At Ellis Family Law in North Carolina, our Raleigh child support lawyers help you navigate that process with clarity, compassion, and a focus on what matters most: your child’s stability and well-being.
Our attorneys understand that child support is about more than just finances. We guide parents through custody, support, visitation, and related family law matters with a focus on the child’s best interests and the health of the entire family. When parents separate, child support ensures that both continue to meet their child’s financial needs. But what may be fair is not always obvious, and getting to the right number takes more than just plugging numbers into a formula.
In North Carolina, both parents have a legal obligation to support their children financially. When parents live apart, one typically pays child support to the other to help cover everyday expenses and maintain a consistent quality of life for the child.
Child support can help pay for:
Child support is not optional if one party requests it, and courts take enforcement seriously. We help ensure your child receives the financial support they’re entitled to—or that you aren’t unfairly burdened with an unrealistic obligation.
North Carolina uses the Child Support Guidelines to calculate support, as long as the parents’ combined monthly gross income is less than $40,000 per month, based on:
At Ellis Family Law in North Carolina, we help parents understand their rights when it comes to custody, support, and visitation, so you understand what support is meant to cover—and what it doesn’t.
In certain cases, strictly applying the guidelines may produce an amount that is unfair or inappropriate. The court can deviate upward or downward based on:
Even when parents agree, it’s critical to have a formal order in place. Verbal agreements may be unenforceable if one party changes their mind.
If child support isn’t paid as ordered, the receiving parent has the right to enforce the order through the courts. North Carolina has multiple enforcement tools, including:
We help parents enforce unpaid support quickly and legally, and we also defend those facing enforcement actions when payment issues stem from real hardship or misunderstanding.
Standard guidelines don’t apply in high-net-worth or complex financial situations where the parties’ combined incomes exceed $40,000 per month.
Our child support lawyers in Raleigh, handle child support issues involving:
We work with financial experts when needed to ensure a complete and accurate financial picture.
Child support and custody are closely connected. The number of overnights each parent has with the child significantly affects the support calculation. That’s why we ensure that:
If parenting time shifts or a child begins living primarily with the other parent, we can help update your support order accordingly.
We’ve handled hundreds of child support cases in Wake County—from straightforward agreements to complex litigation.
We keep the child’s wellbeing at the center of every conversation and strategy.
We explain every step of the process so you’re never left guessing what’s next.
We represent both parents receiving and paying support, and we know how to reach practical outcomes for both sides.
We proudly serve families throughout Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, and the greater Triangle area.
Our board-certified specialists lead every case with strategy, care, and a commitment to your best outcome.
With having to shelter in place all my work with Ellis Family Law was done by phone and email. They updated my will which was considerably out of date and...
With having to shelter in place all my work with Ellis Family Law was done by phone and email. They updated my will which was considerably out of date and done without any problems. I spoke with Gray Ellis and told him all I wanted was an ordinary will. Very helpful and the team did a great job.
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.
Ellis Law Firm did a great job with our custody case. Amanda Knight was professional and caring. She listened to our case, full of drama and concerns. She handled our...
Ellis Law Firm did a great job with our custody case. Amanda Knight was professional and caring. She listened to our case, full of drama and concerns. She handled our case with dignity and class. Amanda was very organized and methodical in her approach to our case. She made sure our voice and our little one’s voice was heard. She responded to every email and phone call almost instantaneously, relieving our hearts and minds. We are so thankful for the work Ellis Law Firm did in our case. We highly recommend them!
Eva Freeman has helped me with several legal issues. She is a very intelligent attorney who listens, pays attention to details and will go over and above in helping you....
Eva Freeman has helped me with several legal issues. She is a very intelligent attorney who listens, pays attention to details and will go over and above in helping you. I highly recommend her!
I’m so thankful to have Kathleen as my attorney to walk a journey that I did not want to take! A big heart felt thanks to Kathleen!
...I’m so thankful to have Kathleen as my attorney to walk a journey that I did not want to take! A big heart felt thanks to Kathleen!
Kathleen Murphy is simply the best. If you’re looking for someone who protects your best interests along with creating a clear, concise and strategic game plan. Look no further!
...Kathleen Murphy is simply the best. If you’re looking for someone who protects your best interests along with creating a clear, concise and strategic game plan. Look no further!
Whether you’re establishing child support for the first time, modifying an old order, or facing enforcement issues, you deserve answers—and a plan that works.
Because your child’s future deserves clarity, fairness, and support from both parents.
And for a fun twist: don’t miss our “Pour Decisions” section, featuring wine tips from our lawyer-wine specialist Gray Ellis!
