Knightdale, NC Custody Lawyers

Creating a custody arrangement after divorce can be extremely overwhelming for all involved parties. In addition to dividing up your finances and property, you now have to create a custody arrangement where you essentially divide up time with your children. Even if your marriage ended on amicable terms, custody-related matters tend to heighten emotions. It can be challenging to put your emotions and opinions aside when it comes to your children. After all, they are the most important people in your life. The intricacies of creating a custody arrangement can make the process feel daunting and emotionally charged.

It’s important to remember that while divorce is a hard pill to swallow, it’s just as, if not more, difficult for your children to process. At Triangle Smart Divorce, our Knightdale custody lawyers can help you lessen the impact of divorce and custody matters on your children’s lives. When you need to create a custody arrangement, call Triangle Smart Divorce to request a consultation and learn about your next steps.

What Are The Different Types Of Child Custody In North Carolina?

There are two types of custody in North Carolina: legal and physical.

Legal Custody

Legal custody refers to which parent will make the important decisions in their children’s lives when it comes to matters like education, religion, healthcare, and more. Legal custody is a responsibility that can be shared jointly, or owned solely by one parent. We typically see couples share legal custody jointly unless there is an extenuating circumstance that would make this inappropriate, such as if one parent has a history of abuse or neglect or has severe mental health issues.

Physical Custody

Physical custody refers to where the children will reside with the majority of the time. Like legal custody, this can be a joint or sole responsibility.; however, even when physical custody is shared jointly, it doesn’t mean that the children’s time will actually be split 50/50 between both parents.

While custody can be classified under these two categories, your individual situation cannot. There isn’t a set formula for custody that is applicable to every family because your children’s needs are unique. What may have worked for a friend or family member might not work for yours. There are a variety of combinations and arrangements that can be created to suit your family’s circumstances, which is why it’s important to work with one of our experienced Knightdale custody lawyers who can ensure you’re aware of all of your options.

It’s also important to remember that the terms of custody aren’t permanent. If the circumstances of a parent or child significantly change, a modification can be made to accommodate the best interests of your children.

High Conflict Custody

While we recommend mediation (and it is required for divorcing parents in North Carolina), extenuating circumstances, like a history of neglect, substance abuse, or domestic violence, call for an exception to this requirement. If you have a non-compliant ex who likes to make family matters challenging, or they have a history of any kind of violence or abuse, we know how to protect you and your children.

No matter what the dynamics of your family are, our Knightdale custody lawyers care about your family’s future. We’ll do what we can to help you reach a solution that provides you with a sense of relief and security, and also supports the best interest of your children.

How Triangle Smart Divorce Can Help You

If you and your spouse need to create a custody arrangement, Triangle Smart Divorce is ready to help. We will explain and protect your parental rights and legal options so that we can come up with an arrangement that accommodates your children’s lives and needs. Our firm isn’t like other family law firms because we make your goals and priorities ours. Call today toschedule a consultation and learn about the next steps.