Charlotte Family Lawyer

Family law matters can bury you in paperwork and legal jargon that can be confusing and frustrating. Outcomes can have lasting effects on you and your family, and even a simple oversight can cost you in the long run.

Knowing your legal rights is one thing, but actually applying that knowledge of family law in court is something else entirely. The Charlotte family lawyers at Melone Hatley, P.C. are here to help during the legal process.

We have handled thousands of divorce, child custody, and child support cases. Call us today or use our contact form for a free consultation with our Client Services Coordinators. 

Types of Family Law Cases Our Charlotte Lawyers Handle

Many situations require the help of a family law attorney in Charlotte, NC. Our lawyers help with a variety of legal issues that could impact your family, your finances, or your property.

When you choose Melone Hatley, P.C. to represent you, our team of attorneys will apply their experience in the following areas to get the best outcome for your unique case: :

• Charlotte divorce lawyers: Our lawyers will help you understand the various legal considerations that come into play when you file for divorce, such as alimony, child custody, and more. 
• Charlotte divorce modification lawyers: You may need to make modifications to your judgment of divorce, such as adjustments to child custody, child support, and spousal support adjustments; it’s important that you have legal representation to advocate for your best interests.
• Charlotte military divorce lawyers: Divorce involving military families has unique aspects, such as residency requirements, division of military pensions, and the impact of deployment on child custody. With both state and federal laws involved in military divorce cases, it’s important to seek the assistance of a family law attorney in Charlotte.
• Charlotte divorce with special needs children lawyers: If you are seeking divorce and have a special needs child, there will be considerations to weigh, like child custody and eligibility for state and federal disability benefits. Our experienced family lawyer in Charlotte will detail your child’s needs like care expenses and continuing care needs into adulthood.
• Charlotte child support lawyers: Child support is calculated using several factors, including income and childcare expenses. We will work toward a court order that takes your child’s best interests into account. 
• Charlotte child support modification lawyers: You can petition the court for a change in the amount of child support paid based upon significant changes in financial or life circumstances. Our lawyer will demonstrate how such changes warrant alterations to your child support case.
• Charlotte child custody lawyers: It’s not uncommon for child custody disputes to get contentious and complicated. Determining child custody and visitation in Charlotte entails everything from legal and physical custody arrangements to the health and development needs of the child.
• Charlotte child custody modification lawyers: Changes may need to be made to child custody arrangements. Issues warranting child custody modification can range from substance abuse, housing or employment instability, as well as physical or mental health concerns of your co-parent.
• Charlotte special needs custody lawyers: Special needs children often require specialized care, educational resources, and medical attention, which must be factored into child custody arrangements and child support agreements. An experienced special needs custody attorney will advocate for a custody plan that prioritizes the child’s well-being, ensuring their physical, emotional, and developmental needs are met while also protecting parental rights and responsibilities.
• Charlotte temporary custody lawyers: You may be a non-custodial parent and feel that your child’s well-being warrants the need for temporary custody. Whether the custody order is temporary or eventually becomes permanent, it is imperative to seek legal remedies with a licensed family attorney to guide you.
• Charlotte spousal support lawyers: Whether you are seeking separation or divorce, we will help you with a spousal support agreement. The court will consider factors such as the length of your marriage, standards of living, and contributions to the shared household. 
• Charlotte spousal support modification lawyers: After the finalization of your divorce, either you or your ex-spouse may seek modifications to the spousal support or alimony agreement. Receiving a raise, a loss of employment, and missing or short payments are among the most common reasons for seeking changes to the amount of alimony paid.
• Charlotte separation lawyers: There are specific circumstances that allow for a no-fault divorce in North Carolina. While separation does not require paperwork, there is a requirement to live apart from your spouse for at least a year before being able to file the paperwork for divorce. With guidance from a licensed family lawyer in Charlotte, you can lay a solid foundation for a simpler divorce process.

Schedule your free meeting with our team today to see if our Family Lawyers can help you.

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How Our Charlotte Family Attorneys Help With Child Support, Child Custody, and Visitation

Custody disputes can be some of the most contentious family law matters that our Charlotte, NC, divorce lawyers see. Issues of who your child lives with, who makes decisions for them, and how much support one parent needs from the other can drag out the process and make it feel like you are in a constant battle.

It is our job to put your children first and try to preserve the loving relationship you have while protecting them from potentially dangerous situations like domestic violence.

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How Our Charlotte Lawyers Handle Military Divorce Cases

If you are seeking a military divorce, you need a divorce attorney who is experienced with these specific family law cases. Our attorney will not only protect your rights but also advocate for you during marital property division. We will work hard to resolve legal issues without unnecessarily extending your case in court.

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Our Attorneys Will Help If You Are Filing for Divorce in Charlotte and Have a Special Needs Child

Divorce involving children with special needs brings up specific legal issues requiring a family law firm with years of experience to help resolve. Our legal team is knowledgeable about the challenges that exist with special needs divorce, such as:

• Visitation and access
• The transition between homes
• Health and nutritional needs
• Decision-making
• Parental involvement
• Recreational and social opportunities
• Estate planning
• Respite care for the custodial parent

We will work toward a divorce judgment that prioritizes your child’s best interests. 

Schedule a call with one of our client services coordinators today

Our Family Lawyers in Charlotte Assist With Prenuptial Agreements

Premarital agreements or prenuptial agreements can help protect your assets, which you enter into before you get married. These agreements are useful in situations where one spouse has a business or other valuable assets.

The prenuptial agreement will determine exactly what happens to your assets should your marriage fail. Our Charlotte family law firm will review or draft an agreement that protects your assets and prioritizes your future financial well-being. 

We Will Explain How Separation Agreements Apply in Charlotte, NC

Under G.S. § 52-10.1, a separation agreement—sometimes called a property settlement agreement, marital separation agreement, or memorandum of understanding—is often part of an uncontested divorce. 

These agreements work out all aspects of the separation, including real estate, retirement accounts, child custody and support, spousal support, and alimony, so that court appearances and further negotiations become unnecessary.

If you can create a detailed separation agreement, it can greatly speed up your divorce and even help salvage some of your relationship. Our family attorneys in Charlotte will assist you with this. 

Our Family Lawyers Will Advocate for You During a Spousal Support and Alimony Case

Alimony exists to make sure that a dependent spouse can maintain their former standard of living after the divorce. Not everyone is able to dive right back into the workforce, and alimony ensures that you can get the training, skills, and earning potential necessary to make ends meet and maintain a comfortable standard of living.

Courts may grant three types of alimony: post-separation support, temporary alimony, and permanent alimony. A North Carolina family law attorney can help you fight to get the spousal support you need and deserve. We will also help if your ex-spouse is seeking alimony or a modification to an alimony order. 

Our Charlotte, NC, Attorneys Help With Premarital Agreements

Contrary to popular belief, a prenuptial agreement does not assume that a marriage will fail. Rather, it provides assurances to both parties in case an unthinkable event occurs. The biggest benefit of a premarital agreement is avoiding future conflicts regarding the assets owned by each party.

A properly written and agreed-upon prenuptial agreement can help ease some of the pains of the divorce process. Many large North Carolina family law firms use templated prenups or premarital agreements that do not cater to each client’s specific needs.

You will not experience this at Melone Hatley, P.C. Our experienced attorneys will personalize your prenuptial agreement to your particular needs so that it protects your assets.

Is North Carolina an Equitable Distribution State?

Under G.S. § 50-20, North Carolina is an equitable distribution state, but this does not necessarily mean what you might think. In legal terms, “equitable distribution” does not mean all assets are divided equally. It means everything gets divided fairly.

The courts will consider many factors when dividing marital property. This includes the needs of both spouses, the needs of the children, marital versus individual property, and other things that might be important in deciding who needs what part of the estate.

Our Charlotte, NC, family attorney will help you understand how equitable distribution laws apply to your case, whether you are preparing a prenuptial agreement or filing for divorce. 

Our Attorneys Will Explain the Rules for Child Custody in Charlotte

Child custody rules in Charlotte, NC, do not necessarily favor one parent over the other. Many factors must be considered to determine the best interests of the child before a decision is made. Everything from the living arrangements of each parent to the desires of the child will be considered before the court issues an order.

You and Your Co-Parent’s Living Arrangements

You may have a better living arrangement for your child than your co-parent. For example, you may have a house where your child will have their own space as opposed to living in a small apartment. You may be able to provide a better environment for the child.

Your and Your Co-Parent’s Ability to Provide for Your Child

You and your co-parent’s earning potential certainly comes into play when determining both of your ability to provide for your child, but this is not the end of the story. If your co-parent works all the time and is never home, for example, they may not be able to provide emotional support. The courts will weigh all these factors to determine what is best for your child.

Your Child’s Relationship With You and Your Co-Parent

The courts consider issues of abuse, antagonistic relationships, and the like. If your child is over a certain age, the judge may ask them what they desire and take this into account. It is all part of determining where your child will be the most emotionally healthy.

What Is the Difference Between Family Law and Trusts and Estates?

Estate planning and family law are similar in that both concern families and the financial issues that affect them. Where they differ, however, is that trusts and estates deal specifically with assets and future health concerns, while family law deals with issues of divorce and child custody. 

It is important to consider estate planning while in the divorce process to ensure that your intended beneficiaries are taken care of in the event of an untimely death. Failure to update your estate plan after a divorce could have dire consequences for your family.  

Many family law firms claim to handle both issues, but it is important to find a law firm that understands how they coincide. To find out where your legal issues lie, contact Melone Hatley, P.C., for an initial consultation today. 

Why Hire a Family Law Attorney in Charlotte?

Hiring a family law attorney helps with divorce proceedings and other family law matters. Our lawyers are well-versed in aspects of the law that apply to your family issues and can be a voice of compassion and reason. We will step in to deal with the legal work, taking some of the emotional stress off your shoulders.

We will also inform you of legal options you might not otherwise have considered and help protect your assets and your family. At Melone Hatley, P.C., we have over 200 years of combined experience in family law matters and pride ourselves on fighting for what our clients deserve in a timely manner.

This is a difficult and stressful time for you, and we understand that all you want is for your divorce, child custody arrangement, or other family law matter to be settled and done. We will work to make that happen in a way that is fair, just, and equitable for you.

Call Our Charlotte Lawyers for Help With a Variety of Family Legal Matters

If you are facing a family law issue, you deserve legal services tailored to your unique circumstances. The experienced Charlotte family law attorneys at Melone Hatley, P.C. represent clients all over the state of North Carolina in a variety of legal matters. Whatever aspect of family law you are struggling with, we have the extensive experience to represent you. 

We take a client-first approach, and our client testimonials speak to the dedication of our skilled family law attorneys. From initial legal advice to post-separation support, we will be here to stand by your side. Call us today or use our online contact form, and a representative of our legal team will reach out to you.

Schedule a call with one of our client services coordinators today.