Child Custody

Raleigh Child Custody Lawyers Focused on What Matters Most

Child custody can be stressful, but you don’t have to face it alone. At Gantt Family Law, our family law attorneys help parents in Raleigh, and all of Wake County, work through custody disputes with a focus on long-term stability and your child’s best interests. Whether you're seeking joint custody, full custody, or need help with a custody modification, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Board-certified family law attorney Richard Gantt is known for child-first strategies and strong courtroom advocacy. As experienced child custody lawyers, we will help you understand your rights, avoid common mistakes during mediation, and build a parenting plan that works for your family.

Child Custody Dispute

So if you're going through a divorce or facing a custody battle as a single parent, our goal is to protect your relationship with your child. We also help clients understand how child support works with joint custody and what it takes to gain or maintain custody under North Carolina law.

Board-certified family law attorney Richard Gantt helps parents navigate child custody with a focus on long-term stability and the child’s best interests. Known as a top divorce lawyer in the Raleigh, North Carolina area, he works to find child-centered solutions.

Understanding North Carolina Child Custody Laws

Judges determine custody by what is in the child’s best interest. They usually consider factors like your physical, mental and financial ability to care for your kids; who has been their primary care taker; and whether or not there is a history of domestic violence or emotional distress. In some cases, North Carolina parents can claim emergency custody of their children. This typically happens when the child’s safety may be at risk. Parents can get emergency child custody when issues like violence, sexual abuse or parental abduction significantly threaten a child’s well-being.

In North Carolina, you can settle child custody disputes by agreement or in a court order. There is no presumption that one parent would be better suited to have possession and courts prefer both parents to be involved.

What Are Options For Child Custody?

No family is the same, and these options can address their unique scenarios:

• Physical custody: Determines who the kids live with and where they live after the divorce.
• Legal custody: Determines who can make decisions about the children’s health care, education and religion after divorce.
• Sole custody: One parent has exclusive custody of the kids. They can either have full legal custody, full physical custody, or both.
• Joint custody: When both parents share custody of the kids – that can be legal custody, physical custody or both. Parents can establish joint custody specifics in a parenting plan.
• Visitation: When a parent gets the right to visit their kids. You can establish or advocate for visitation guidelines through a parenting plan.
• Split custody: Each parent takes full custody of one or more of their kids. Parents may choose to do this if one of their kids requires additional support and one spouse has more capacity to give that support than the other.
• Grandparent visitation and custody: Can establish if/when grandparents can visit their grandkids, as long as it serves the children’s best interests.

We can help you evaluate which options fits the needs of you and your children.

Who Is Entitled To Have Custody And Visitation Rights In North Carolina?

North Carolina law recognizes that various parties may have legitimate interests in seeking custody or visitation rights. While biological parents maintain primary consideration in custody matters, other individuals who have played significant roles in a child’s life may also petition for these rights under specific circumstances.

Beyond traditional custody arrangements, we work with clients who face unique challenges in securing custody or visitation time. These include noncustodial parents building meaningful relationships with their children, stepparents who have formed strong bonds with their stepchildren, grandparents advocating for continued involvement in their grandchildren’s lives and business owners requiring flexible custody arrangements that complement their professional responsibilities.

Our attorneys at Gantt Family Law understand the nuances of North Carolina custody laws and how they apply to various family situations. We support clients through complex custody matters, whether they are seeking primary custody, joint custody arrangements or visitation rights. Our experience spans emergency custody situations and modifications of existing orders when circumstances change significantly.

Custody Rights For Fathers

Fathers have the same rights as mothers in North Carolina child custody disputes. Courts typically evaluate individual scenarios and make custody determinations on what are in the children’s best interests.

Gantt Family Law can advocate for fathers seeking physical and legal custody of their kids. We understand how stressful these matters can be and can offer emotional support and effective representation to keep your and your kids’ needs front and center amid negotiations.

Grandparents’ Rights In North Carolina

Grandparents in North Carolina and other states nationwide are increasingly involved in child custody disputes. Here, we provide information to help you understand how grandparents’ rights work in North Carolina and how state family courts may view certain situations.

Does North Carolina Recognize The Rights Of Grandparents?

North Carolina currently does not recognize grandparents’ rights in child custody disputes. However, state family courts still allow grandparents to advocate for visitation and, in some cases, custody of their grandchildren if it’s in the children’s best interests.

How Can Grandparents Get Visitation Rights In North Carolina?

Grandparents can still request visitation time with their grandchildren. However, they may have to seek approval from the court and demonstrate that their presence in their grandchildren’s life is in the children’s best interests. In other instances, if one parent does not want the grandparents to see their children, the grandparents may have to prove to a judge that the parent is not able or qualified to deny visitation rights.

Whether you are a parent or a grandparent, navigating North Carolina’s child custody laws alone can be difficult. Seek help from an experienced Wake County child custody lawyer today. We provide families throughout the Triangle area with guidance on child custody laws in North Carolina. 

Child Custody For Raleigh Business Owners

Owning and running a business takes considerable time and effort. In these cases, you may need specialized custody agreements that account for these commitments. As business owners ourselves, we recognize the delicate balance between professional commitments and parental responsibilities. This unique perspective allows us to develop custody solutions that protect both your relationship with your children and your professional interests.

Our lawyers can help business owners like you facilitate workable child custody agreements with your spouse, allowing you to remain part of your kids’ lives while running your enterprise. Tell us more about your scenario, and we can help you seek a workable and amicable agreement. Call 984-326-3302 to set up a consultation with one of our attorneys today.

Why Choose Gantt Family Law For Custody Disputes

At Gantt Family Law, we approach custody disputes with both legal knowledge and personal understanding. As North Carolina State Bar Certified Family Law Specialists, our attorneys have a broad understanding of the law that rules the state for custody disputes. Our newest attorney on the team, Anna Worley, has experience as a former judge, offering insight into the way a court rules on disputes.

We serve as your anchor during the stormy times of divorce and custody disputes, providing steadfast legal protection for both you and your children. Lead attorney Richard Gantt’s induction into the Legal Elite Hall of Fame by Business North Carolina magazine reflects our firm’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of legal practice. His recent induction into the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society underscores our mission of making legal services accessible to all members of our community.

Our team’s achievements, including recognition in the Top 100 Lawyers magazine and membership in the Lawyers of Distinction group, demonstrate our success in handling complex custody matters. These accolades, combined with our deep understanding of family dynamics and business operations, make us well-suited to represent clients in challenging custody disputes throughout the Triangle area.

Real Families. Real Results.

"After being married for 13 years, I was going through a rough separation. This was not easy for me and the separation also involved a custody battle for our child. I met with several attorneys and all of them were suitable. But I didn’t just need a suitable attorney, I needed an experienced, litigation-savvy attorney. Richard Gantt was that attorney. When we met over lunch, he was informative, empathetic, and also ready to do battle in the courtroom. Richard was available to talk day and night. He has thought of innovative ways to proceed with all aspects of my divorce/separation. I have recommended Richard to all my friends who are going through a divorce. This process has not been an easy one, but Richard has lessened the pain significantly. When I saw him in court, I was glad that he was my attorney and wasn’t questioning me. Richard Gantt has given me back something I thought I would never have again: Peace of Mind. Thanks Richard!"

- Dr. Stanley Elliot

Advocate For Your Kids’ Best Interests – Call Our Visitation Lawyers

The attorneys at Gantt Family Law work with child custody clients in the Triangle area and beyond. We understand the importance of your custody case. We can advise you on protecting your rights as custody decisions get made. If you are thinking of getting a divorce and you have minor children at home, it is vital to consult with a knowledgeable family law attorney who can advise you of these critical rights. Our child custody attorneys have over two decades of experience and lead attorney Richard Gantt is in North Carolina Magazine’s Legal Elite Hall of Fame.

Visit our contact page to get started today.

Suggested Reading:

The Child’s Advocate In Custody Cases – New Wake County Family Court Requirements

How A Mother Can Lose A Custody Battle

Child Custody Questions – Part 1

Child Custody Questions – Part 2

Child Custody Questions – Part 3

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