"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."
During a divorce, figuring out custody arrangements can be tough for everyone involved. It can be stressful enough trying to split property, now add in dividing up time with your kids and parenting responsibilities, and it can seem like figuring out the right path is impossible. Your and the other parent’s emotions may be running high too, making the process even more intense.
It’s important to remember that separation isn’t only difficult for you and your spouse, but for your children as well. They have likely already been experiencing the emotions of their parents separating, but now there will be physical changes to their daily lives as well. You and your spouse agreed that separating was the best way to move forward, but your children might not quite understand that yet, and they’re likely struggling to process such a big transition. That’s why it’s crucial to tread carefully during the custody process. When you need help creating a custody arrangement that will keep your children and their wellbeing at the forefront, call Triangle Smart Divorce. Our Apex custody lawyers can guide you through the process and help you make decisions that are in the best interest of your children.
What Are The Different Types Of Custody?
Custody arrangements aren’t one-size-fits-all. What worked for other families might not work for yours, and that’s okay. However, there are two types of custody that every arrangement will involve.
The first type is legal custody. Legal custody refers to who can make important decisions regarding things like the kid’s medical care, education, religion, and more. We typically see parents sharing joint legal custody, unless one parent has a history of neglect or abuse.
The second type is physical custody, which describes which parent the children will physically live with the majority of the time. You can have sole or joint physical custody, or you can have primary and secondary physical custody. Even in a joint custody situation, that doesn’t mean that the children are splitting their time 50/50. Every custody arrangement is unique because every child’s needs are different. Our experienced custody lawyers understand this and can help create an arrangement that is best suited for your children.
If you and your co-parent are on agreeable terms, we highly recommend the mediation process. In fact, if you have a court case for custody, it’s likely mediation is already a requirement. We prefer mediation because it gives you and your former spouse the opportunity to make decisions together and keep family matters out of the courtroom. It’s usually a better experience for everyone involved and saves both time and money. Mediation prevents you from having to leave the future of your children in the hands of a judge who doesn’t know them or what they need. After all, the optimal end result is the one that’s created in the best interest of your children, and you know what that is better than anyone else.
It’s important to remember that custody arrangements aren’t permanent and modification might be necessary if there is a substantial change in a parent’s or child’s life. If down the road, you need to make changes, our attorneys are here to help.
High-Conflict Custody
While we prefer to approach custody with a drama-free attitude and handle arrangements outside of court, we know that isn’t feasible for every family. You may have a stubborn co-parent who is uncooperative and unwilling to resolve custody-related issues in a civil way, or an ex with a history of domestic violence or substance abuse. If that’s the case, we know how to protect you and your children. We have extensive experience handling personality disorders and volatile relationships and we sympathize with what you’re dealing with. Our compassionate Apex custody lawyers truly want what’s best for you and your children, and we’ll work diligently to help you reach a favorable outcome. We can help you see past the gaslighting, and fight for boundaries that will keep your family safe. At Triangle Smart Divorce, we want your post-divorce chapter to be much more harmonious than your marriage was.
How Triangle Smart Divorce Can Help You
If you and your spouse decided to part ways and need to establish a custody arrangement, we’re here to help you navigate your options and answer your questions. We aren’t your typical custody lawyers and we keep your goals for your family at the forefront of every decision we make. Let us apply our knowledge of North Carolina custody law to get you through the custody process as peacefully and efficiently as possible.
Ready To Drown Out The Drama Custody Can Create?
Call Triangle Smart Divorce Today to request a consultation where we can start to work together to create a peaceful plan for your child’s future.
"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."
"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!"
"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."
"Jenny Bradley and her team at Triangle Smart Divorce was the best decision I made. "
"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."
"I felt heard, understood and listened to. Always there when I needed them! Had my best interest at heart and never let me down!"
"Outstanding firm. Try to work with their clients. Listens like a therapist. I am thoroughly pleased with the services I have been provided."
Our practice is entirely dedicated to helping couples move forward with confidence when dealing with divorce. You’re not alone.
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.
A divorce lawyer may seem like an extra expense if both parties agree on the big decisions, but the details of a divorce can be complex and hard to navigate without an expert, and getting the agreement properly written ensures that everyone has the security and clarity they need to move forward with their lives. It’s better to do it right the first time than have to keep going back and fixing mistakes. And, in some cases, you may not be able to fix your mistakes.
You should ask a potential divorce lawyer about their prior experience with cases like yours, their approach to negotiations when couples reach a disagreement, and their personal success rate in arriving at a resolution through negotiation and/or mediation.
You cannot have one lawyer serve both parties in a divorce. This would be a conflict of interest. It’s incredibly important that each party feels their individual needs are represented and voiced, and that cannot be done with a single lawyer serving as the representative for both parties.
We are here to help you succeed and protect what you value most.
