How do I establish my parental rights if the other parent and I were never married? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an unmarried parent usually establishes enforceable parental rights by first establishing legal parentage (most often paternity) and then obtaining a custody order. Parentage can be established by a signed affidavit of…
How does court-ordered mediation work in a custody case, and when is it required? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, when a custody or visitation case has a contested issue, the District Court typically sends the parents to the court’s Custody and Visitation Mediation Program before the case is set for a final…
How do I revise a parenting plan to add rules about introducing a new romantic partner to our child? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, adding “new partner introduction” rules usually means changing a custody/visitation order (often called a parenting plan). If both parents agree, the simplest path is to put the new…
If we reach an agreement, how can we turn it into a court order that can be enforced? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, parents usually turn an agreement into an enforceable court order by filing a custody case in District Court and asking the judge to sign the agreement as a written…
Can a parenting plan limit when a parent can have a new partner around the child or overnight during parenting time? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes—under North Carolina law, a parenting plan (and a court custody order) can include limits on a parent having a new romantic partner around the child or staying overnight…
What can I do if the other parent refuses to talk about changing the parenting plan after a move? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if the other parent will not discuss changes after a move, the practical next step is usually to ask the court to enter a custody order (often by…
When should I consider asking for primary custody instead of only revising the parenting plan? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, asking for primary custody usually makes sense when the issue is not just the calendar, but a bigger change that affects the child’s welfare—like stability, safety, school routines, or a parent’s ability…
How do I start a custody case in the county where my child lives? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a custody case usually starts by filing a child custody complaint (or raising custody in an existing family case) in District Court in the county where the child lives or is physically present.…
What happens if the other parent moves in with a new partner and it affects our current custody schedule? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a parent moving in with a new partner does not automatically change custody or visitation. If the move (or the new household) creates a substantial change in circumstances…
How do I revise a parenting plan that was filed by agreement but is not a court custody order? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a parenting plan that was signed and “filed” by agreement but never entered as a court custody order can usually be revised the same way it was created:…
