North Carolina

Child Custody

Know Your Rights

• Free Child Custody Clinic

  Legal Aid of North Carolina's free child custody clinic teaches participants how to file a child custody action in court without an attorney. We will also discuss visitation. We provide a packet with legal documents and an instructional video. At the end of the video, participants can ask general questions to a volunteer attorney through the webinar. Specific legal advice is not provided at these clinics. Clinics are located in many NC counties. If you do not see a clinic in your city or county, please check the surrounding counties in your area. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina

• Custody Web Page

  New! Information on filing for custody in North Carolina has been gathered into a single web page, to make it easy to find what you need. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina

• Everything You Need to Know About Child Custody (video)

  Child Custody is a tricky issue in many families. In this video, attorney Lee Rosen explains the terminology involved in Child Custody, how judges handle Child Custody cases in the courtroom, what could keep you from gaining custody of your children and visitation options. Read More

  By:

  Rosen Law Firm

• Legal Aid of North Carolina's Video on Filing for Child Custody (video)

  Watch Legal Aid of North Carolina's 30-minute video on court procedures and child custody laws. Read More

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina

• Filing for Custody: What forms are required and where to get them

  This resource is for low- and moderate-income North Carolinians who wish to file for custody without a lawyer. Read More

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina

• Filing for Custody Without a Lawyer - Helpful Information

  Excerpts from the custody packet and website developed for persons seeking to file for custody without a lawyer. Read More

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina

• Custody Packets for North Carolina

  A comprehensive set of packets with instructions and North Carolina court forms for either a parent who wishes to file for custody against the other parent, or a non-parent who wishes to file against both parents. The court forms may be completed by hand. Read More

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina

• Custody Trials in North Carolina (video)

  This video describes the steps in a typical custody trial in North Carolina. The video assumes that a custody case has already been filed in court. The video is designed for people who cannot afford to hire a private attorney to address their custody issues. It is offered as a public service by the North Carolina Bar Association and Legal Aid of North Carolina. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina and N.C. Bar Association

• How to file for custody without a lawyer -- for parents

  This interactive interview is for one parent suing the other parent. For custody cases filed by someone other than a parent (a grandparent, for example), there is a different interview. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina

• How to Prepare for a Custody Trial in North Carolina (video)

  This video shows how to prepare for a custody trial in North Carolina if mediation is not successful. The video assumes that a custody case has already been filed in court. The video is designed for people who cannot afford to hire a private attorney to address their custody issues. It is offered as a public service by the North Carolina Bar Association and Legal Aid of North Carolina. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina and N.C. Bar Association

• Custody: Preparing to File for Custody Without a Lawyer

  This document explains what forms are required, where to obtain the forms, where to file, and what information you will need to complete the forms. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina

• Custody: Some Legal Definitions

  This PDF document provides legal definitions of "legal custody", "physical custody", "visitation", "plaintiff", "defendant". Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina

• Child Custody/Visitation and Child Support

  This pamphlet seeks to explain North Carolina laws on child custody, child visitation rights, and child support by answering frequently asked questions about these matters. Content Detail

  By:

  North Carolina Bar Association

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Custody: Giving Notice to the Defendant

  This PDF document explains how the defendant in a custody case is informed about the custody lawsuit. Informing the defendant is called "serving" the defendant, and the process is referred to as "service". Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina

• Custody: Mediation Process

  This PDF document describes the process of mediation in a custody case. Mediation is required in most custody cases filed in North Carolina. Content Detail

  By:

  Legal Aid of North Carolina