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Divorce prep · North Carolina
Child custody and parenting plans in North Carolina
In North Carolina, legal custody is the right to make major decisions about the child. Physical custody is the right to have the child in your care all or part of the time. Visitation is a secondary form of custody, with visits at times set in a court order.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- In North Carolina, legal custody is the right to make major decisions about the child. North Carolina Judicial Branch: Child Custody. Checked November 2, 2026
- Physical custody is the right to have the child in your care all or part of the time. North Carolina Judicial Branch: Child Custody. Checked November 2, 2026
- Visitation is a secondary form of custody, with visits at times set in a court order. North Carolina Judicial Branch: Child Custody. Checked November 2, 2026
Official links
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Bank, retirement and debt statements
- Pay stubs and tax returns
- Household bills and expenses
- Home, car and property papers
- Agreements and court papers you have
- Messages sent to you
- Co-parenting log: dated handoff and visit notes
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
One page, no email needed.
Coming soon to Google Play.
More for North Carolina
- How child support works in North Carolina
- How to get a copy of your divorce record in North Carolina
- Protective orders for domestic violence in North Carolina
- Divorce residency rules and where to file in North Carolina
- Divorce document checklist: the full guide
- Child custody and parenting plans: all states
Neighbouring states
- Child custody and parenting plans in Georgia
- Child custody and parenting plans in Virginia
- Child custody and parenting plans in New York
- Child custody and parenting plans in North Dakota
Questions
Where do these North Carolina facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: North Carolina Judicial Branch: Child Custody. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in North Carolina or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for divorce prep?
A good start: Bank, retirement and debt statements; Pay stubs and tax returns; Household bills and expenses; Home, car and property papers; Agreements and court papers you have; Messages sent to you; Co-parenting log: dated handoff and visit notes. Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.