As parents, while divorce will separate you in the eyes of the law, your lives will remain inextricably tied due to the children you have in common. As hard as divorce is for you, remember it is even harder on your kids. The better you and your co-parent cooperate,...
Should you be concerned about your co-parent kidnapping your child?
For all of your ex’s flaws, you never believed they’d be capable of taking your child and not returning them. Now you’re not so sure. Something about them has changed. They seem more stressed out, worried or angry than usual. It’s been a long, difficult year. The...
5 things to think about when making a custody schedule
If you and your ex are going to share custody of your children following a divorce, you need to create a custody schedule that makes it possible. The exact schedule is different for everyone, depending on their specific needs and many unique factors. The goal,...
How to address virtual visits in your parenting plan
Parents often want to spend as much time with their children as they can. When they’re divorced, parents often don’t have as much time with the kids as they did before. For this reason, they might be tempted to have their visitation days no matter what’s going on. One...
Stay-at-home dads may face gender stereotypes
Stay-at-home mothers are still more common than stay-at-home dads, but things have been changing over the years. It used to be assumed that a mother would remain home with the children and a father would work. These days, more and more fathers opt to be the caregivers...
North Carolina’s Child Custody Mediation and Visitation Program
One of the most contentious parts of a divorce is usually child custody. Both parents have a high stake in the custody arrangements for their children. While they may agree the marriage is over, they still both want to have a relationship with their children and...
Child custody and false domestic violence allegations
Lies can damage lives. Many people learn this from their child's other parent. Child custody battles are often heated disputes where one or both parties are intensely emotional. While it can be a terrible experience, it is not unheard of for one parent to take...
Reasons a judge may award sole custody
Courts typically use sole custody only in extreme situations. The preference is for shared custody. That does not mean a 50/50 split. For instance, the children may live with their mother during the week and their father on the weekends. But, even when divided...
What are valid reasons to modify custody arrangements?
When North Carolina parents get divorced, they face many decisions. Child custody arrangements are among the first things they work out. The court sometimes has to step in and help make the final judgment call. They also have the power to approve requests for custody...
How does substance abuse affect parenting?
When couples are going through a divorce, child custody is usually one of the tougher decisions they face. In most cases, courts prefer to award joint custody, as it is believed to be in the best interest of the children. Kids fare best when they have strong, stable...