Youngsville is a Raleigh neighborhood in Franklin County, North Carolina, with a population of over 2000 individuals. City Data notes that over 14% of Youngsville residents are either separated or divorced. A number that is higher than the national average. This record indicates a high divorce rate and sadly, it is expected that this trend will continue to worsen. 

Tolin & Tolin, PLLC is an experienced law firm with a dedicated practice group in divorce and family law. We believe in the legal and general well-being of our clients and we always ensure to work towards accomplishing the goals you are looking for.

If you require a seasoned Youngsville divorce attorney, we are here to help. 

The divorce process is often riddled with unpleasant experiences, but an experienced Youngsville divorce attorney can work with you through the obstacles. Our lawyers at Tolin & Tolin, PLLC are continually utilizing innovative approaches to reach the most successful outcomes possible. We understand how difficult, and frankly, life-shattering a divorce can be. We want to help thrive through a challenging divorce, working towards the life you’re looking for.

Our attorneys will support you through every stage of the divorce process. We value diligence, sincerity, and morality, which have served as our guide through the years. We are committed to discovering your hopes for the future, tailoring our advice to your specific needs. 

What are the steps to take when preparing for a divorce?

Are you and your spouse open to reaching a compromise outside of court? Even in these cases, without an attorney’s assistance, it can be nearly impossible to reach an agreement. That is because, throughout the divorce process, there are a plethora of important decisions to make. Here are just a few:

  • Who gets what property? This can also involve debt that may have been accrued during the marriage.
  • Should either spouse receive spousal support? If so, how much?
  • Do you have children? How would you arrange custody? You would need to create and agree to a custody plan. 

The necessary steps to take during a divorce depend largely on your answers to these questions. A Youngsville divorce attorney from the Tolin & Tolin, PLLC team is here to guide you through these steps by utilizing superb mediation skills along the way.

Perplexed by these issues? We are aware of how debilitating a divorce can be. We are here to answer all of your questions, keeping you informed as your case progresses.

Find a lawyer

Hiring a lawyer helps alleviate the stress associated with the divorce because they are taking the lead with the legalities. Without the right team on your side, sensitive topics like custody and property division can even be more daunting. A lawyer will fight for you and the goals you want to accomplish.

You have the legal right to file for a divorce on your own. You can locate the proper forms for simple separation and custody cases, as long as the terms are agreed upon. If you are pursuing a more complicated divorce, though, it is always advantageous to involve an experienced divorce attorney.
Examples of such instances would include disagreements that could arise over alimony or custody of children, prior abuse or domestic violence, spousal support or division of marital property, or if a spouse is abusing substances. If you experience any of these circumstances above, we recommend hiring a lawyer to advocate on your behalf.

Collect and keep your marriage documents in a safe place

Copies of marriage license certificates, life insurance policies, any pre-nuptial, post-nuptial agreements, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and any other document that might be relevant to the divorce should be kept in a safe file.

It is important to have these documents prepared so to be able to present them seamlessly, when required.

Get your finances in order

A list of joint assets, credit card balances, medical bills, and retirement accounts should be readily available. Courts require parties to make a full disclosure of finances, which can be cumbersome -at times, it is better than missing an important asset.

Further inclusions are copies of all financial statements and records, including your most recent federal and state tax returns, paycheck stubs, bank statements, brokerage account statements, statements for insurance policies, retirement accounts, mortgages, and car loans, and other marital assets.

We also recommend getting a rough outlook of what your finances will look like, calculating your monthly living expenses as a married unit,  so you can see what your expected monthly costs will be once you live separately. At this time, all you’re focusing on is organizing the initial preparations for pursuing a divorce.

Practice starting life on your own

  • Open a new credit card in your name.
  • Separate your savings account. Open a new bank account in your name. Please note that state law requirement differs in this regard.
  • Set up a separate P.O Box
  • Update your insurance information.
  • Speak to Tolin & Tolin, PLLC attorneys for guidance.
  • Decide on your living situation. Where they can afford it, some couples choose to take out separate mortgages. Those who are unable to afford separate mortgages will be forced to live together. The court can order that the children’s primary caregiver remain at home until the divorce is finalized.
  • If you’re a victim of domestic violence, we can help you get a restraining order to protect you against your abusive spouse.

Keep your head up high and focus on the bigger picture

It is important to maintain focus, no matter how discouraged, upset, or angry you could become.

Avoid the use of social media beyond necessary interactions. Even if your spouse is disparaging you to your relatives or children, refrain from retaliation.

Do all in your power to prevent letting the process leading up to your divorce hurt the future you’re working towards.

Do not let yourself become a victim of your circumstances; instead, be fair to yourself. There is no denying that divorce is an extremely terrible experience, but if you allow it, it will not define you.

What to do when there are children (minors) involved?

  • Come up with a custody plan: This plan will include each parent’s visitation schedule. Make plans for holidays, school breaks, and family occasions. Child custody can be a very tricky part of a divorce.  A competent divorce attorney can help you reach an agreement that will be favorable for both parties. 
  • Come up with a child support plan: North Carolina law provides specific guidelines to determine who pays what. Both parents are responsible for this contribution, irrespective of who has custody. 
  • Spousal support: At Tolin & Tolin, PLLC, we can help you decide what kind of spousal support, is best suitable for you. Where your spouse is refusing to pay, we can ask the court for a support order. This can be done even before the conclusion of the divorce trial.

Who will get my Youngsville home in the divorce?

Under North Carolina Law, property belonging to both spouses will be shared equally regardless of who bought it. The Court goes through a process called equitable distribution to divide marital property. While there are instances in which an equitable division could be unequal to certain parties, discretion is always applied by the courts to guarantee fairness. For further reading see North Carolina General Statute sections 50-20 and 50-16.3, respectively.

How a Youngsville Divorce Attorney from Tolin & Tolin, PLLC Can Help

At Tolin & Tolin, PLLC, we can help you understand the asset division process and what would work best for you.

We are happy to have a discussion with you to agree on how best we can tailor our services to suit your needs.  Contact our Youngsville divorce attorneys today for help.

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