In North Carolina, a divorce dissolves a marriage, allowing the parties to remarry if they so choose. Often times, people are mistaken that a divorce from bed and board allows the same. A divorce from bed and board does not dissolve a marriage, but can be seen as a "legal separation."  Divorces in North Carolina are no-fault based, allowing a divorce to move forward without proof of fault for either party.Divorces may also be contested or uncontested. An uncontested divorce occurs when a final judgement may be entered without a trial because there are no other issues that are unresolved. No matter the situation, a divorce can be emotionally draining on the entire family. We can help alleviate some of the anxiety and make your divorce process as simple as possible. 

Child Support refers to the financial support of a child and not any other type of support that is required by the child. Child Support payments can often times cause anxiety for both the parent who is obligated to pay, as well as the parent who is obligated to receive payments on the child's behalf. North Carolina imposes a duty on both parents to financially support the child. However, if custody is granted entirely to one parent and no visitation is allowed to the other, child support must be paid by the obligor. The courts consider various factor when calculating child support, such as income, age of the child, basic living expenses, just to name a few. 

If you or someone you know can be affected by child support payments, contact our office today to schedule your consultation. 

There aren't too many things in life that we can be sure of, including untimely incapacity or death. That is why estate planning is important. The key to making sure that your wishes are honored and your family is taken care of is to plan ahead; so start now. Estate Planning may consist of a last will and testatment, a trust, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney, living will, or specifying certain death arrangements. 

Let us help bring about a peace of mind and prevent any future uncertainty by preparing your estate planning documents, so that you and your loved ones are protected.

Child Custody refers to who has legal rights to the custody, care and control of the minor child, which is generally the natural parents. North Carolina has two  types of child custody: legal custody and Physical Custody. Legal Custody is the right to make important life decisions concerning the care of the child, such as religion, medical and education. Physical Custody concerns where the child resides, allowing the parent to have control over the day-to-day decisions for the child. When deciding who will have custody of a child, the court looks at the best interest of the child. 

If you or someone you know is facing a child custody dispute, contact us today at 704-995-4140. 

If you have any questions that you would like answered, feel free to send them to us at info@burkehayerlawfirm.com