Raleigh Divorce Law Firm Raleigh Divorce Law Firm2026-06-27T00:43:26Zhttps://www.raleighdivorcelawfirm.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1303979/2023/10/cropped-siteicon-1-32x32.jpgOn Behalf of Raleigh Divorce Law Firm<![CDATA[You’ve decided to sell your house in divorce. What should you do?]]>https://www.raleighdivorcelawfirm.com/?p=529542026-06-24T00:53:44Z2026-06-27T00:43:26ZWhat you do with the family home in divorce can be a major pain point. That is why, in some cases, divorcing couples figure that selling the home and dividing the proceeds will be the easier route, rather than trying to negotiate who keeps the house.
However, there are many, many steps that North Carolina homeowners must take to prepare to sell their house. In a divorce, this process can seem almost overwhelming. How should you approach this path?
4 steps to guide you
Selling the house is a much more involved process than simply listing it on the market, as you may know. Navigating this during the process of divorce will require you to take great care, and it will help to:
Determine your goal in the sale: How much time, money and effort are you willing to invest in your home to get it ready to put on the market? Are you seeking top dollar or just a fair deal? These are critical questions to answer. You and your spouse will also divide the finances you invest in preparing the home for sale, but you must agree on your end goal before moving forward.
Prepare your home: Once you and your spouse have established your goal for the sale, then you can put your plan into action. You must review all of the steps involved in the process of selling a house and prepare your strategy. Evaluate the local real estate market, fulfill the renovations or work needed that aligns with your goals – and say your goodbyes to the home that served your family well.
Plan how you will communicate: Regardless of your goal, selling your home can be even more difficult if you and your spouse do not exactly get along. Since you will have to agree on how you handle the home throughout the preparation, showing and closing procedures, you will have to maintain some level of communication. It will be beneficial to establish rules of how you will communicate – during the sale and the process of your divorce as a whole.
Calculate how you will divide the profits: On top of the various steps to sell your home, the process of dividing the proceeds from the sale remains. You must divide these proceeds equitably, which will require a careful consideration and calculation.
While selling your home is a real estate matter, your divorce is an intensely personal family law matter. Working with an experienced attorney can help you manage significant marital assets and protect your rights.]]>On Behalf of Raleigh Divorce Law Firm<![CDATA[Is a 50/50 child custody arrangement feasible?]]>https://www.raleighdivorcelawfirm.com/?p=529522026-06-19T06:12:39Z2026-06-22T06:06:05ZWhat is a parent’s first concern when they face a divorce? Their children, of course. Parents do not want to imagine a home without them, even for a brief time. Yet, divorcing parents must negotiate child custody and divide time with their children.
For fairness’ sake, many parents who will share custody wish to divide parenting time equally, with a 50/50 schedule. But they may worry if it is even possible to truly maintain an equal division of parenting time.
Can you have a 50/50 custody schedule?
Of course it is possible to divide parenting time equally. After all, you have certain rights as a parent in North Carolina, which include maintaining time with your child and having them in your care. Both parents have these rights, and both parents are equal in the eyes of the law. The law does not favor one parent over the other in custody cases, contrary to popular myths. The larger question will be whether or not an equal division of parenting time is truly feasible for your family’s situation and needs.
Parents must still be realistic about custody schedules
You and your ex-spouse may completely agree that you want to divide your time with your child equally. However, making a 50/50 parenting time schedule actually work will take careful consideration in the planning phase and in action. From when you first begin negotiating the terms of your custody arrangement to actually navigating custody in real life, you must be realistic. It will be critical to:
Honestly evaluate your family’s needs and circumstances to establish a custody arrangement that actually works for your family.
Carefully consider your child’s needs in these situations, as their needs come first. As the North Carolina Judicial Branch notes, parents do have rights and should obtain a fair agreement, but their child’s best interests take priority in child custody matters.
Assess your schedules and the logistics. How close you and your ex-spouse live to each other, each of your work schedules and your child’s schedule will all be important factors you must consider as you determine your child custody arrangement – especially if your goal is to divide custody 50/50.
As you can see, there are many factors that will go into creating your parenting schedule. The biggest factor in making this 50/50 split work? That will be you and your ex-spouse’s commitment to maintaining your arrangement and supporting your child’s needs as they grow. ]]>On Behalf of Raleigh Divorce Law Firm<![CDATA[Finding peace: An important, internal step in divorce]]>https://www.raleighdivorcelawfirm.com/?p=529492026-06-06T01:44:04Z2026-06-10T01:36:23ZYou made your decision: ending the marriage is the right choice moving forward. Then, you collect the information you need to understand how divorce works in North Carolina. Once the separation period ends, you officially file for divorce.
However, throughout all of these steps, there is no way to overlook the emotional impact this decision and the proceedings have on your life. So, while you are completing these logistical steps to end your marriage, there is one more important step you must take: address your emotions head on and find peace.
How can you make peace with your decision?
Even if you are the one to initiate the divorce, you may still feel doubtful and even pressured by outside perspectives. You may know this is the right path for you and your family, but still feel uncertain. This uncertainty within can make taking the legal steps feel even more challenging. So, as you begin the process, you must also work to find peace by:
Not ignoring your feelings: From the positive to the negative emotions you may experience, make sure you do not stifle them or try to rush through them. It may be uncomfortable for a time, but giving yourself space to work through your emotions at your own pace will be more beneficial in the long run.
Reframing the idea of “failure”: When a marriage ends, some people say it “failed.” Even friends or family who mean well may use this language. However, divorce is not a failure. Your life is simply moving in a different direction than your spouse’s. You can reframe your perspective by focusing on the new start you have ahead of you.
Focusing on the future, not the past: Letting the hurt and pain – or even the early happiness – of the past relationship influence you in the present can make the divorce process even more challenging than it already is. It can spark conflict in your divorce, and within yourself. Concentrate on the future you are building as you complete the steps to end your marriage.
Making sure you address your emotional health during divorce is critical to help you find peace in your decision and in each step you take towards the future. After all, the preparation and action phases of divorce will feel difficult to take on if you do not take care of yourself throughout the process. ]]>On Behalf of Raleigh Divorce Law Firm<![CDATA[The next step in divorce? Action.]]>https://www.raleighdivorcelawfirm.com/?p=529402026-06-04T04:10:39Z2026-06-06T03:50:06ZAs we discussed in the previous blog post, the first step to take when you decide to get a divorce is to get informed. When you have the information – and the advocacy – you need, then you are ready to act.
But first, strategize
“Think before you act.” That is helpful advice in many situations. It is especially important during a divorce. You should have a plan of action for each step you take, from informing your spouse of your desire to divorce to negotiating how to handle the family home. Working with your attorney, you can craft a personalized plan for every step that lies ahead. There is no rush to have a plan in place, especially since you must fulfill the separation period of one year and one day before filing for divorce. You can take advantage of your separation period to strategize how you will proceed and protect your future.
When is it time to move forward?
You are ready to file for divorce in North Carolina when you fulfill these three action items:
Then you can take the official first step of the divorce proceedings, which is filing the complaint and other necessary forms with the court. There are many steps, large and small, within the process of a divorce, as we noted in the previous blog post. These steps so far discussed aim to prepare you for the legal process, to take actionable measures to end your marriage. However, not all of the critical steps occur in the physical world, so to speak. As you are well aware, there is no way to remove the intensely personal and emotional aspect from a divorce. While it is essential to know how to move forward and properly prepare yourself, it can be difficult to do while grappling with contradictory and extreme emotions. In the next blog post, we will discuss the final and concurrent step that is important to take during this process. ]]>On Behalf of Raleigh Divorce Law Firm<![CDATA[What is the first step to take in divorce?]]>https://www.raleighdivorcelawfirm.com/?p=529312026-05-30T04:44:49Z2026-06-03T03:49:02ZIt is a difficult decision to end your marriage. However, if that is the right path for you and your family, you must determine how to move forward. So, what is the first thing you should do once you have made your decision?
Step one: Get informed
The first step is actually many, combined into one. To effectively prepare yourself for your divorce, it will help immensely to educate yourself on the basics of the legal process ahead. For example, you should review:
The classification of what makes assets separate property or marital property
The standing of your finances during your marriage
How child custody arrangements and parenting time will work
If you know what to expect, it can take a lot of stress off your shoulders. Of course, you will not have to embark on this first step – or the journey through divorce – alone. It is always an option to speak to a legal professional experienced in divorce proceedings and family law matters. Family law attorneys handle these issues every day, and can fully explain and help protect your rights.
What’s next?
Conducting research and seeking guidance to understand what lies ahead is critical, because it will prepare you for action. Even considering a divorce can feel overwhelming. Beginning the process of legally ending your marriage can seem like an insurmountable task at first. Informing yourself makes that task a little less daunting.Once you have fortified yourself with the knowledge and guidance you need, it allows you to plan your strategy. That way, you feel confident as you act on this life-changing decision, and take the first steps into the new chapter of your life. ]]>On Behalf of Raleigh Divorce Law Firm<![CDATA[A look at parents’ post-divorce anxiety]]>https://www.raleighdivorcelawfirm.com/?p=528102026-05-21T04:40:41Z2026-05-22T04:36:36ZIt is natural for parents to worry about their children. Are they doing well in school? Are they making friends? Are they happy, healthy and safe?
These questions and worries are commonly on a parents’ mind. However, could there be a time when these natural worries overflow and become too much?
What is parental anxiety?
When worries become so overwhelming that they interfere with your daily life, medical and mental health experts classify that as an anxiety disorder. Many experts also recognize subcategories of anxiety – with one of those being parental anxiety. Verywell Mind notes that while parental anxiety is common in new parents, it is characterized by excessive, even irrational, worry about one’s children. In 2024, even the U.S. Surgeon General noted that parental anxiety is a serious health concern across the country.
How can a divorce factor in?
A divorce is already a stressful experience. As a parent, of course you would tend to worry more about your child’s wellbeing during this time. Parental anxiety may be common in new parents, but it could also develop due to:
The divorce itself, and the changes it brings to your whole family
Compounded worries about how the divorce could impact your child
How your child is adjusting to the new child custody arrangement and family dynamic
Normal worries increasing when you are away from your children, when it is the other parent's parenting time
You may not be a new parent, but parenting after a divorce is a whole new experience. Navigating this new situation can be anxiety-inducing on its own. Worrying about your children on top of that? It is no wonder why the risk of parental anxiety could be high after a divorce.It is important to be aware of how a divorce can affect your mental health. Knowing what can trigger anxiety to develop can help you proactively take care of your own and your children’s mental health.To manage the stress of divorce in North Carolina – and parenting after divorce – do not be afraid to seek out help and support for your mental health. You are not alone, and it is possible to work through and move forward from anxiety stemming from a specific, life-changing situation.]]>On Behalf of Raleigh Divorce Law Firm<![CDATA[How do parents divide sentimental items in divorce?]]>https://www.raleighdivorcelawfirm.com/?p=528012026-05-16T03:38:33Z2026-05-19T02:50:14ZOver the years, it is common for parents to collect keepsakes as they watch their children grow. Your child may grow out of their first pair of shoes quickly, but you hang onto them for nostalgic purposes. Some things you may hold onto to pass down again to your children, when they have children.
There are many of these items you might hold dear, including, but not limited to:
Baby pictures or the baby book
Your child’s old artwork
Even your child’s old toys or clothes
These physical manifestations of your most treasured memories may not hold financial value. However, they have significant sentimental value. They are priceless to you – and your child’s other parent. That is often where conflict may lie if you pursue a divorce. Who keeps which keepsakes? What happens to these items?
How are these keepsakes classified?
Your marital property includes much more than your home or financial accounts. Personal property also falls under this category, and can include almost everything you accumulate during your marriage, with a few exceptions. That means these items, from the baby book to the framed photos lining the walls of your home, are indeed marital property, if they were obtained in the years you were married.
But how will you divide them?
Since you and your child’s other parent must determine how you divide your marital property in a North Carolina divorce, you have to figure out how to manage these keepsakes and memories as well. That may not always be an easy task. Dividing assets that do not carry a financial value can often be more complex than it seems. After all, you cannot put a number on emotional value. Thankfully, we live in a high-tech world. So, it is easy for spouses to scan photos and artwork, and share copies digitally. Though, determining how to divide the originals or physical items that cannot be scanned can pose a larger question for divorcing spouses. It will require careful discussion and negotiation, particularly if both spouses have attachments to the items in question.There is no doubt that items with sentimental value are important to you. They are also important to address in your divorce. When facing these often emotionally complicated negotiations, it is often in your best interest to consult an experienced family law attorney who can help you handle these priceless assets. ]]>On Behalf of Raleigh Divorce Law Firm<![CDATA[Will children have to appear in court during custody proceedings?]]>https://www.raleighdivorcelawfirm.com/?p=527992026-05-07T00:59:14Z2026-05-12T00:49:39ZConflict is not always avoidable in a divorce, especially when it comes to your kids. Of course, you want to secure more time with your children, and protect them – but so does their other parent. These shared goals and desires can quickly lead to a conflict between parents seeking custody.
Facing a developing child custody dispute can add a whole new layer of worry. Will the dispute go to court? Will your child have to face the stress of appearing in court? Here is what parents dealing with conflict should know.
The short answer: It is highly unlikely
The good news for parents worrying over this question is that most often there is no need for children to appear in court for child custody proceedings. There are a few reasons for this:
Mediation is mandated first: North Carolina will generally require parents facing a custody dispute to engage in mediation first, before ever setting foot in court. As the parents, you know your child best. The state recognizes that, and encourages parents to try and reach their own solution. By attending mediation first, of course there is no need for your child to appear in court.
The child’s best interests take precedence: Even if your dispute goes to court, it is still not likely that your child will have to make an appearance. North Carolina family courts prioritize the best interests of the child, and putting them through the anxiety of a court appearance does not align with those interests. Essentially, the court – like the parents – will take measures to avoid having the child appear in court.
It is very rare that the court would require the attendance of a child. If there are no concerns of abuse, violence or risks to the child’s overall safety, it is often not necessary to put a child through the ordeal. Child custody may directly impact your child, but that does not mean the child has to be involved in the resolution of any disputes regarding custody matters. There are many other avenues available to you to seek a solution, including calling professional witnesses, keeping your own records and working with a knowledgeable family law attorney. That way, you can achieve the goal every parent shares: protecting your child. ]]>On Behalf of Raleigh Divorce Law Firm<![CDATA[Conflict in divorce? Focus on the problem, not the person]]>https://www.raleighdivorcelawfirm.com/?p=527972026-05-01T18:51:22Z2026-05-04T18:49:15ZConflict is almost inevitable in a divorce. Of course, the topic and intensity of that conflict vary widely. No matter what that argument centers on, anyone facing a divorce in North Carolina must ensure they sharpen their conflict-resolution skills and strategies.
Even if you are ending the marriage with your spouse, you can still utilize tips for how to resolve conflict in relationships. Maintaining a level of respect is critical in order to be productive when working through conflict.Another key strategy to keep in mind is to concentrate on the problem at hand when seeking a solution – not the other person involved. This particular tip is a common piece of advice you have likely heard before. However, it can be a challenging strategy to follow in a divorce.
Why is this strategy often challenging?
Any divorce is rife with emotion, and that emotion can naturally revolve around your soon-to-be-ex-spouse. You might feel betrayed, angry and sad. Working through all of these emotions, it can be difficult not to blame your spouse for certain things.On top of that, in many divorce cases, your spouse’s behavior may very well be a significant issue. Perhaps they are intentionally creating conflict to prolong the divorce or exact retribution, in one way or another. It is beneficial to find a way to address that behavior, and even how you are feeling, without attacking them.
But why is this tactic so important?
While a divorce does not fall under criminal law, it is important to remember this: what you say could indeed be used against you. Lashing out at your spouse may feel cathartic in the moment, but there is a risk it could have more negative impacts for you than your spouse.
So, what can you do?
Focusing on the problem rather than the person is a helpful tip, but how exactly do you put it into practice in your divorce? Practicing this skill can often look like:
Using “I” statements to avoid anything that may sound accusatory to your spouse
Pausing before responding, to arrange your thoughts and choose your words carefully
Involving a neutral third party or mediator to work through conflict
It is not always easy to stay focused on the specific point of conflict, particularly if your spouse is determined to continue that conflict or get a rise out of you. Keeping your end goals in mind, remaining calm and working with an experienced team to protect your rights will all help you to navigate conflict smoothly. ]]>On Behalf of Raleigh Divorce Law Firm<![CDATA[3 tips: How to negotiate in property division]]>https://www.raleighdivorcelawfirm.com/?p=527932026-04-22T23:07:18Z2026-04-27T22:51:43ZWho gets what in the divorce? That is one of the most common – and often complex – questions when facing the end of a marriage. Figuring out how to divide your marital property can be a challenge, and will require careful negotiation.
Here are three tips to consider as you approach negotiations over asset division.
1. Prepare, prepare, prepare
It cannot be overstated: you must prepare yourself. As Psychology Today notes, preparation is absolutely critical to be able to negotiate effectively. This preparation could include:
Taking inventory of all your marital assets
Obtaining valuations for these assets
Understanding North Carolina’s rules when it comes to dividing property
Taking note of which assets you know your spouse wants, as well as those you want
Additionally, consider developing your own skills. Psychology Today highlights several other helpful things to know, but it will be critical to hone your communication and conflict-resolution skills. While working with an attorney or a mediator will help significantly on this front, it will still be beneficial to improve your own skills so you feel confident during negotiations.
2. Determine your margin for compromise
What assets are you willing to let go of? Which ones do you want to try and keep? Which ones are you willing to compromise on to get what you want or need? Consider these questions carefully, and make sure you have the answers before entering into negotiations. Understanding when you are willing to compromise – and when you are not – will help you move forward with intention and protect your end goal.
3. Treat it like a business negotiation
Regardless of whether you are in mediation or how well you get along with your spouse, keep negotiations professional. Do not let your emotions control your decision-making or discussions with your spouse. You may have strong emotions connected to certain items you own, but do not let these emotions impact your composure and approach to negotiation. Stay calm and civil.Of course, it is also critical to know your rights when dividing your property. Seeking guidance from an experienced divorce attorney can help you secure those rights and navigate every step of the negotiation process with care.]]>