Lawyer Directory & Resources.

Legal Aid of North Carolina is the statewide nonprofit law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income residents.

• legalaidnc.org — apply for help online
• JusticeHub — online intake and client portal
• Free custody clinics — learn how to file a custody action without a lawyer
• Free self-help clinics — learn to handle basic legal issues
• Services include: domestic violence, housing, public benefits, consumer protection, disaster relief

LawHelpNC.org provides free online legal forms and self-help resources for North Carolina residents.

• Online legal forms — fillable AOC forms for custody, child support, DV
• Step-by-step guides for self-represented litigants
• Joint project of Legal Aid of NC, NC Equal Justice Alliance, NC Bar Association Foundation, and Probono.net

The NC Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) connects you with attorneys for a low-cost initial consultation.

• $50 for a 30-minute consultation with a referred attorney
• No charge to call and speak with an LRS specialist
• Find an NC lawyer
• LRS attorneys do not work for free — for free legal services, contact Legal Aid of NC

North Carolina offers Board Certified Family Law Specialist designation — attorneys who have demonstrated special expertise in family law through experience, peer review, and examination.

When choosing an attorney, ask if they are a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. This certification indicates significant experience and expertise in NC family law.

Find Board Certified Family Law attorneys

NC Free Legal Answers is a free online Q&A service for low-income individuals. Post a legal question and get a pro bono answer from a licensed NC attorney.

Good for quick questions about custody, child support, or DVPO issues when you can't afford an attorney.

NC Courts provides self-help filing packets for parents representing themselves:

• File-it-yourself domestic packets — custody, DV, child support
• Includes step-by-step instructions and all required AOC forms
• Covers: Civil Summons (AOC-CV-100), Cover Sheet (AOC-CV-750), Affidavit (AOC-CV-609)

NC Child Support Services (part of NCDHHS) helps parents establish, enforce, and modify child support orders.

• NC Child Support Guidelines Calculator
• Find your county Child Support Services office
• Services: establish paternity, locate noncustodial parents, establish support orders, enforce orders, modify orders

Statewide:

• National DV Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (24/7)
• NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV) — county-by-county crisis line directory

DVPO filing: FREE at your county Clerk of Court. Form: AOC-CV-306.

How to get a protection order

NC requires all contested custody cases to go through mandatory mediation under § 50-13.1(b). The Parent Education and Custody Mediation Program includes:

• Orientation class — Parent Education program to prepare for mediation
• Mediation session(s) — court-approved mediator helps negotiate custody/visitation agreement
• NC Custody Mediation Program