Eva is great! Very knowledgeable about the law.
At Ellis Family Law, our Raleigh child custody lawyers help families navigate this process with compassion, clarity, and a focus on the future. When parents separate, the most important question becomes: what’s best for the children?
Custody involves understanding legal rights, schedules, as well as protecting a child’s emotional well-being, maintaining stability, and ensuring that both parents can play meaningful roles in their child’s life. Whether you are establishing a custody plan during divorce or modifying a previous agreement, we are here to help you build a parenting arrangement that works for you and your child.
North Carolina law divides child custody into two categories:
Legal custody refers to a parent’s authority to make major decisions for the child, such as those involving healthcare, education, and religion. Parents may share legal custody (joint) or one parent may have sole legal custody.
Physical custody addresses where the child lives. Parents may share physical custody, or one parent may have primary custody while the other has scheduled visitation.
Courts make custody decisions based on the best interests of the child, considering factors like the child’s age, relationship with each parent, stability, and safety.
Our Cary child custody lawyers represent parents in a wide range of custody-related matters, including:
We offer realistic, forward-thinking guidance tailored to your family’s unique structure and goals.
A parenting plan is a written agreement that outlines how parents will share time and responsibilities. A thoughtful parenting plan can reduce future conflict and provide your child with the consistency they need to thrive.
We help clients design parenting plans that address:
Whether you’re co-parenting peacefully or navigating a strained relationship, we’ll help you build a plan grounded in your child’s best interests.
Sometimes, parents cannot agree on custody. In contested cases, the court steps in to decide what arrangement best supports the child’s well-being. We serve clients in high-stakes custody disputes involving:
We work to present your case clearly and respectfully, backed by facts, expert testimony if needed, and a firm understanding of North Carolina custody law.
If you or your co-parent wants to move to a different city, state, or country, it may significantly impact your custody arrangement. These cases can be emotionally and legally complex.
We assist clients with:
Our goal is to protect the child’s relationship with both parents—regardless of geography.
Life changes. As children grow and family circumstances evolve, your custody arrangement may need to be updated. North Carolina law allows custody modifications when there has been a substantial change in circumstances, such as:
We help you file or respond to modification requests with strategy, evidence, and respect for what your child needs now.
If your co-parent is violating a custody order—by refusing visits, moving without notice, or undermining your role—you do not have to tolerate it. Our Raleigh child custody lawyers help clients:
Likewise, if you’re being unfairly accused of violating a court order, we provide a strong defense grounded in the facts and your rights.
We don’t handle dozens of practice areas. We focus on families every day,
Whether you are a married couple, unmarried parents, co-parents, or stepparents, we offer inclusive, thoughtful legal support.
We do do not just help you win today, we help you plan for tomorrow.
Your child’s safety, stability, and emotional health are always our top priorities.
We proudly serve clients in Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Morrisville, and across Wake County.
Our board-certified specialists lead every case with strategy, care, and a commitment to your best outcome.
Eva is great! Very knowledgeable about the law.
...Eva is great! Very knowledgeable about the law.
Ellis Family Law is one of the premier firms in the state handling family law matters. This firm’s professionalism, legal acumen and zealous advocacy for their clients is stellar in...
Ellis Family Law is one of the premier firms in the state handling family law matters. This firm’s professionalism, legal acumen and zealous advocacy for their clients is stellar in helping families navigate through conflict. Their deeply rooted passion to obtain just legal outcomes is impactful and meaningful to everyone they serve.
Mr. Ellis and his team have been nothing less than amazing in this Wake Forest Community. Thankful for their partnership with the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club. Looking forward...
Mr. Ellis and his team have been nothing less than amazing in this Wake Forest Community. Thankful for their partnership with the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club. Looking forward to continuing to grow with them in our corner.
Sarah M. has been amazing! Very trustworthy and extremely helpful.
...Sarah M. has been amazing! Very trustworthy and extremely helpful.
A little backstory: my child custody case started in 2019. I hired another attorney that did absolutely nothing for my case. A few years later, I decided to hire better...
A little backstory: my child custody case started in 2019. I hired another attorney that did absolutely nothing for my case. A few years later, I decided to hire better representation…Autumn Osbourne. Best decision I could have made. Right from the start, she took charge and I knew I was in good hands. She went above and beyond! Autumn is extremely knowledgeable and anytime I emailed her with questions she got back to me right away. I never felt “in the dark” about anything regarding my child custody. We went to trial and we won my case. I would not have successfully won without her. If you need an attorney who has your back, who is aggressive in the courtroom, and someone who truly believes in justice, Autumn is the one! So grateful and now my daughter and I can move forward with our lives.
Amanda Knight at Ellis Family Law handled my case with attention to detail, thoroughness, and good communication. I was given top notch legal advice and representation on how to navigate...
Amanda Knight at Ellis Family Law handled my case with attention to detail, thoroughness, and good communication. I was given top notch legal advice and representation on how to navigate through a difficult divorce and custody battle. I recommend Ms. Knight to anyone seeking fair and legal representation from basic divorce settlements, mediation, to complicated litigation.
Whether you’re creating a custody plan, modifying an old one, or navigating a dispute that impacts your child’s future, we’re here to help you move forward with clarity and care.
Because your child deserves more than legal answers. They deserve a parenting plan that works.
Raleigh Office
Ellis Family Law, P.L.L.C.
1101 Haynes St, Raleigh, NC 27604
Fax: 877-678-1584
Mon – Thur 9:00am – 5:00pm
Fri – 9:00am - 3:00pm
And for a fun twist: don’t miss our “Pour Decisions” section, featuring wine tips from our lawyer-wine specialist Gray Ellis!
