Official NC court forms for creating parenting plans and custody agreements available free online. Includes worksheets for parenting schedules, holidays, school and medical decision-making, and communication protocols. Forms are downloadable and fillable at nccourts.gov/documents/forms. Use these alongside the NC Judicial Branch self-help resources for unrepresented parents. No account required. Completed forms must be filed at your county courthouse.
Co-parenting programs help separated and divorced parents share custody constructively, minimize conflict, and raise children across two households. Most states require court-ordered parent education (often called 'parenting classes' or 'children first' programs) before finalizing a divorce or custody order involving minor children. These classes are usually four to six hours, available online or in person, and cost 5–$75. Private co-parenting mediation is available through court-based mediation programs (often free or sliding-scale) and through private mediators certified by state mediation councils. Digital tools like OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses provide court-admissible communication logs, shared calendars, expense tracking, and messaging — many family courts now encourage or require their use in high-conflict cases. This directory includes all three: state-required classes, mediators, and co-parenting apps.
Co-Parenting in North Carolina
North Carolina district courts handle family matters in all 100 counties, with some counties having dedicated family court sessions. The Child Support Services Section operates under DHHS. Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, and Winston-Salem are the largest metros. Legal Aid of North Carolina is the primary LSC-funded statewide civil legal aid program.
OurFamilyWizard — Court-recommended co-parenting communication platform used across NC family courts. Features a shared calendar, expense tracking, secure mes
TalkingParents — Co-parenting communication app that creates uneditable, timestamped records of all messages, calls, and shared files that are accepted by NC
Exchange HOPE Center - Supervised Visitation — Safe supervised visitation and custody exchange center serving Wake County providing a neutral, monitored environment for parent-child visit
Parenting PATH (Parents And Teachers Helping) — Court-approved parenting education classes in NC covering co-parenting skills, child development, and reducing the impact of conflict on chi
Durham County Custody Mediation Services — Court-based mediation for custody and visitation disputes in Durham County required before contested custody hearings. Certified mediators h
Co-Parenting — Common Questions
Is a parenting class required for divorce?
In most states, yes — a short court-approved co-parenting course (4–6 hours, 5–$75, often online) is required before any divorce or custody order involving minor children is finalized. Check your state court's approved provider list.
What's the difference between mediation and court?
Mediation is a confidential negotiation with a neutral third party helping both parents agree on a parenting plan. It's faster, cheaper, and less adversarial than litigation. If mediation fails or one parent refuses, the court decides. Court-based mediation programs are usually free or sliding-scale.
Which co-parenting apps do courts accept?
OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses are court-admissible in most US jurisdictions. They provide tamper-proof message logs, shared calendars, expense tracking, and documentation judges will read if conflict escalates.
What is a parenting plan?
A written document (required in every custody order) detailing where the child lives, when each parent has parenting time, how decisions are made, how holidays are handled, how to resolve disputes, and how to handle changes. Courts provide templates; customized plans are stronger than boilerplate.