North Carolina judges set child support with the state Child Support Guidelines, based on both parents’ incomes, the number of children, and costs like health insurance and work-related child care. We help parents ask for, defend against, change, and enforce support orders.
Child Support Lawyers in North Carolina
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QUICK ANSWER
North Carolina judges set child support using the state Child Support Guidelines, based on both parents’ incomes, the number of children, and costs such as health insurance and work-related child care. We help parents request, defend, change, and enforce support orders. $50 consultation with our Director of Client Engagement. Full refund if you’re not satisfied, for any reason.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Child support in North Carolina: the short answer
The court must set child support by applying the presumptive North Carolina Child Support Guidelines (G.S. 50-13.4(c)). A judge may vary from the Guidelines only after finding that the Guidelines amount would not meet or would exceed the child’s reasonable needs, or would otherwise be unjust or inappropriate, and must explain why in written findings.
Support generally ends at 18. If the child is still in primary or secondary school at 18, support continues until graduation, the child stops attending regularly or stops making satisfactory progress, or age 20, whichever comes first. An order can be changed on a showing of changed circumstances (G.S. 50-13.7), but past-due payments cannot be reduced once they are due (G.S. 50-13.10).
What to do right now
- Gather 3 months of pay stubs and your last two tax returns.
- Write down what you pay for the child’s health insurance, child care, and extraordinary expenses.
- Keep paying under any existing order until a judge changes it.
- Track overnights: 123 or more nights a year with each parent changes the worksheet used.
- Pay through the state system or keep proof of every payment.
Charlotte, Belmont, and Cary: (704) 842-3411. Raleigh: (919) 925-4613. Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free.
HOW IT IS CALCULATED
How the Guidelines calculate support
The Guidelines use both parents’ gross incomes to find a combined basic support obligation from a schedule, then divide it in proportion to income. Health insurance premiums for the child, work-related child care, and some extraordinary expenses are added and shared the same way.
Which worksheet applies depends on where the children sleep:
- Worksheet A: one parent has primary physical custody.
- Worksheet B: shared custody, meaning the child lives with each parent at least 123 nights a year and each parent pays the child’s expenses during that time. The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5 and allocated by income and time.
- Worksheet C: split custody, where each parent has primary custody of at least one child.
Legal custody does not decide which worksheet applies; overnights do.
Which version applies: the Guidelines in effect today took effect January 1, 2023. Revised Guidelines are scheduled to apply to child support actions heard on or after January 1, 2027, so the hearing date matters. We check the current version for your case.
CHANGING AN ORDER
Modifying child support
Either parent can ask the court to modify support by showing changed circumstances (G.S. 50-13.7). Under the Guidelines, if the existing order is at least three years old and the Guidelines amount based on current incomes differs by 15% or more, a substantial change of circumstances is presumed. A change can only reach payments due after the motion is filed: each past-due payment is vested when it accrues and cannot be reduced later (G.S. 50-13.10). File promptly if your income drops.
ENFORCEMENT
When support is not paid
Unpaid support can be enforced through income withholding, contempt proceedings, and other remedies, including through the local child support enforcement agency. If you are the parent being asked to pay more than you can, we look at whether the Guidelines were applied correctly and whether a modification motion is needed.
SERVICE AREA
Where we handle cases
Our Raleigh family law team handles child support cases in the 60 North Carolina counties below, including the Charlotte area. Linked counties have their own page with courthouse and local court details. If your case is in a county that is not listed, or outside North Carolina, we are probably not the right fit, and we will tell you so on the first call.
Charlotte area: Alexander, Anson, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Polk, Richmond, Rowan, Rutherford, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Wilkes, Yadkin.
Raleigh area: Bertie, Caswell, Chatham, Cumberland, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Moore, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Person, Pitt, Rockingham, Sampson, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne, Wilson.
Between both regions: Alamance, Guilford, Randolph.
LEARN MORE
Guides and related pages
COMMON QUESTIONS
Child Support FAQs
What goes into a North Carolina child support calculation?
Most cases use the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines. The Guidelines combine both parents’ gross incomes, find the basic support amount for the number of children, add costs such as the child’s health insurance and work-related child care, and divide the total in proportion to each parent’s income (G.S. 50-13.4(c)).
What is shared custody for child support?
Under the Guidelines, parents share custody when the child lives with each parent at least 123 nights a year and each parent pays the child’s expenses during that time. Shared custody uses Worksheet B, which multiplies the basic obligation by 1.5 and allocates it by income and time.
When does child support end in North Carolina?
Support generally ends at 18. If the child is still in primary or secondary school at 18, it continues until the child graduates, stops attending school regularly, stops making satisfactory progress toward graduation, or turns 20, whichever comes first, unless the court orders otherwise (G.S. 50-13.4(c)).
Can child support be changed?
Yes, on a showing of changed circumstances (G.S. 50-13.7). If the order is at least three years old and the Guidelines amount based on current incomes differs by 15% or more, a substantial change is presumed.
Can past-due child support be reduced?
No. Each past-due payment vests when it accrues and cannot be reduced or vacated later (G.S. 50-13.10). Ask for a modification as soon as your circumstances change.
Can a judge order more or less than the Guidelines amount?
Yes, but only after hearing evidence and finding that the Guidelines amount would not meet or would exceed the child’s reasonable needs, or would be unjust or inappropriate. The judge must make written findings explaining the different amount (G.S. 50-13.4(c)).
How much does a child support consultation cost?
Family law: $50 consultation with our Director of Client Engagement. Full refund if you’re not satisfied, for any reason.
This page provides general information about North Carolina law and local courts. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Court locations, hours, and procedures change; confirm details with the court or with us. Every case is different, and prior results do not predict future outcomes.
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Charlotte, Belmont, and Cary: (704) 842-3411. Raleigh: (919) 925-4613. Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free.