Top Rated Charlotte Family Law Attorneys

Family matters that involve legal issues can bury you in paperwork and legal jargon that can be confusing, frustrating, and create a world of stress. The rules and requirements surrounding Charlotte family law can have a massive impact on your life.

Knowing your rights is one thing, but actually using that knowledge to protect you and your family is something else entirely. That is why the family lawyers at Melone Hatley, P.C. are here to work with you through this process. We will use our legal advice, representation, and legal services to fight to get you your fair share. Call us today at 800.479.8124 or use our contact form, and a representative of our legal team will reach out to you.

What Types of Practice Areas Are Included in Charlotte, NC Family Law?

Many situations require the help of a family law attorney in Charlotte, North Carolina. Any legal issue that impacts your family, your finances, or your property can fall under family law cases. Specifically, family law issues can include:

• Child support, child custody, and child visitation
• Divorce and military divorce
• Divorce with special needs children
• Prenuptial agreements
• Separation agreements
• Spousal support and alimony

Child Support, Child Custody, and Visitation

Custody disputes can be some of the most contentious family law matters that Charlotte divorce lawyers see. Issues of who the child lives with, who makes decisions for them, and how much support one parent needs from the other can drag out the process and make it feel like you are in a constant battle. It is our job to put your children first and try to preserve the loving relationship you have while protecting your children from potentially dangerous situations like domestic violence.

Divorce and Military Divorce

When it comes to issues of military divorce, you need a divorce attorney who is experienced in the intricacies of military divorce. All divorce cases should be handled by an experienced family law attorney. The right attorney will not only advocate for you and protect your rights, but they will also get you what you deserve in marital property division. Further, your attorney will work hard to resolve legal issues without unnecessarily extending your case in court.

Divorce With Special Needs Children

Divorce involving children with special needs brings up specific legal issues requiring a family law firm with years of experience to help resolve. It is important to have someone knowledgeable about the challenges that exist with special needs divorce and understands the legal matters to resolve visitation and access, the transition between homes, health and nutritional needs, decision making and parental involvement, recreational and social opportunities, estate planning, and even respite care for the custodial parent.

Prenuptial Agreements

Premarital agreements or Prenuptial Agreements can help protect your assets and are entered into before you get married. These agreements are useful in situations where one spouse has a business or other valuable assets. The prenuptial agreement will work out exactly what happens with your assets should the marriage not succeed. A law firm whose practice areas include family law can work with both parties to create a fair and equitable agreement so that everyone’s concerns are addressed.

Separation Agreements

A separation agreement; sometimes called a property settlement agreement, marital separation agreement, or memorandum of understanding is often part of an uncontested divorce. These agreements work out all aspects of the separation so that court appearances, arbitration, and further negotiations become unnecessary. If you can come up with a detailed separation agreement, it can greatly speed up your divorce and even help salvage some of your relationship.

Spousal Support and Alimony

Alimony exists to make sure that a dependent spouse can maintain their former standard of living after the divorce. Not everyone is able to dive right back into the workforce, and alimony makes sure that the dependent spouse can get the training, skills, and earning potential necessary to make ends meet and keep a comfortable standard of living. Sometimes, alimony is temporary; other times, it is permanent. A North Carolina family law attorney can help you fight to get the spousal support you need and deserve.

What Are the Benefits of Premarital Agreements in Charlotte, NC?

Contrary to popular belief, a prenuptial agreement does not assume that a marriage is going to fail. Rather, it provides assurances to both parties in case an unthinkable event occurs. The biggest benefit of a premarital agreement is avoiding future conflicts regarding the assets owned by each party.

A prenuptial agreement that is properly written and agreed upon can help ease some of the pains of the divorce process. Many large North Carolina firms use templated prenups or premarital agreements that are not catered to the specific needs of each client. You will not experience this at Melone Hatley, P.C. We will personalize your prenuptial agreement to your particular needs so that it protects your assets.

View More About Divorce

Is North Carolina an Equitable Distribution State?

In short, yes, North Carolina is an equitable distribution state, but this does not necessarily mean what you might think. In legal terms, “equitable distribution” does not mean all assets are divided equally. It means everything gets divided fairly. The courts will consider many factors when dividing marital property. This includes the needs of both spouses, the needs of the children, marital versus individual property, and other things that might be important in deciding who needs what part of the estate.

What Are the Rules for Child Custody in North Carolina?

Child custody rules in North Carolina do not necessarily favor one parent over the other. Many factors must be considered to determine the best interests of the child before a decision is made. Everything from the living arrangements of each parent to the desires of the child will be considered before a decision is passed down.

Parents’ Living Arrangements

Sometimes one parent has far better living arrangements than another. For example, a parent with a house where the child will have their own space as opposed to a parent living in a small apartment may be able to provide a better environment for the child.

Each Parent’s Ability to Provide for the Child

The earning potential of a parent certainly comes into play when determining the parent’s ability to provide for the child, but this is not the end of the story. If a parent works all the time and is never home, for example, they may not be able to provide emotional support. The courts will weigh all these factors to determine what is best for the minor child.

Child’s Relationship With Each Parent

Issues of abuse, antagonistic relationships, and the like are considered by the courts. If the child is over a certain age, the judge may ask them what they desire and take this into account. It is all part of determining where the child will be the most emotionally healthy.

What Is the Difference Between Family Law and Trusts and Estates?

Estate planning and family law are similar in that both are concerned with families and the financial issues that affect them. Where they differ, however, is that trusts and estates deal specifically with assets and future health concerns, while family law deals with issues of divorce and child custody. Many family law firms claim to handle both issues, but it is important to find a law firm that understands how they coincide. To find out where your issues lie, contact Melone Hatley, P.C. for an initial consultation today. Call us at  800.479.8124 or use our easy online contact form

Why Hire a Family Law Attorney in Charlotte, North Carolina?

A family law attorney with a dedicated Charlotte office is a great help in divorce proceedings or other family law matters. They will be well-versed in aspects of the law that apply to your family issues and can be a voice of compassion and reason. They can step in to deal with your spouse so that you do not have to fight with them. They may even be able to provide clarity of thought you might not otherwise have and help to preserve some shred of the former relationship between you and your ex-spouse.

Not every divorce has to be contentious or a war in court. At Melone Hatley, P.C., we have decades of experience dealing with family law matters and pride ourselves in fighting for what our clients deserve in a timely manner. This is a difficult and stressful time for you, and we understand that all you want is for your divorce, child custody arrangement, or other family law matter to be settled and done. We will work to make that happen in a way that is fair, just, and equitable for you.

Worried That Your Life Will Drastically Change Due to a Family Matter?

The experienced Charlotte family law attorneys at Melone Hatley, P.C. represent clients all over the state of North Carolina. We have clients in Cabarrus County, Concord, Matthews, Mecklenburg County, Monroe, and right here in Charlotte.

We take a client-first approach and consider the needs of other family members directly involved in your case. We have many client reviews and testimonials that speak to our caring services. From initial legal advice to post-separation support, we will be here to stand by your side. Call us today at 800.479.8124 or use our contact form, and a representative of our legal team will reach out to you.