North Carolina Divorce Lawyers Blog

Articles Posted in Custody

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In court-ordered child custody mediation in North Carolina, agreement is the polar star.  Both parents are applauded for entering a parenting agreement.   The question is whether agreement is always in the best interests of the child.  Certainly, we all want parents to agree, but there are certain times when agreements should be entered into with caution.  Certainly, the majority of parenting cases end with the parents agreeing to terms.  Quite frankly, many of these parents would have agreed on custodial arrangements for the children, with or without mediation. Such agreements by parents are simply parents putting children first and naturally looking after their offspring.  The majority of parents can and do put the children first. Continue reading →

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By: Dana M. Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law Group
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The time you spend with your children is precious and the upcoming Halloween weekend should be no exception. Here are a few fun ideas to make the most of this holiday. Activities for this spook-tacular holiday should be age appropriate. Also take into account the personalities of your children. A child easily scared may not enjoy the same activities as one who is a thrill seeker. Taking these factors into consideration should make it easy to determine the best activity for your child this Halloween. Continue reading →

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Dear Carolyn,

I am a mother of girls ages six and ten. I am separated, and I have half custody. I work hard, and the girls sometimes create havoc. I spanked the six-year-old with a belt, just like my mother did me. My church belief is “spare the rod and spoil the child.” Child Protective Services showed up at my house to investigate. Should I be concerned?

~Scared

 

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Many prospective clients come to us with the question about “what does it really take to win my custody case in North Carolina?”  This raises the interesting question of what is a “win” in custody of a minor child.  “Winning” means different things to different parents.  For some parents, it is quality visitation.  For others, it is primary responsibility for the physical well-being of the child.  For some, it is fifty-fifty or bust!  The goal for all parents should be to keep the best interests of the child as the polar star—a guiding light.  Another valuable goal is to reduce the conflict surrounding the child in this time of change in the family.  A premise of this blog is that both parents are good people and good parents.  Future blogs will address unfit parents, grandparents and social services issues. Continue reading →