Alternatives to Court, Part 2: Mediation

Mediation is the most common alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process used in family law cases. While it requires a cooperative approach, mediation provides the parties involved the opportunity, flexibility and control to jointly make decisions they believe are the best solutions to their conflicts.

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Alternatives to Court, Part 1: Informal Settlement Negotiations

The laws of North Carolina are specifically structured to encourage parties involved in family-related matters, such as divorce, child custody, child support, postseparation support, alimony, and equitable distribution, to settle their legal issues outside of court.

What to Expect When You Go to Court

When preparing for a hearing or trial in family court, knowing what to expect and being familiar with the court process can make your day in court less stressful. We are here to guide you through that process.

Preparing a Financial Affidavit

When preparing a financial affidavit, the best policy is to be honest and realistic. We recommend that you review and verify all financial documents that pertain to your current income and expenses, as well as drawing parallels to the marital standard of living.

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Understanding Financial Affidavits

In all legal actions that include claims for child support, post-separation support, and/or alimony, the local family court rules for Buncombe County require each party to complete and file with the court a “financial affidavit” (local Form 4).

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Why Should I Consider a Prenuptial Agreement?

Many people think of a prenuptial agreement as a legal document used by celebrities and wealthy individuals to protect their income and assets in the event of divorce. This may foster common misconceptions about prenuptial agreements.

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Spousal Support, Part 1: What is PSS?

When spouses separate, it is sometimes necessary for one spouse to provide financial support to the other spouse. North Carolina recognizes two forms of spousal support: one is post-separation support, and the other is alimony.

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Discovery: The fact-finding and investigative phase of your case

Discovery is a legal term used to describe various processes that may be used to investigate and discover facts relevant to your case. After a lawsuit has been filed, your attorney can use discovery to obtain information and documentation to support or defend claims and investigate allegations asserted by either party.

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What to expect when a lawsuit has been filed In your domestic case

Buncombe County is currently one of 13 judicial districts in North Carolina that has a dedicated Family Court system within its District Court division. The primary advantages to filing a legal action in a Family Court district is that the case is assigned to one judge…

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Should I try to settle with my spouse or go to court and let a judge decide?

Once you have made formal arrangements to retain a divorce attorney, usually indicated by signing a fee agreement and paying any required retainers, your attorney will begin work on your legal matters.