Very professional, I spoke with Emilee and felt confident that this is the firm to work with.
When parents separate or divorce, determining where children will live and how parenting responsibilities will be shared is often the most emotionally challenging aspect of the process. North Carolina law prioritizes the best interests of the child in all custody decisions, but navigating the legal system can be complex and overwhelming for families already experiencing significant change. That’s why you need a local Wake Forest Child custody lawyer to help you succesfully traverse this system.
Ellis Family Law, P.L.L.C., provides compassionate, knowledgeable representation for families throughout Wake Forest and surrounding communities. Our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience handling complex child custody matters. From our Wake Forest office, we offer personalized guidance to help you create custody arrangements that protect your relationship with your children while meeting their needs.
North Carolina recognizes legal custody and physical child custody. Legal custody involves decision-making authority regarding education, health care, religious upbringing and other significant matters. Physical custody determines where the child lives and the parenting time schedule.
The court may award joint custody, giving both parents equal rights and responsibilities, or sole custody to one parent with visitation rights to the other. Many factors influence these determinations, including:
Our Wake Forest attorneys help you present the strongest case possible for your desired custody arrangement, always keeping your child’s best interests at the center of our strategy.
A well-crafted parenting plan can help avoid future conflicts and provide stability for your children. Our divorce lawyer team works closely with you to develop comprehensive agreements addressing regular parenting time schedules, holiday arrangements, transportation logistics, communication between parents and children, and methods for resolving future disagreements.
Even when parents agree on custody matters, having skilled legal representation helps ensure your agreement complies with North Carolina law and anticipates potential future challenges.
Life circumstances change, and custody arrangements sometimes need adjustment. If you need to modify an existing custody order or are facing issues with enforcement, our experienced attorneys can help you navigate the legal process and advocate for solutions that continue to serve your child’s best interests.
Our board-certified specialists lead every case with strategy, care, and a commitment to your best outcome.
Very professional, I spoke with Emilee and felt confident that this is the firm to work with.
...Very professional, I spoke with Emilee and felt confident that this is the firm to work with.
Kathleen has represented me through my divorce and custody case since November 2022, and I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about her. She has always made both my son...
Kathleen has represented me through my divorce and custody case since November 2022, and I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about her. She has always made both my son and me feel supported and protected throughout the process. She has been incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate, and patient, and was always there to answer my questions—even when I needed reassurance more than once. I am so grateful to have had Kathleen in my corner and would highly recommend her to anyone needing an attorney they can truly trust.
5 out of 5. Sarah Gerow since the beginning has always had my best interest in mind and put alot of fears I had about lawyers to rest through the...
5 out of 5. Sarah Gerow since the beginning has always had my best interest in mind and put alot of fears I had about lawyers to rest through the quick actions and on point communication throughout my particular situation. I could not be happier with the representation I recieved from Sarah Gerow.
Family Law issues can be extremely difficult and consuming. I have had the pleasure of working with Ellis Family Law for over 3 yrs and am positive I had the...
Family Law issues can be extremely difficult and consuming. I have had the pleasure of working with Ellis Family Law for over 3 yrs and am positive I had the best representation in Durham county. Gray, Autumn and the rest of the team have been quick to communicate and explain the legal process and always had my children’s and my best interest in mind.
I highly recommend this skilled team of legal professionals for any family law matter. You won’t be disappointed.
Emilee is a delight! She makes the stressful legal process easy to navigate. Cannot recommend her enough.
...Emilee is a delight! She makes the stressful legal process easy to navigate. Cannot recommend her enough.
The decisions you make during your custody case will affect your family for years to come. Work with attorneys who understand both the legal complexities and emotional nuances of child custody matters. Contact Ellis Family Law, P.L.L.C., in Wake Forest.
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!
