There is no such thing as a quickie divorce in North Carolina, but the mandatory separation period can provide you with the time and distance you need to determine divorce terms that will help serve and your children’s needs into the future.
If you are going through a divorce, you likely have questions, and one of the most pressing questions of all is how long is this going to take? The divorce process is stressful, and making it to the other side and beginning your post-divorce future can be a real relief. While every divorce follows its own course, working with an experienced attorney will help ensure that you move through the divorce process as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Divorcing In North Carolina
In North Carolina, as in every other state, there are specific rules in place related to obtaining a divorce, and these rules help guide how long your divorce will ultimately take. These rules include:
- Before you or your spouse can file for divorce, you must have been separated for a year. You can take this year, however, to hammer out divorce terms between yourselves to help expedite the divorce process once it begins.
- In order to file in North Carolina, at least one of you must have lived in the state for at least six months.
- After one of you serves the other with divorce papers, the spouse who has been served has 30 days to file his or her response. If the respondent requests additional time, the court will likely grant an additional 30 days.
- Once this response period runs its course, the spouse who originally filed for divorce will file a Motion for Summary Judgment, and from here, you will face a wait that lasts from three to five weeks in which the judge will review your file and sign off on your final divorce judgment.
Your Divorce Terms
As mentioned, you can use your year of separation to come to divorce terms that you can both agree to. These terms might include:
- The Division of Marital Property – The assets and debts that you and your spouse acquired together as a married couple will need to be divided equitably. This means fairly within the given circumstances.
- Child Custody Arrangements – Determining each of your schedules with your shared children is one of the most difficult components of any divorce involving children.
- Child Support – Child support helps ensure that both parents support their children financially throughout their childhoods.
- Spousal Support – Spousal support, which is what many of us think of as alimony, is only awarded (usually temporarily) when one spouse has a post-divorce financial need, and the other spouse has the financial means to help mitigate that need.
Discuss Your Divorce Concerns With A Charlotte Divorce Law Firm Today
Every divorce follows its own schedule, but the dedicated attorneys at Blood Law in Charlotte are committed to applying their experience to help you come to divorce terms that allow you to move forward with renewed confidence. Our focus is divorce and family law, so please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (704) 286-0570 today.