Zebulon, NC Custody Lawyers

Creating a custody arrangement can be a daunting and emotional task for everyone involved. In addition to all of the tough decisions you’ve already made during the divorce process, like debt, asset, and property distribution, you now have to create a custody arrangement which will essentially divide up the time you spend with your children. Even if you didn’t have a contentious divorce, emotions tend to intensify when it comes to making decisions that will affect your children’s future. If you did have a high-conflict divorce, custody matters are typically especially challenging.

As difficult as divorce and custody is on you, it’s just as hard – if not more so – for your children. Depending on their age, they might not have the emotional maturity to understand the need for your separation from their other parents. If they are old enough to understand, feelings of resentment can arise, further complicating an already complicated situation. It’s important to tread lightly when it comes to creating a custody arrangement so that you can lessen the impact of this transition on your children’s lives. The Zebulon custody lawyers at Triangle Smart Divorce can help you do that.

What Are The Different Types Of Custody?

There are two types of custody in North Carolina: legal and physical. Despite all custody agreements containing these two categories, it is important to remember that there are a variety of custody arrangements as every child is unique. What works for one family might not work for another. Our skilled custody attorneys will help you create a custody arrangement that’s tailored to your family’s situation and needs.

Legal Custody

Legal custody refers to which parent will make the important decisions in your children’s life on matters like schooling, religion, healthcare, and more. This responsibility can be shared jointly, or one parent can own the responsibility solely. We typically see parents share this responsibility jointly, unless one parent has a history of domestic or substance abuse.

Physical Custody 

Physical custody refers to where the children physically live and spend the majority of their time. Similar to legal custody, one parent can have this responsibility solely, or it can be shared jointly.  However, even when parents share physical custody, the children don’t actually have to split their time 50/50.

In North Carolina, mediation is a requirement of the custody process. If you’re able to handle matters privately in mediation, you can avoid the court’s mediation process. We favor this option as it allows you and your co-parent to make the decisions regarding your children’s future, rather than a judge who doesn’t know them. In addition to saving you time and money, we also find that it creates a more stable, peaceful environment for your child throughout the process.

High-Conflict Custody

While we hope that all of our clients can handle custody matters outside of the court, we know that isn’t always feasible if your former spouse has a history of substance abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or another extenuating circumstance. If that is the case, we know how to protect you and your children.

How Triangle Smart Divorce Can Help You 

When you’ve made the decision to part ways with your spouse and need to create a custody arrangement in the best interest of your children, the Zebulon custody lawyers at Triangle Smart Divorce are ready to help. We can explain your legal options and responsibilities, protect your parental rights, and answer any questions you have so that you can have peace of mind. We put your goals at the forefront of the process to create a child-centric plan for your family. Call today to request a consultation and learn how we can help you on your journey towards a better future for your children!