Autumn has been a life saver!!!
When you are raising a child across two households, financial support becomes a necessity. Whether you are receiving support, paying it, or preparing for a new custody arrangement, you deserve clear guidance and fair treatment. At Ellis Family Law, our Wake Forest child support lawyers help parents understand their rights, meet their obligations, and build arrangements that reflect their child’s true needs.
We represent both custodial and non-custodial parents in Wake Forest and throughout Wake County, combining strategic advocacy with a compassionate approach focused on long-term family stability.
Child support in North Carolina is designed to ensure that children receive the same level of financial care they would have if their parents were together. That means proportionally sharing the costs of food, housing, education, medical needs, daycare, and more.
Support obligations are calculated using statewide guidelines that consider:
We walk you through every step of the calculation, explain what’s negotiable and what’s not, and advocate for a result that reflects your real financial picture.
In most cases, the non-custodial parent (the one with less parenting time) pays support to the custodial parent. But even in shared custody situations, one parent may still owe support depending on income levels and expenses.
We assist Wake Forest clients in a range of scenarios:
Whether you are receiving or paying, we make sure your child’s needs remain the focus and that no one is taken advantage of.
While North Carolina’s child support guidelines provide a starting point, many cases require deeper analysis, especially when parents have:
At Ellis Family Law in North Carolina, we dig beneath the surface to ensure support amounts are accurate, reasonable, and sustainable. We also help clients navigate Deviation Requests when strict guideline application would be unjust or inappropriate.
In North Carolina, child support typically lasts until the child turns 18 and graduates from high school or whichever comes later (but never beyond age 20). However, support can end earlier or continue longer depending on:
We help parents clarify the timeline, update support orders when milestones are reached, and modify obligations as life changes.
If you are not receiving court-ordered child support, or if you have been accused of falling behind, do not wait to act. North Carolina courts have powerful tools for enforcement, including:
Whether you’re seeking payment or defending against an enforcement action, our attorneys protect your rights while keeping the focus on your child’s long-term stability.
Even if you were never married to your child’s other parent, you still have legal rights and responsibilities. Before support can be ordered, paternity must be established either voluntarily or through DNA testing.
We assist unmarried Wake Forest parents with:
Our Wake Forest child support lawyers recommend parents not rely on informal deals that can break down. We help you build enforceable plans that last.
Our attorneys work closely with local institutions and court systems to support families in need of legal clarity and financial stability.
You may find support through:
Our firm helps you avoid unnecessary trips, delays, and missteps by handling legal filings, communicating with agencies, and making sure you’re prepared every step of the way.
Whether your case is simple or high-conflict, we work hard to ensure your child is provided for and that you are treated fairly.
We appear before local judges regularly.
You’ll never be left wondering what’s happening.
No legal jargon, no intimidation.
Whether you want to settle quickly or fight in court, we’ll match your energy.
Always.
Whether your case is simple or high-conflict, we work hard to ensure your child is provided for and that you are treated fairly.
Our board-certified specialists lead every case with strategy, care, and a commitment to your best outcome.
Eva is amazing! A person with the abilities to make things happen.
...Eva is amazing! A person with the abilities to make things happen.
Great legal advice that personally helped me.
...Great legal advice that personally helped me.
Sarah Geruw is such an impressive young lawyer. I was blown away by her compassion and attentive to detail. Anyone would be lucky to have her in their corner!
...Sarah Geruw is such an impressive young lawyer. I was blown away by her compassion and attentive to detail. Anyone would be lucky to have her in their corner!
I feel obligated to write a truthful review of my experience with Kathleen Murphy as my attorney. It has been an absolute nightmare since August 2 of 2024 the day...
I feel obligated to write a truthful review of my experience with Kathleen Murphy as my attorney. It has been an absolute nightmare since August 2 of 2024 the day I hired her. I requested that she file for custody of my daughter, and she instructed me that it was not the right time for that and not part of her strategy at that time. I trusted her expertise as I have never been through something like this. I continued to request every month since August 2024 for her to file For custody of my daughter And she kept giving me the same excuse. Her answer continued to be That she did not feel that was the right strategic move at this time and that she would deal with that later. During the last 15 months, I have been denied visits with my daughter by her other parent. My daughter continues to be told untruths about me, And I cannot do anything to facilitate reconciliation with her because Kathleen Murphy has filed no motions to get me any visitation and has failed to file for custody on my behalf despite the fact that I have paid her Approximately $100,000. I have been grossly misrepresented by Kathleen Murphy. I have been unable to communicate with her for months. She does not return emails. She does not return phone calls despite promising to do so. She does not do what she promises to do. This has been my own personal experience with her. I have had very little contact with her paralegal and almost no contact with Kathleen herself. I have followed her advice and done exactly what she has told me to do Since the day that I hired her. Her advice Has made My already difficult divorce even worse. She has put me approximately $100,000 in debt, I am still not divorced, as she refused to file it for me until I paid her an additional $2500, I still receive no salary from the businesses that I am a co-owner of because Kathleen Murphy has filed no motions on my behalf To get me a salary. I still do not have visitation with my daughter because Kathleen Murphy has failed to file for custody as she promised to do. I tried to fire Kathleen Murphy in March 2025 and she begged me not to and she promised me that she would give My case the attention that it deserved. She told me that I needed to give her a good review and so initially I did because I felt pressure to do so just to get her to work on my case. The review that I initially gave was what she wanted me to say not what really happened. I had to finally fire Kathleen Murphy And hire a new law firm. The law requires that Kathleen Murphy turn all of my files over to the new law firm and she has still refused to do that as of today. She has made it very difficult for my new law firm to properly represent me because she is still refusing to turn over my files. Even though I have already paid Kathleen Murphy approximately $100,000 and she has failed to file for my divorce and she has failed to file for custody of my daughter. She is still sending me bills for $15,000 and for $5000 additionally, Even after being fired, she continues to send me bills for work that she did not do and communication that she failed to have with me. I witnessed her being rude to me to her own paralegal, to a friend of mine, and to a retired judge. Based on my personal experience with her, the lack of communication that I received from her, The fact that I was not allowed access to her, and to her staff, the fact that I was not made aware and kept updated On my case, I cannot recommend this attorney to anyone. Sincerely, Teresa Hamaty
You deserve to understand your rights, your responsibilities, and your legal options when it comes to supporting your child. Whether you’re just beginning the process or need to modify an existing order, Ellis Family Law is here to help.
Wake Forest Office
Ellis Family Law, P.L.L.C.
1740 Heritage Center Dr Suite 202, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Fax: 877-678-1584
Mon – Fri: 9am – 5:pm
And for a fun twist: don’t miss our “Pour Decisions” section, featuring wine tips from our lawyer-wine specialist Gray Ellis!
