During divorce, it is all too common to have questions that you need answering. Our…
North Carolina requires that you be separated for a period of one year before being eligible to file for Raleigh absolute divorce.
For example, if you separated on April 1, 2013, you are eligible to file for Raleigh divorce on or after April 2, 2014.
Why You Should Seek Legal Support
I can imagine some folks are eager to bring closure to their separation and move forward with seeking a divorce as soon as possible; however, before you do consider the following questions:
- Are you and your estranged spouse listed together on the title of any real estate, automobiles or other assets with a title?
- Are you and your estranged spouse co-borrowers on any loans, mortgages or credit cards?
- Does your spouse have a retirement account he or she heavily contributed to during the marriage (compared to your own contributions to your retirement account), whether or not it was created before the marriage?
- Was a significant amount of income earned during the marriage used to increase the value of your estranged spouse’s separate property?
- Are you the spouse carrying the larger percentage of debt that was acquired during the marriage for marital purposes yet held in your sole name?
- Are you the spouse who made less money or perhaps was not working during the marriage, and find yourself in a state of financial hardship because your estranged spouse is not providing financial assistance to you?
What You Should Be Considering During Your Divorce
If you answered yes to any of these questions, which are only a few of the many considerations you should discuss with an attorney, you may need to file a claim for equitable distribution (division of marital and divisible assets and debts) or spousal support (post separation support and alimony.) You can also make a claim for attorney’s fees related to pursuing your claims for spousal support but you cannot do so related to Equitable Distribution generally speaking (there are few limited instances where you can.)
Don't Wait to Seek Support
This is important to consider because once the Judgment for Absolute Divorce is entered, your right to file a claim for equitable distribution and spousal support (post separation support, alimony and related attorney’s fees) is barred, meaning you have no right to file these claims and have them addressed by the courts.
If you feel you may need to make one of these claims to have issues addressed related to your situation, you should consult with an attorney and get legal advice with regard to the best way to handle your situation, and they can assist you with filing a complaint for absolute divorce that also includes the claims you need to assert to preserve as well.
As long as these claims are pending (have been filed with the court) at the time the Judgment of Absolute Divorce is entered, they are preserved for future adjudication by the courts. If they are not, you lose the right to pursue these claims.
Child Support
Please note that Raleigh child custody and child support are not affected by the entry of the Judgment of Absolute Divorce, but claims for equitable distribution and spousal support (post separation support, alimony and related attorney’s fees) are greatly affected. As a result, you should seek legal advice before filing a Complaint for Absolute Divorce to ensure that you do not need to preserve these claims for future adjudication to protect your legal rights.
Our Raleigh Divorce Attorneys are Here to Help
No matter how simple, nobody has all the answers for their divorce. That is why seeking the help of a divorce attorney is a wise decision for anyone. Consider these 5 questions to ask a divorce attorney and give us a call at 919-301-8843 or complete the contact form below to schedule an initial consultation.
