Best Disability Attorneys in Greensboro, NC

North Carolina requires couples to separate for at least a year before they can file for divorce. Separation begins when the two parties move to separate residences with the intent to live and remain separate and apart. When parties separate and are able to agree on issues such as the division of assets and debts, it is usually wise to formalize these obligations in a separation agreement. Separation agreements are binding on both parties and can be enforced by the court. Couples who elect to separate can execute agreements relating to:

Mediation is one way to resolve disputes. An individual mediator works with both parties to reach an amicable agreement. Arbitration is similar to mediation, except both people consent to be bound by the determination that the arbiter makes. North Carolina requires all divorces involving children to undergo mediation. This process can have several benefits, including reduced court costs and an amicable resolution to problems between couples.

North Carolina uses a number of factors to determine how much child support the party without primary physical custody owes. These factors can include:

A court can order alimony to be paid to a spouse who was dependent on another spouse during their marriage. A unique twist in the law in North Carolina bars a spouse who committed adultery from receiving alimony. However, a finding that the supporting spouse was unfaithful requires an award of alimony. By law, courts in North Carolina are required to consider all marital assets as well as other factors, including:

In North Carolina, only property acquired during a marriage is eligible for distribution to a separating spouse. Eligible property acquired during the marriage includes a wide variety of categories under North Carolina law, including: