You may have read on Google that North Carolina is a 50/50 custody state. It’s important to know that what you read on Google is not necessarily the truth, that is particularly the case for Wake County. In my experience as a custody attorney for over a decade, I do not find that Wake County Courts tends to always award 50/50 custody, but the judges here listen to the facts of each individual case before making a decision.
Wake County has a unique family court system. If you find yourself in the midst of a custody action you will be assigned to one family court judge. That judge will be your assigned judge for all time unless they retire or lose an election. They are in a unique position to be able to intimately get to know you, your ex, as well as your children throughout their lifespan.
There are currently five family court judges in Wake County. There are three female judges and two male judges. Each of them is very different in their mannerisms, temperament, and rulings.
It is important to hire an experienced family law attorney who is in front of these particular judges on a frequent basis so that your attorney can give you very specific advice about your case depending on your judge. How your case is handled in front of the court can make a huge difference to the outcome of your case. We never recommend handling a custody case on your own.
We have tried hundreds of custody cases in Wake County and 50/50 custody is generally the exception rather than the rule. With regard to the rest of the state of North Carolina every county is very different. The outcome of your case will be dependent on where you live, how prepared you are, the facts of your case, who you have as a judge, and a variety of other factors.
Unlike some states that have statutes that outline what a custody schedule shall look like at particular stages or ages of a child, North Carolina does its best to look at each family on an individual basis before making a decision that’s in the best interests of a minor child.