome. Morgenstern & Associates combines experience with compassion when it matters most.
Barbara Morgenstern and Ashley Bennington Leading Family Law Attorneys
One way to recognize great lawyers is through their credentials. Certainly, all practicing attorneys must pass their state’s bar examination to practice law. Yet, experience, board certification, and adjunct teaching positions can solidify their reputation.
Together, Barbara Morgenstern and Ashely Bennington have over 40 years of family law experience. In addition, both are family law board certified specialists. Moreover, US World Reports ranks Morgenstern & Associates as a Tier 1 law firm in a metropolitan area. Lastly, both serve as adjunct law professors at local law schools. Teaching family law validates their expertise in this particular area of law.
FAQs About Hiring A Family Lawyer Near Me
Finding the best family lawyer near me will have long-term consequences. To help you in your search, we’ve put together some of our most commonly asked questions.
What Does It Mean To Be A Board Certified Specialist?
As you search for a lawyer, you may come across the designation “board certified specialist.” A board certified attorney has met certain requirements acknowledging expertise in that particular area of law. In North Carolina, a lawyer must have 5 key elements:
- NC license and in be in good standing with the state bar association
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in the specialty field
- Completion of continuing legal education (CLE) credit hours
- Satisfactory peer review
- Passage of the state bar’s specialty examination
What Are The Legal Grounds For Obtaining A DivorceIn North Carolina?
Basically, North Carolina is a no-fault divorce state. This means you can divorce for any reason once you have met the statutory requirements.
Generally, you’re eligible to file for divorce after you and your spouse have lived separately for one year. Additionally, one party must have lived in the state for six months. Moreover, your spouse does not have to agree to the divorce in order to file.
How Long Will My Divorce Take?
Typically, the circumstances of every divorce are different. While most couples can’t wait until the finalization of their divorce, disagreements can prevent the process from moving forward. Arguments over property division, alimony, child custody, and child support can extend the proceedings.
At Morgenstern & Associates, we understand the emotional turmoil the process creates. Having a swift resolution so you can start to rebuild your life is our goal too. Thus, we’ll present realistic alternatives like mediation to avoid court.
What Will It Cost?
As with many other professions, lawyers base their fees on their experience. With over 40 years of combined experience, we’ve helped many couples satisfactorily settle their divorce. Plus, U.S. News & World Report regionally ranks our firm based on a rigorous evaluation process.
In addition to your lawyer’s experience, the complexity of your case will help determine your legal fee. Some divorces are simple with no children and very little property. Others are complicated with child custody disagreements. We cannot give a generalized fee without knowing the particulars of your case.
How Can A Divorce Attorney Help?
No one wants to go through the stress and anxiety that comes with a divorce. Yet, if a divorce is unavoidable, you want someone to advocate and fight for your rights. When you’re looking for one of the best divorce lawyers near me, you’ll want to use Morgenstern & Associates.
Call us at 336-203-9110 to discuss the particulars of your case. You’ll find a compassionate ear backed by years of experience.