Participation in custody mediation is required for all parents with a pending custody case. Attending the custody mediation program is required before their case can be heard by a Judge. The purpose of custody mediation is giving parents the opportunity to decide custody issues for their children. Parents meet with the custody mediator who controls

Guardianship is a legal relationship when a person or agency is appointed by the Court to make decisions for and to act on behalf of another person, called the Ward. A Guardian is appointed when a Court determines a person is not capable of making decisions on their own or managing their own affairs.  A

An Adoption is a legal proceeding creating a parental relationship between the adoptee and the petitioner. The petitioner is the person requesting the adoption. The adoptee is the person being adopted.  When the adoption is finalized, an adoptee has the same legal status and rights as a natural born child. A married couple or an

In North Carolina, all parents having active custody cases are required to participate in custody mediation.  Only the parents attend. No third parties are permitted to participate. The mediation session is conducted by a mediator who is a neutral third party. The mediator is either a Court employee or a private person. The mediator receives

An absolute divorce is the name for the legal procedure ending a marriage. Once a divorce is finalized, a person is now free to do several things. They can file a tax return using their income only, purchase real estate without the signature of the now former spouse and are free to remarry. In order

This is a follow up to our previous article named: North Carolina Child Support at A Glance published on June 6, 2022, especially for child support payment. After child support has been established, collection and distribution are enforceable. When a child support amount and frequency of support payments are established by Court Order, separation agreement

Child custody is a legal term that includes a parent’s right to raise, care for, and make decisions regarding a child. Visitation is a secondary form of custody. A parent may be permitted to spend time with the child on a set schedule or under certain conditions.  The child custody and visitation arrangement may either