Child custody and support in North Carolina

Custody of the Children In North Carolina

The parents are free to make choices in regards to a child’s custody issues, as long as the court feels that those decisions are in the best interests of the child or children. If the court gets involved, the system does not offer preferential treatment based on gender when deciding custody. All factors are based on preserving the interests of the child or children.

North Carolina Child Support Guidelines

The state of North Carolina has statewide support guidelines which do apply in nearly every case, barring exceptional circumstances. These guidelines take into account both parents’ gross incomes, child-related expenses, and other household expenses to determine what support would serve the child best. Support is ordered for children until they reach age 18, and may be continued through the end of secondary education in many cases.