Substance abuse can affect child custody when it raises concerns about a child’s safety, stability, or care. A history of drug or alcohol problems does not automatically prevent a parent from having custody or parenting time. North Carolina courts look at the circumstances and how…
A temporary custody hearing is often a parent's first experience with the family court process, and it tends to feel higher-stakes than it is and lower-stakes than it should be, at the same time. It is not a final determination of custody, but it sets…
Being pushed out of a grandchild's life is painful in a way that is hard to put into words. Whether it happened after a divorce, a death in the family, a parent's struggle with addiction, or a falling-out with an in-law, the loss is real.…
Separation hits fast. One day, you're living in the same house as your children. The next, you may not know when you'll see them again, or what rights you actually have. The decisions you make in the first 30 days after separation carry real weight.…
Family law issues often start quietly, with small disagreements or uncertainty that feels manageable at first. Left unchecked, these situations can become complicated and emotionally draining. Facing divorce, custody disputes, or separation can be overwhelming, and it’s normal to feel anxious about the unknown. Knowing…
When parents separate, questions about time with their children often surface quickly, and with very little certainty. You may hear terms like custody, visitation, parenting time, joint legal custody, or joint physical custody used interchangeably, even though they don’t all mean the same thing. If…
