How do I become legally separated?

In order to be legally separated, one spouse must move out of the house, and the spouses must live separate and apart with at least one spouse intending that the separation be permanent.

How much does a Separation and Property Settlement Agreement cost?

It depends. If there are not a lot of marital assets and debts to be divided and depending if there are minor children born of the marriage, a Separation Agreement can be basic and not break the bank. Typically, a $1,500-$2,500 retainer would be expected for a rather straight forward Agreement. If there are many marital assets and debts to be divided and an intensive financial analysis needs to be completed and custody, child support, and/or alimony need to be considered, then the Agreement will take more time to complete and thus, and a $2,500-$5,000 retainer would be appropriate for a more complex Agreement. The final cost is heavily dependent on how well the parties are communicating and negotiating.

How do we figure out custody right now?

You can agree to a temporary parenting agreement. For many parents who want to share custody with one another, they exercise a 2-2-3 schedule or a week on, week off schedule. However, it depends on what kind of schedule will work best for you and your spouse. If one parent is denying another parent visitation, you will need to file a Custody Complaint, schedule the mandatory mediation and obtain a date for a temporary custody hearing.

How is child support determined?

In many cases, child support is determined pursuant to the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines. There are child support worksheets in which you can input income information and child related expenses, and these worksheets will provide you with the amount of child support you or the other parent should pay pursuant to the guidelines.

How is alimony determined?

In the most basic sense, alimony is determined based on the needs of the dependent spouse, the ability to pay of the supporting spouse, the length of the marriage, the age and education of both parties, and the standard of living the spouses were accustomed to during their marriage. There are many other factors that are considered. An attorney can help provide you with specifics regarding your circumstances.

How do I protect my money?

You should monitor your joint bank accounts if you are separated or if you believe a separation is imminent.

Should I do anything with our joint accounts now?

Monitor them closely. If you have a joint account with your spouse, and you are concerned that your spouse is going to take all the money in the account, or the bulk of it, you may withdraw half of what is in the account.

What happens if we reconcile?

If you reconcile, then the date of separation that you established is no longer your date of separation. If you and your spouse executed a Separation Agreement, then you must look to the terms of your Separation Agreement to see what it says about reconciling.

How do I prevent my spouse from coming back to the house uninvited?

If you and your spouse have separated, and your spouse moves out of the house, and you do not want your spouse to come back to the house uninvited, you may tell your spouse so (preferably in writing via text or email). If your spouse comes back uninvited, you may call the police as your spouse has committed what is referred to as domestic criminal trespass.

If you would like further personalized information, please feel free to call Brian and schedule a $99 initial consultation (up to one hour) by calling (919) 424-8319.