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Cary NC Divorce Lawyers

We protect smart people from making stupid mistakes when getting married or divorced

  • The arguments.
  • The loud silence.
  • The disagreements.
  • The quiet tension.

Divorce doesn't have to be difficult. 
We're here to help guide you through it.

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Preparing for divorce

Divorce is one of the most difficult crossroads in life. It’s easy to make emotional decisions, but if you find yourself looking for a divorce lawyer, it’s safe to say that it’s likely time to start making strategic decisions.

At Triangle Smart Divorce,
family law is all we do.

Our main focus is helping you divorce without drama. Spending years in court is not going to help you move forward. That’s our goal. However, we understand that mediation is not always possible. In those cases, you have a fierce team of professionals behind you ensuring you get the best possible outcome.

Discuss Next Steps

Where are you at right now?

ENDING A RELATIONSHIP?

Don’t know where to start? Worried about how your children will be affected? Are financial consequences weighing you down? Does everything feel uncertain? You are not alone. Click to continue.

This is me

ALREADY DIVORCED?

Have circumstances changed since your Agreement was signed? Has your ex been ignoring the court order? Do you need help making smart decisions on next steps? You do have options.

I need options

STARTING A RELATIONSHIP?

Getting married? Considering having a prenup? Buying a house or large asset together, but not getting married? Not sure where to begin, but making smart decisions is important to you?

Start Smart
Serving Cary, Raleigh, and the rest of Wake County.

How can we help you?

Divorce

Child
Custody

Child
Support

Property
Division

Alimony

Modifying
An Order

High Net
Worth Divorce

Domestic
Violence

Separation
Agreements

Prenups

Postnups

Domestic
Partnership
Agreements

Enforcement

Relocation &
Move Aways

Arbitration

Referee
Schedule Consultation
Triangle smart divorce

A typical divorce in North Carolina

There are exits off this road, skip some steps depending on situation, this process outline below is generic.

  • Have a
    consultation
    1

    Have a consultation

    During the initial consultation, we’ll ask a lot of questions! We want to fully understand what’s going on and ensure that you receive the best advice possible.

  • Hire an
    attorney
    2

    Hire an attorney

    We know it can be challenging to find a good attorney. When you feel confident that you’ve found the right one for your situation, stick with them.

  • Gather financial
    information
    3

    Gather financial information

    Fact — A lot of people don’t like dealing with numbers. We’re here to help you come up with all of the documents needed to evaluate your situation thoroughly.

  • Determine whether
    to stay or go
    4

    Determine whether to stay or go

    The truth is… only YOU can decide when it’s time to leave. Just know that we’re here to help guide you through the process, whatever it may be.

  • Make a settlement
    proposal
    5

    Make a settlement proposal

    Once we know what you’re working with, we can draft a settlement. Here, matters like child support and custody, alimony, and property division are all put into writing.

  • Negotiate, mediate,
    or file a lawsuit
    6

    Negotiate, mediate, or file a lawsuit

    Depending on how well the settlement is received, we’ll discuss which strategies will be the most effective moving forward.

  • Initial
    disclosures
    7

    Initial disclosures

    If spouses are headed for court, all parties must provide “initial disclosures.” It’s A LOT of information that lists all assets and debts, who owns what, and the acquisition dates

  • Temporary
    hearing
    8

    Temporary hearing

    Divorce doesn’t happen overnight. A temporary hearing (if needed) is a way for the court to interject and make decisions over imperative matters like child custody and support.

  • Court-ordered
    mediation
    9

    Court-ordered mediation

    Mediation is mandatory in North Carolina. (this is a good thing!) It’s a final opportunity for arrangements to be agreed upon and settled outside of court.

  • Discovery
    10

    Discovery

    During the discovery process, you can request additional information that will be used to help build your case — Statements, depositions, interrogatories, etc.

  • Pre-trial
    conferences
    11

    Pre-trial conferences

    Conferences with the judge to set deadlines so your case continues to move through the system and to resolve any minor discovery disputes. At the time the court can also appoint experts if necessary.

  • Trials and
    hearings
    12

    Trials and hearings

    Once we have the facts and figures of your case, we can draft a settlement. Here, matters like child support and custody, alimony, and property division are all put into writing.

If you’d rather DITCH the headache and heartache and MOVE ON peacefully with grace, then we are the divorce firm to call.

Of course, sometimes you have to deal with a contested divorce.

But let’s face it: The high road is less traveled.

Meaning — We’ll get you to where you want to go faster.

You just have to trust the process.

Learn How Mediation Works

What our clients say

"Across three states, Jenny was hands-down the best divorce lawyer I worked with! Authentic, savvy, insightful, tough, empathetic and effective. Can ’t say enough good things about her."

Don

Former Client

"The entire staff at Triangle Smart Divorce has been wonderful. My divorce has been extremely complicated and difficult, they have helped and been successful at every turn. They are more than competent and are also very compassionate individuals. They will and do walk you through each and every step to obtain the best results for you. An amazing team!"

Hoss

Former Client

"I would rate everything about my experience with Triangle Smart Divorce as 5 stars. The hardest step of any big decision is the first step. Jessica set the tone from the very first phone call. She was compassionate, calming and reassuring. The whole team has continued to work to maintain a supportive environment during the most difficult time of my life. I’m very grateful."

Raleigh

Former Client

"Jenny Bradley and her team at Triangle Smart Divorce was the best decision I made. "

Jennifer

Former Client

"Great firm! An outstanding group of professionals who are knowledgeable and care about their clients. I recommend Julianne and the firm to my clients and friends needing divorce and family law services."

Kathrine

Former Client

"I felt heard, understood and listened to. Always there when I needed them! Had my best interest at heart and never let me down!"

Timothy

Former Client

"Outstanding firm. Try to work with their clients. Listens like a therapist. I am thoroughly pleased with the services I have been provided."

Ken

Former Client

Meet Your Team

Our practice is entirely dedicated to helping couples move forward with confidence when dealing with divorce. You’re not alone.

Jenny
Bradley
Jenny
Bradley
Attorney / Firm Owner
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Lisa
LeFante
Lisa
LeFante
Attorney
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Lauren
O’Malley
Lauren
O’Malley
Attorney
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julianne b.
rothert
julianne b.
rothert
Attorney
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brook
stuntebeck
brook
stuntebeck
Attorney
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Ashley
Fillippeli
Ashley
Fillippeli
Attorney
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Mary Slade
Duke
Mary Slade
Duke
Attorney
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mitzi
gardner
mitzi
gardner
Chief Executive Officer
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Renee
Limpert
Renee
Limpert
Director of Operations
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Jessica
Eakes
Jessica
Eakes
Paralegal
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Diane
Allen
Diane
Allen
Paralegal
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Kadeelyn
McGinnis
Kadeelyn
McGinnis
Paralegal
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Jessica
Miller
Jessica
Miller
Client Care Coordinator
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Paige
Bigger
Paige
Bigger
Client Care Coordinator
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Mackenzie
gokey
Mackenzie
gokey
Marketing Manager
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Celene
Redgate
Celene
Redgate
Marketing Assistant
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Madalyn
Montheith
Madalyn
Montheith
Legal Assistant/Receptionist
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Meet The Full Team

Learning center

Want to know how to prepare for divorce? Use our free resources to guide you. Our mission is to get you to where you want to be — without years of legal fees, court battles and emotional damage.

Videos

All Videos

Meet the Triangle Smart Divorce Team

Directions to Triangle Smart Divorce

Questions You Should Ask Any Divorce Law Firm ...

Having Difficulty Deciding Whether to Separate Or Not?

Blog

All Blogs

2 Signs Your Divorce Lawyer Is Manipulating You

Custody Schedules in North Carolina
Separation and Divorce

Stages of Divorce
mediation preparation

Facing a Divorce? The 4 Things You Should Know About Mediation Preparation
How Is Child Custody Determined in North Carolina?

How Is Child Custody Determined in North Carolina?
contested divorce in north carolina

How the Contested Divorce Process Works in North Carolina
divorce mistakes

The 5 Most Common Divorce Mistakes to Avoid When You Have Children
asset division process

The 4 Steps of the Asset Division Process
gray divorce Social Security

Gray Divorce: Can You Collect Social Security Benefits From Your Ex in North Carolina?

6 Tax Considerations for Divorcing Couples

Resources

All Resources

18 FAQS

ABOUT NC
DIVORCE

Download

10 TIPS

TO AVOID
A DIVORCE

Download

WHAT YOUR LAWYER

ISN’T TELLING YOU

Download

ARE YOU

SABOTAGING

YOUR DIVORCE?

Download

DATING

DURING SEPARATION

Download

HOW TO DEAL WITH ASSHOLES

Download

WHY

DIVORCE
MEDIATION

WORKS

Download

PREMARTIAL
AGREEMENT
GUIDE

Download

CHILDREN’S
BILL OF
RIGHTS

Download
Free Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I want a divorce?

If you’re ever considering getting a divorce, you should speak to somebody about it. Reach out to your biggest supporters and keep them close. When you’re ready, get in touch with one of our experienced divorce attorneys to discuss all of the SMART strategies available to you.

My spouse filed for divorce — what should I do?

We understand this can be a pretty stressful situation. In North Carolina, spouses are required to live in separate homes for at least a year before becoming eligible for divorce. The time apart allows couples time to work on things and better scope out a future without their partner. You can take this process slow and make sure that you both make the best decisions for the family.

Regardless of what stage of divorce you find yourself in, you should reach out to a divorce attorney who can give you sound advice (with your best interests in mind.)

Who will get the kids? Who will keep the house?

In an ideal situation, spouses will agree on these matters together. However… respectfully considering each other’s wants and needs, handling assets and debts, AND prioritizing children isn’t exactly straightforward. When divorcing couples cannot agree on important decisions, they should enlist the help of a divorce attorney or mediation service to help find some middle ground.

What will happen to my business if we separate?

During a divorce, your business is considered “separate property” if you owned it before the marriage. Otherwise, North Carolina follows the equitable distribution law. If your business was acquired after marriage, it’s subject to an “equitable” split between spouses. Equitable doesn’t necessarily mean an equal split, but it will be fair. The courts will assess several different factors when determining equitability.

What is mediation and why should I care?

It can be challenging to know how to resolve conflict when it arises. In some cases, we want to ignore it entirely and hope that it will go away on its own. At other times, we want to punish the other side and bring justice down on them. In the long run, both approaches tend to backfire… Thankfully, there’s another way. Mediation.

Here are some of the benefits of mediation:

  • Avoid court and resolve disputes faster than traditional divorce proceedings.
  • Take control over the outcomes for you and your family. (make decisions for yourself)
  • Maintain a decent relationship moving forward.

When should I get back out there?

Many people consider divorce to be a transformation. But, that transformation doesn’t necessarily end when you sign your final divorce papers. How do you know when you’re ready to get back in the dating scene? How can we help you be prepared? 

Our firm has seen a lot, heard a lot, and learned a lot about what makes relationships work and how they can last.

Check out our Dating After Divorce Course. It’s a completely free resource we’ve created based on experts sharing their thoughts on how and when to date after you’ve gone through a divorce.

Get Answers Now
Top-Rated Divorce Lawyers

Serving the Triangle and surrounding counties for 25+ years

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Not your typical divorce lawyers

We are here to help you succeed and protect what you value most.

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