Waxhaw Family Law Attorney

Family Law

Waxhaw Family Law Lawyer

The family court system exists to resolve legal issues that involve family members. Many types of family court cases unfold in North Carolina each year, and it’s possible for any family law matter to escalate into a hotly contested legal affair for those involved. Whether you are facing a divorce, a child custody dispute, or a combination of family law matters in a single case, you need reliable legal counsel to guide you through your proceedings as efficiently as possible.

Experienced Family Law Counsel for Waxhaw, NC, Clients

The Law Offices of Huffman & Kendrick can assist you in this situation. Our firm has years of professional experience handling many types of legal matters for our clients in the Waxhaw area, from personal injury claims to criminal defense. Our firm also has the experience in family law needed to handle the most legally complex and emotionally challenging cases in family court. It’s essential to seek legal counsel you can trust as soon as possible at the outset of your case to have the greatest chance of achieving the results you hope to see.

Benefits of Hiring Divorce & Family Law Attorneys

It is technically possible to navigate a family court case without hiring legal representation, but you leave yourself at a significant disadvantage if you attempt to do so. You could overlook crucial details or miss court filing deadlines that jeopardize your position in your case. Depending on the type of family court case ahead of you, any mistakes in the early stages of your case can potentially impact the next several years of your life.

When you have an experienced Waxhaw family law attorney representing you, you can rely on them to provide the guidance and support you need to approach your case with confidence and peace of mind. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Huffman & Kendrick take time to learn as much as we can about our clients at the beginning of their case proceedings. We know how emotionally stressful any family law matter can be and strive to help each client address their individual concerns.

Our firm has earned a solid reputation as a leading choice for legal counsel in the Waxhaw area, and we have helped many past clients navigate their cases with confidence. When you trust our firm to represent you in a family law matter, we will carefully review all pertinent details and help you create an individualized roadmap for your impending case.

Types of Family Law Cases Our Firm Represents in Waxhaw

When you need a Waxhaw family law attorney to help you with a case, it is not only crucial to choose an attorney with a strong professional record of successful cases behind them but also one who has specific experience handling cases like yours. Family law is a unique area of civil law, and it’s possible for a case to pertain to a single issue or multiple legal issues at once. Our firm can provide the comprehensive legal representation you need for all types of family law cases, including:

• The process of ending a marriage is often more complex than the average person expects. State law requires divorcing spouses to divide their marital property under the law of equitable distribution, which aims to ensure the fairest possible division of marital assets. The couple must also resolve custody of their children, and other variables such as alimony or spousal support could come into play. They must also meet the state’s residency requirements and complete a full year of separation before they can even begin the divorce process.
• Child custody disputes. The family court judge has a duty to ensure that any custody ruling delivered by the court suits the best interests of the children to which the order will apply. It’s possible for parents to develop a joint custody agreement in which each parent will spend some time with their children on a rotating basis, and it is also possible for one parent to assume majority custody. The court is legally required to rule in the best interests of the children in every custody case, and most family court judges in Waxhaw aim to disrupt children’s lives as little as possible with their rulings.
• Child support determinations. Whenever parents share custody of their children, their custody order is likely to entail a child support agreement as well. North Carolina law requires both of a child’s parents to equally contribute to the financial costs of raising their child. Support determinations take many factors into account, including the overall cost of living in the area, the unique financial needs of the children, and the respective incomes of both spouses.

It is common for a divorce to encompass a child custody and support determination. When parents divorce, the custody determination is likely to be the most emotionally challenging and contested aspect of the divorce process. Your Waxhaw family law attorney will assist you with each aspect of your case, including any issues that may arise in the future, and compel you to return to family court to change your court order.

Modifying Family Court Orders

When a civil case concludes, the final ruling on the case is typically unchangeable. However, family law is a unique area of civil law that recognizes the fact that life can present unpredictable challenges to any family. In some cases, these unexpected events directly influence standing family court orders, rendering them untenable under the new circumstances.

It’s possible to have a family court order modified in North Carolina, and your Waxhaw family law attorney will be an essential asset for navigating this process successfully. A few of the most commonly cited reasons for people to seek family court order modification in Waxhaw include:

• Seeking changes to a standing child support order. A parent who receives child support from a noncustodial parent may seek larger payments to account for an increase in their child’s financial needs or if they discover that the paying parent has recently increased their income without notifying the court. It is also possible for a paying parent to seek a reduced support obligation in light of losing a job or experiencing any other unpreventable life event that has materially impacted their ability to meet their support obligation.
• Changes to custody orders. Parents with a custody order may eventually need to implement changes to the order. For example, a parent who wishes to move and take their child with them will need to modify their custody order to account for relocation, and the other parent would have the right to contest the desired change. If you need to make any significant adjustment to your custody order, you must go through the modification process. It’s possible for parents to address one-off situations and temporarily modify custody accordingly, but any long-term or permanent changes must be approved by the court.
• Whenever any party willfully violates the terms of a family court order, this can lead to contempt proceedings against them that can carry severe penalties. One of the most commonly cited reasons for contempt filings in Waxhaw is refusal or failure to pay child support. The court can coerce the parent to fulfill their custody requirement, incarcerating the nonpaying parent, garnishing their wages, and implementing other penalties at the judge’s discretion.

These are only a few possible examples of reasons a parent may seek a modification to a standing family court order. The modification process is relatively straightforward: The parent requiring modification must submit a notice to the court explaining the desired changes and why the changes are necessary and reasonable. Once the court receives this notice, it will set a hearing date.

If the other party sees the request as reasonable and necessary, they may agree to the change without contest. The judge handling the hearing can then implement the change to the order in question with immediate effect. Alternatively, if the other party disputes the desired change, the judge will listen to arguments from both sides before either approving or rejecting the modification request. It is also possible for the judge to seek a compromise by altering the terms of the request at their discretion.

What to Expect From Your Family Law Attorney

Any family court case is likely to be emotionally stressful for those involved. The outcome of a divorce, custody determination, or contempt hearing can have dramatic effects on the parties involved in the case, and it is not possible to predict how a family court judge will rule on any case. When you choose the Law Offices of Huffman & Kendrick to represent you in Waxhaw family court, you are investing in the services of a seasoned team of attorneys dedicated to helping you reach the results you hope to see.

Our team will help you develop an individualized strategy and address the most complex factors present in your case. Our firm will provide ongoing support and reassurance as the case unfolds, helping you make informed decisions about each stage of your proceedings. If you are ready to learn how an experienced Waxhaw family law attorney can help you through the case ahead of you, contact the Law Offices of Huffman & Kendrick today to schedule your consultation with our firm.