Barbara M. Szombatfalvy

In North Carolina, the law provides for two kinds of spousal support: Post-Separation Support (PSS) and Alimony. Post-separation support is temporary support meant to meet the immediate shorter-term financial needs of a spouse with insufficient income, while alimony is meant to provide support to that spouse over a longer term.

You may have significant differences with your spouse about where your children will live (physical custody), who will make major decisions affecting them (legal custody), and how their financial needs will be met (child support). If that is the case, we will help you develop positive strategies for addressing the needs of your children, and we’ll work to avoid unnecessary and destructive conflict with your spouse whenever possible.

North Carolina has established Child Support Guidelines, a uniform system for calculating child support based on a number of factors, including the following: the gross income of each parent, the number of children, the amount of time each child spends with each parent, as well as payments each parent makes for work-related child care expenses and health insurance premiums for the child. In the majority of cases, child support will be based on the Guidelines.

There are four main areas that you should discuss with your attorney: dividing property and debts (Equitable Distribution), spousal support (post-separation support and alimony), and, if children are involved, child custody and child support. You may need to address short-term financial issues like payment of joint debt, and covering expenses in two households, and making sure children’s support and emotional needs are met. You may want help deciding who will remain in the marital home.