DIVORCE AND SEPARATION
Experiencing a divorce is one of life’s most stressful events. Your future is unclear, your finances are uncertain, and the fate of your children is unknown. Having the right divorce lawyer can make all the difference. As an experienced family law attorney, we provide compassion, guidance, and skilled legal counsel during the difficult times of family or marital challenges and transitions. It can be stressful and confusing to try to figure out how you begin to adjust to your new life. The Law Office of Nathan Earwood negotiates for you to help obtain fair and healthy outcomes.
North Carolina requires that the couple have lived separate and apart for one year and that one party must have resided in North Carolina for six months prior to the filing of the action.
Look here for more information on N.C. Divorce Requirements.
CHILD CUSTODY AND
CHILD SUPPORT
Child custody is one of the most difficult issues a parent faces when a relationship ends. When a couple decide to divorce or separate, child custody and visitation can be one of the most emotional and contentious issues to settle. Child custody lawyers provide guidance during child custody cases. The main focus must always be on what is in the best interest of the child. The Law Office of Nathan Earwood represents families in all aspects of child custody and visitation, including:
– Physical and Legal Custody
– Visitation
– Modification of Custody and Visitation Orders
– Grandparent Visitation and Rights
– Court Enforcement of Orders
GUARDIANSHIP
If a loved one becomes unable to make decisions for him or herself, he or she may need a guardian. A guardian helps make decisions regarding general health, rehabilitation, managing assets, paying bills, and arranging for medical treatment. You can trust The Law Office of Nathan Earwood to protect your loved one’s rights when they are unable to.
There are three forms of legal guardianship in North Carolina:
– Guardianship over the Person In this situation, the guardian is in charge of making medical, educational, and living decisions for the ward. As a personal guardian, you would handle living arrangements, education, healthcare, and related matters.
– Guardianship over the Estate A court may appoint an estate guardian to manage the ward’s finances, assets, and investments.
– General Guardianship The personal guardian and estate guardian are only empowered to handle the tasks falling within their respective roles, but it may be convenient to have the same person manage both areas of the ward’s life.
Family Law is a broad term relating to all matters that involve family relationships. No two clients are alike and at The Law Office of Nathan Earwood, your family matters.
ADOPTION
If you’re considering adoption, congratulations on the choice to give a child permanency! Adoption is a wonderful way to expand your family, with many options available to you that we can help you with. Whether you are adopting a step-child, a relative, or a child from another state or country, providing a needed home to a child is one of the most rewarding ways to expand your family. Legally speaking, adoption is the formal process of establishing a legal relationship as a parent and child and severs all ties between the child and his or her biological parents.
POSTSEPARATION SUPPORT AND ALIMONY
In many relationships, one individual is dependent on the other for financial support. Spousal support is also referred to as spousal maintenance, alimony, or divorce maintenance. Worrying about financial stability during separation and after a divorce is final and can add a lot of stress to an already emotional situation. Courts determine whether postseparation support (temporary support until a final decision) or alimony is appropriate by balancing equities in the relationship. The Law Office of Nathan Earwood works tirelessly for you and helps navigate this process as painlessly as possible.
PROPERTY DIVISION
In a perfect world, all parties would agree to property division outside of court. Unfortunately, not all couples are reasonable and court involvement may be necessary to identify property, assign values, and distribute the property in an equitable and fair manner. Marriages involve a lot of stuff: vehicles, houses, bank accounts, household appliances and furniture, your John Wayne movie collection, and much more. The laws applying to divorce and property division in North Carolina dictate that all marital property including assets and debts be divided equitably rather than equally.
We can help represent you and determine a fair and equitable outcome.
Look here for more information on N.C. Equitable Distribution.