Topic: Family Law

Topic: Family Law

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Attend our free Child Custody and Visitation Clinic to learn how to file a child custody action in court without an attorney. You will also learn about visitation. We will provide you with a packet of legal forms and instructions, and you will watch an instructional video. A volunteer attorney will be available to answer general questions.

Download the packets (Descargar los documentos)

2023-Listen-Learn-Custody-Packet-for-ParentsDownload

The clinic will provide you with general legal information and guidance only. The clinic will not provide you with specific, individual legal advice. If you need more help after the clinic, call our toll-free Helpline to apply for help.

The clinic is held in locations throughout the state. If you do not see a clinic in your county, please check nearby counties. Sign up for the clinic using the form below.

Alert!

For your convenience, we hold all of our clinics electronically using Facebook Live and Zoom. All of the clinics are completely free and open to the public.

  • Facebook Live: To participate using Facebook, visit our Facebook Live page when the clinic starts. You do not need a Facebook account to watch the presentation, but you do need an account to send questions to the presenters. Sign up for a free Facebook account.
  • Zoom: To participate using Zoom, use the listing below to register for the clinic you are interested in. You do not need a Zoom account to participate in the clinic. Once you register, you will receive an email containing a link to the Zoom presentation. When the clinic starts, click the Zoom link to join.
Click here to register for upcoming clinics

Topic: Family Law

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Anyone who is 18 years of age or older has the right to start a lawsuit in the North Carolina court system. If the lawsuit is for a claim of $10,000 or less (this amount can vary by county), it can be brought into Small Claims Court, which is available in every county. This guide tells you how to fill out the right forms, prepare for trial, handle the trial, and follow through on the judge’s decision.

A Guide to Small Claims Court

A-GUIDE-TO-SMALL-CLAIMS-COURT-2023Download
El Tribunal de Reclamos MenoresDownload

Topic: Family Law

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About

The Child’s Advocate is a project of Legal Aid of North Carolina that provides attorneys for children in highly contested private custody cases. We are appointed by judges in family court in Wake and Durham counties to represent children in cases with the following: domestic violence, child abuse or mistreatment, substance abuse or mental instability of a parent, relocation of a parent, or a child with special needs.

By working with the parents and their attorneys, we settle most of our cases without the need for a trial. But when a trial is necessary, we present evidence and call witnesses so that the Court learns about the child’s experience, concerns and preferences. 

Our role is different from that of a guardian ad litem (GAL). Instead of deciding what is best for our clients, we investigate and advocate for what our clients believe is best for them. To do this, we collaborate with mental health providers so we can better understand our clients’ perspectives and preferences. Throughout our representation of our clients, we maintain a confidential attorney-client relationship.

The Child’s Advocate recruits and trains pro bono attorneys from the private family law bar to ensure that we have the resources to represent every child appointed an attorney.

Our hope is to gradually expand our services to additional counties in North Carolina. 

Learn more about The Child’s Advocate.

News

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DAVIDSON COUNTY – Our Right to Education Project filed a federal complaint today with the…

Deadline extended for Extra Credit Grant program

Complaints resolved against Guilford, Vance schools

RALEIGH—Legal Aid of North Carolina’s systemic state complaints against Guilford County Schools and Vance County…

Education denied to students with disabilities in adult jails

RALEIGH—Prompted by complaints filed by our Advocates for Children’s Services project, the North Carolina Department…

Agreement reached to address discriminatory discipline in Durham Public Schools

Black children and children with disabilities at center of complaint DURHAM | Feb. 22, 2018…

New Wake County suspension data reveals lower overall rates, but significant disparities remain

RALEIGH, N.C., December 9, 2014 – Out-of-school suspensions in the Wake County Public School System…

N.C. youth advocates urge U.S. Department of Education to address continued discriminatory discipline practices in Wake County schools

RALEIGH, January 5, 2017 – Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Advocates for Children’s Services project joined…

Shaw University to change discriminatory policies for disabled students

RALEIGH, July 14, 2015 – Shaw University will revise its discriminatory policies and procedures for…

Wake Co. schools routinely violate rights of students with mental health disabilities

RALEIGH · July 25, 2018 – Attorneys with Advocates for Children’s Services, a project of…

Topic: Family Law

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Attend our free Simple Divorce Clinic to learn how to file a simple divorce action in court without hiring an attorney. You will receive a packet of legal documents and watch an instructional video. A volunteer attorney will be available to answer general questions.

Filing for divorce affects your rights to property division, spousal support, and alimony. You could lose important rights by filing for divorce. If you wish to pursue property division, spousal support, or alimony, you should consult with a private attorney to discuss your legal rights before filing. You are welcome to attend the clinic for general information, but the clinic does NOT specifically address these issues.

The clinic will provide you with general legal information and guidance only. The clinic will not provide you with specific, individual legal advice. If you need more help after the clinic, call our toll-free Helpline to apply for help.

The clinic is held in locations throughout the state. If you do not see a clinic in your county, please check nearby counties. Sign up for the clinic here.

Alert!

For your convenience, we hold all of our clinics electronically using Facebook Live and Zoom. All of the clinics are completely free and open to the public.

  • Facebook Live: To participate using Facebook, visit our Facebook Live page when the clinic starts. You do not need a Facebook account to watch the presentation, but you do need an account to send questions to the presenters. Sign up for a free Facebook account.
  • Zoom: To participate using Zoom, use the listing below to register for the clinic you are interested in. You do not need a Zoom account to participate in the clinic. Once you register, you will receive an email containing a link to the Zoom presentation. When the clinic starts, click the Zoom link to join.
Click here to register for upcoming clinics

Topic: Family Law

← Back to Family Law

Robert Hill, Staff Attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina, and Rachel Holtzman, intern with Legal Aid of North Carolina, explain the resources you can use to get the new monthly advance payments for the Child Tax Credit. Check out this live presentation to learn more about how to sign up!

Topic: Family Law

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Dietrich McMillan, an attorney with Legal Aid, discusses the American Rescue Plan concerning the 2021 Child Tax Credit. Check out this video to learn more about whether or not you qualify!

Topic: Family Law

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Sarah Caraffa, an attorney in our Raleigh office, will discuss the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, an international agreement that provides for the speedy return of children abducted by a parent and held in a foreign country.

Topic: Family Law

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Daisy Requeno, a bilingual paralegal in our Central Intake Unit, tells you want you need to know–in English and Spanish–about North Carolina’s Extra Credit Grant program, which provides $335 to some parents/guardians to cover costs associated with virtual schooling and childcare.

Topic: Family Law

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Elysia Prendergast-Jones, supervising attorney in our Raleigh office, provides an overview of child custody law in North Carolina and guidance on how to file for child custody on your own, and discusses the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on your ability to file for custody. This video explains custody law as it applies to both parents and non-parents.