| Family law is an area of the law that | | | | accusations by one parent against the |
| deals with family-related issues and | | | | other, including sexual, physical, and |
| domestic relations including child | | | | emotional abuse, brain-washing, parental |
| custody. | | | | alienation syndrome, sabotage, and |
| Child custody and guardianship are legal | | | | manipulation. It is these infrequent |
| terms which are sometimes used to | | | | difficult custody battles that make the |
| describe the legal and practical | | | | news and sometimes distort the public's |
| relationship between a parent and his or | | | | perceptions so that they appear more |
| her child, such as the right of the | | | | prevalent than they are and the court's |
| parent to make decisions for the child, | | | | responses appear inadequate. |
| and the parent's duty to care for the | | | | In some places, courts and legal |
| child. | | | | professionals are beginning to use the |
| Residence and contact issues typically | | | | term parenting schedule instead of |
| arise in proceedings involving divorce | | | | custody and visitation. The new |
| (dissolution of marriage), annulment and | | | | terminology eliminates the distinction |
| other legal proceedings where children | | | | between custodial and noncustodial |
| may be involved. In most jurisdictions | | | | parents, and also attempts to build upon |
| the issue of which parent the child will | | | | the so-called best interests of the |
| reside with is determined in accordance | | | | children by crafting schedules that meet |
| with the best interests of the child | | | | the developmental needs of the children. |
| standard. | | | | Learn more about child custody with the |
| Family law proceedings which involve | | | | North Carolina family lawyer. |
| issues of residence and contact often | | | | For example, younger children need |
| generate the most acrimonious disputes. | | | | shorter, more frequent time with |
| While many parents cooperate when it | | | | parents, whereas older children and |
| comes to sharing their children, not all | | | | teenagers can tolerate and may demand |
| do. For those that engage in litigation, | | | | less frequent shifts, but longer blocks |
| there seem to be few limits. Learn more | | | | of time with each parent. For more |
| of this with the North Carolina family | | | | information about child custody cases |
| lawyer. | | | | and divorces, then visit the North |
| Court filings quickly fill with mutual | | | | Carolina family lawyer for more details. |