Child Custody with unmarried Parents

Hi! How do you handle a child custody when the parents are not married? The father is from NC, but the mother isn’t. The child was born and raised in NC. The concern is the child move away without any agreement.

Child custody is handled the same whether the parents are married or not married or have never been married. North Carolina would have jurisdiction assuming the child has resided in the State of North Carolina for at least the last 6 months.

A custody order would prevent the out-of-state parent from removing the child from the State of North Carolina. Instead, a court order would provide for specific visitation time with the out-of-state parent to take place either in North Carolina or in the state of the other parent’s residence, or a combination of both.


Anna Ayscue

Attorney with Rosen Law Firm Cary • Chapel Hill • Durham • Raleigh • Wake Forest

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This was very helpful. Thank you for explaining.