Deciding to relocate with children is not always easy, as numerous factors must be considered. Divorced, separated, or unmarried parents with custody orders have additional considerations they must think about both before and after they move. Out-of-State Orders in North Carolina If you’ve recently moved to North Carolina and have…
Articles Posted in child custody
Understanding Custody and Visitation
Divorce can be a challenging time, especially when children are involved. One of the most complex aspects of ending a marriage is determining custody and visitation rights. The case of Davidson v. Tuttle, 2022-NCCOA-622 offers a window into the intricate nature of these decisions and how they can change over…
What Happens When a Parent Violates a Child Custody Order?
Custody orders are not required for parents who are not together, but many choose to obtain a court order when they cannot agree on custody, visitation, and other issues related to raising their child. Without a court-issued custody order, the legal parents share equal rights.[1] Custody Orders are Legally Binding…
7 Tips to Co-Parenting Success
Co-parenting can be a challenging journey, but when done successfully, it can provide stability and support for children growing up in a separated or divorced family. Effective co-parenting requires cooperation, communication, and a commitment to putting your child’s well-being first. Here are seven valuable tips to help you navigate the…
Overnight Guests and Child Custody Matters
Edwards v. Anderson, 2023-NCCOA-______ (2023) (unpublished) Facts: Parents were never married but had one child together. The child custody order contained a provision wherein romantic guests could not stay overnight with the parent with whom custody is scheduled. Overnight was defined as any time after 8:00pm. However, the provision also…
Our Family Wizard and Other Co-Parenting Apps
Our Family Wizard (OFW) is one of many comprehensive co-parenting communication and organization platforms designed to support families going through divorce or separation. It serves as a centralized hub for parents to manage various aspects of co-parenting, ensuring smoother and more efficient cooperation while prioritizing the best interests of their…
Complex Family Dynamics: Custody Matters Involving Grandparents, Stepparents, and Abusive Households
Few family law matters are as contentious as child custody or as distressing as child abuse. Custody battles between biological parents can become intense as parties sometimes passionately disagree about what’s best for their child. These disputes increase in complexity when third parties seek custody due to parental neglect or…
Do Grandparents Have Custody Rights in North Carolina?
Stable and supportive environments are crucial to a child’s health and well-being. Having healthy relationships with their primary caregivers is also vital, as these relationships impact every part of their development.1 Grandparents often have established relationships with their grandchildren and volunteer to help with the many demands of raising a…
Civil Contempt V. Criminal Contempt in NC Child Custody Cases
North Carolina does not require that unmarried or divorcing parents get a custody order.[1] When a mother or father has the designation of a legal parent, they both have the same rights when there is no order in place. Legal parent classification can be obtained in a number of ways,…
Therapy Records and Non-Consideration
JOHNSON V. LAWING, 2023-NCCOA-______ (2023) When a minor child in the middle of a custody case attends therapy, sometimes those treatment records contain relevant and important facts that may aid a court in making a custody determination. However, not every case in which the child attends therapy means that the…