Family law is a legal field that deals with relationships between family members, such as marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, adoptions, paternity, guardianship, domestic abuse, surrogacy, child abuse, and child abduction. 

If you are considering a separation or divorce, or you are already involved in any of these matters, our experienced attorneys can help provide you with the best advice and representation. We can help you protect your rights, your family, and your future.

Not all topics in family law are related to the dissolution of a marriage. For instance, family law also includes prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, adoptions, name changes, and transfers of custody for educational or other purposes. One other type of case exists and that is a Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services juvenile court case where parents may have their children removed from their care due to abuse or neglect.

If you’re considering separation or divorce, you should call our firm to discuss your options and the smartest path forward to protect what’s important to you in life. You should also call our attorneys if your spouse moves out or separates from you, or if you’re involved in any sort of domestic disturbance.

If you’re considering separation or divorce, or if litigation has already begun regarding your divorce, you need a lawyer. Although there’s nothing that prohibits you from representing yourself, the court will hold you to the standards of an attorney for your pleadings, evidentiary matters, and procedural requirements including courtroom etiquette and behavior. In any family law situation, hiring Weaver, Bennett & Bland is a major asset. We will explain matters to you and will advise you. We will prepare the proper pleadings, file them and make sure they are served properly. Our lawyers will seek out and obtain evidence and present it properly in court and then argue the appropriate law as it applies to your case. In addition, alimony and equitable distribution (property) cases are “paper-intensive,” meaning, there is a lot of gathering, organizing, analyzing, and preparing documents for various purposes. Our lawyers and legal team members will be invaluable in such cases.

Agreements

• Coming to an out-of-court agreement to resolve your family law matter is less time-consuming and less expensive than litigation.
• Agreements also cause less animosity between the parties and do not place the children in the middle.
• Agreements can be arrived at through communications between you and your spouse, through negotiations with attorneys, or through mediation.

Litigation

• Litigation is costlier than reaching an agreement, but the rewards may be higher (although the risk may be higher as well).
• You can ask that a judge rule on your requests for custody, alimony, and equitable distribution.

The attorney should look over your biographical information to determine such information as the opposing party, date of marriage, date of separation, and the number and ages of children. The attorney will then usually let you explain why you are consulting. He or she should then discuss the matter; in a separation scenario, the attorney should address:

• How and When to Separate
• Custody and Child Support
• Alimony Exposure
• Property Settlement (Equitable Distribution)
• Methods of Settlement
• Costs of Negotiating an Agreement and Costs of Litigation

If you retain, you should be given a contract to review with billing practices spelled out.

The cost of a divorce in North Carolina can vary significantly depending on various factors, including the complexity of the case, whether it's contested or uncontested, the presence of assets, child custody issues, and spousal support considerations. Generally, an uncontested divorce with a well-drafted premarital agreement tends to be more cost-effective than a contested one.

Uncontested Divorces: Uncontested divorces typically involve less legal work and, therefore, tend to be less expensive. In such cases, both spouses agree on key aspects of the divorce, such as property division and child custody, which reduces the need for extensive negotiations and court proceedings. However, even in uncontested divorces, it's essential to ensure that any premarital agreements are properly drafted and legally sound to avoid potential disputes down the road.

Contested Divorces: On the other hand, contested divorces can be more costly due to the additional time and resources required for negotiations, court appearances, and potentially complex legal issues. The cost of a contested divorce can vary widely depending on the length of the proceedings and the need for expert witnesses or forensic accountants to evaluate financial matters.

To get a more accurate estimate of how much your specific divorce case may cost, it's advisable to consult with an experienced family law attorney who can assess the unique circumstances of your situation and provide you with a personalized cost estimate. They can also help you explore options for achieving a cost-effective resolution while protecting your rights and interests.

• How and When to Separate
• Custody and Child Support
• Alimony Exposure
• Property Settlement (Equitable Distribution)
• Methods of Settlement
• Costs of Negotiating an Agreement and Costs of Litigation

If you retain, you should be given a contract to review with billing practices spelled out.