North Carolina · Custody and support · Updated Oct 2026

Child custody and support in North Carolina

The North Carolina rules for parents who divorce, from official sources: the legal term for custody, custody mediation and the child support agency.

Quick answer

North Carolina law uses the term “custody and visitation” for custody.

Custody term
Custody and visitation
Child support agency
NC DHHS Child Support Services

Custody terms in North Carolina

Custody and visitation

Mediation

Required for disputed child custody and visitation where a court custody mediation program exists, unless the court waives it (e.g., for domestic violence). Money issues are not part of this mediation. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-13.1.

Child support in North Carolina

Good to know

G.S. 50-13.1 (custody mediation) was amended by S.L. 2024-26. The NC Divorce Packet was updated April 2026.

Children in a North Carolina divorce: what the process includes

  1. Custody

    The court's orders use North Carolina's term for custody: custody and visitation.

  2. Mediation

    Required for disputed child custody and visitation where a court custody mediation program exists, unless the court waives it (e.g., for domestic violence).

  3. The child support agency

    North Carolina's child support agency: NC DHHS Child Support Services

Questions about custody and child support in North Carolina

What is child custody called in North Carolina?

North Carolina uses the term “custody and visitation”.

Which agency handles child support in North Carolina?

NC DHHS Child Support Services.

Is mediation required for custody in North Carolina?

Required for disputed child custody and visitation where a court custody mediation program exists, unless the court waives it (e.g., for domestic violence). Money issues are not part of this mediation. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-13.1.

More about divorce in North Carolina

Custody and support in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.