Dealing with Narcissistic Traits in a Contested Divorce in North Carolina

Divorce is difficult under ordinary circumstances. When one spouse behaves in a highly controlling, manipulative, or conflict-driven way, the process can feel less like a legal transition and more like a war of attrition. People often describe that spouse as “narcissistic.” In a courtroom, however, the label is less important than the evidence: what happened, how it affected finances or parenting, and what orders are needed to protect the client, the children, and the marital estate.

This guide explains how to approach a contested North Carolina divorce when the other spouse shows narcissistic traits or high-conflict behavior. It focuses on practical legal strategy: documentation, communication boundaries, discovery, child custody planning, financial protections, and enforcement tools.

First, Use the Right Legal Frame: Behavior Matters More Than Labels

Narcissistic personality disorder is a clinical diagnosis, not a shortcut to winning a divorce case. Clinically, narcissistic personality disorder is associated with a persistent pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, and diagnosis is made by clinical criteria rather than by a spouse’s opinion.¹ In divorce litigation, it is usually more effective to describe the specific conduct: hiding money, violating schedules, sending abusive messages, refusing to exchange documents, using the children as messengers, or filing repeated motions to exhaust the other spouse.

That distinction matters. North Carolina judges decide legal issues according to statutory standards. Custody turns on the child’s best interests and welfare, including domestic violence, child safety, and the safety of either party from domestic violence.² Equitable distribution turns on the classification, valuation, and division of marital and divisible property and debt.³ Alimony turns on dependency, support, equity, and statutory factors such as income, earning capacity, marital misconduct, and the parties’ financial circumstances.⁴

Instead of telling the court, “My spouse is a narcissist,” a stronger legal presentation usually sounds like this:

“On March 4, the other parent failed to appear for the 6:00 p.m. exchange, did not answer the co-parenting app, and later texted the child that I was preventing visitation. This was the fourth missed exchange in six weeks. Attached are the app messages, the exchange-site timestamp, and the child’s school counselor note documenting distress after the incident.”

North Carolina Divorce Basics That Must Be Accurate

Any article about contested divorce in Charlotte, Cornelius, or elsewhere in North Carolina should make these points clearly:

• Absolute divorce generally requires separation for at least one year and one day. North Carolina law allows absolute divorce after the spouses have lived separate and apart for one year and either spouse has resided in North Carolina for six months.⁵ The North Carolina Judicial Branch explains that the spouses must live in different homes and at least one spouse must intend the separation to be permanent.⁶
• The other spouse does not have to agree to the divorce. If the statutory requirements are met and the spouse is properly served, a spouse’s refusal to sign papers does not prevent the absolute divorce itself.⁷
• Do not wait until after divorce to preserve property and alimony claims. If neither party files an equitable distribution claim before the absolute divorce is final, the right to ask the court for property division is lost. The same is true for alimony if no spousal support claim is filed before the divorce is final.⁸
• Child custody and child support are not cut off by the divorce judgment. Parents can file custody claims for children under 18 and child support claims regardless of marital status, although timing still matters strategically.⁹
• “Divorce from bed and board” is not an absolute divorce. It is a court-ordered separation based on fault grounds such as abandonment, maliciously turning the other spouse out of doors, cruel or barbarous treatment, indignities, excessive alcohol or drug use, or adultery.¹⁰

Common High-Conflict Behaviors and the Legal Response

A high-conflict spouse may try to turn every issue into a loyalty test or power struggle. The goal is not to out-argue them. The goal is to build a record that allows the court to enter clear, enforceable orders.

Step 1: Build a Contemporaneous Record

Contemporaneous recordkeeping means recording important facts at or near the time they happen. This is especially important in a contested divorce because memory fades, screenshots get lost, and a high-conflict spouse may deny conduct that was never preserved.

A useful record is factual, dated, and organized. It should not be a diary of conclusions such as “he is a narcissist” or “she is crazy.” It should be a timeline of events tied to potential legal issues.

What to preserve

• Texts, emails, app messages, voicemails, letters, and social media messages
• Parenting exchange records, missed visits, late arrivals, school pickup issues, and refusal to follow the schedule
• Bank statements, credit-card statements, brokerage records, retirement statements, business records, loan applications, tax returns, paystubs, and W-2/1099/K-1 documents
• Receipts for children’s expenses, medical bills, childcare costs, insurance premiums, extracurricular fees, and uncovered health expenses
• Photos or videos of property condition, damaged property, removed items, or unsafe living conditions
• Police reports, protective order filings, medical records, school communications, therapist or counselor recommendations, and other third-party records

Best practices for evidence preservation

• Keep originals. Do not edit screenshots or crop out context unless your attorney asks for a demonstrative exhibit. Preserve the full conversation thread when possible.
• Back up records. Store copies securely in a cloud folder or external drive that the other spouse cannot access.
• Maintain a simple index. Use file names such as “2026-03-04 missed exchange OurFamilyWizard.pdf” or “2026-04 Bank of America checking statement.pdf.”
• Separate emotion from facts. A judge does not need ten pages of venting. A judge needs dates, conduct, documents, and impact.
• Ask before recording conversations. North Carolina law generally prohibits intercepting wire, oral, or electronic communications without the consent of at least one party to the communication, and multi-state situations can create additional risk.¹¹ Do not secretly record unless your attorney confirms the recording is lawful and strategically wise.

Step 2: Use Written Communication and Clear Boundaries

Written communication creates a record and reduces opportunities for gaslighting, denial, and baiting. In a high-conflict divorce, the best communication is usually brief, factual, child-focused, and free of emotional hooks.

One helpful framework is the BIFF method: Brief, Informative, Friendly, and Firm. The point is not to be warm toward someone who is mistreating you. The point is to avoid giving the other party fresh material to use in court or another argument.

When possible, ask for a court order or written agreement that specifies the channel for communication. A co-parenting app can help preserve messages, expenses, calendars, and exchange notes. In higher-conflict situations, the order can also limit communication to child-related issues, prohibit disparagement, require response times, and forbid using the children to relay messages.

Step 3: Understand Custody Through the “Best Interests” Lens

North Carolina custody orders must promote the interest and welfare of the child. The court must consider relevant factors, including domestic violence, child safety, and the safety of either party from domestic violence, and the order must include written findings supporting the child’s best interests.²

This means a parent’s behavior matters most when it affects the child. A spouse may have been cruel, selfish, or dishonest during the marriage, but custody evidence should connect the conduct to parenting capacity, the child’s stability, safety, emotional well-being, school performance, medical care, or the parents’ ability to make decisions.

Examples of custody-focused evidence

• Missed exchanges, late returns, or refusal to follow the parenting schedule
• Messages telling the child adult details about the divorce, finances, infidelity, or court case
• Attempts to isolate the child from the other parent without a safety basis
• Refusal to share school, medical, therapy, or activity information
• Threats, unsafe driving, substance misuse around the child, or exposure to domestic violence
• Repeated unilateral decisions about school, medical care, travel, or extracurriculars

Custody mediation and waiver

In North Carolina, contested custody and visitation issues are generally sent to custody mediation where a program exists, unless the court waives mediation for good cause.¹² Good cause may include allegations of abuse or neglect of the child, domestic violence between the parents, alcoholism, drug abuse, severe psychological or psychiatric problems, severe emotional problems, undue hardship, or distance from the court.¹³ In a high-conflict divorce, counsel should consider early whether mediation is appropriate, whether safeguards are needed, or whether a waiver should be requested.

Step 4: Use Detailed Parenting Plans, Not Vague Promises

High-conflict cases often fail in the gray areas. A vague order such as “reasonable visitation as agreed by the parties” can invite repeated conflict. A more effective order anticipates friction and reduces the number of issues the parties must negotiate later.

Parenting plan provisions to consider

• Exact exchange days, times, and locations
• Holiday, school-break, summer, and teacher workday schedules
• Transportation responsibilities and late-arrival consequences
• Rules for illness, makeup time, extracurricular activities, and travel
• How parents exchange school, medical, therapy, and activity information
• Decision-making authority for education, non-emergency medical care, therapy, religion, activities, and passports
• Communication rules: app-only, response time, emergency exceptions, tone, and topics
• Non-disparagement and no adult-conflict provisions
• Restrictions on using children as messengers
• Alcohol, controlled substance, or supervision provisions if evidence supports them
• Protected or third-party exchanges where safety requires it

Parallel parenting and parenting coordinators

Parallel parenting is a structure designed to reduce direct interaction between parents. It is different from cooperative co-parenting. In a parallel-parenting plan, each parent may have clearly defined zones of responsibility, strict communication rules, and fewer opportunities to renegotiate. It can be useful where parents cannot safely or productively collaborate.

North Carolina also recognizes parenting coordinators in high-conflict custody cases. A “high-conflict case” includes a custody action involving minor children where the parties show an ongoing pattern of excessive litigation, anger and distrust, verbal abuse, physical aggression or threats, difficulty communicating and cooperating in the children’s care, or other conditions warranting appointment.¹⁴ A court may appoint a parenting coordinator after entry of a custody order, other than an ex parte order, or after a contempt order involving custody, and the court must make required findings if the parties do not consent.¹⁵

A parenting coordinator cannot replace the judge on fundamental issues of custody, visitation, or support. But the coordinator may help decide practical issues within the scope of the order, such as transition time, pickup and delivery, vacations, transportation, activities, health care management, telephone contact, passports, and education.¹⁶

Step 5: Use Targeted Discovery to Protect the Financial Estate

High-conflict spouses may hide income, delay document production, run personal expenses through a business, move money to relatives, underreport cash, or create confusion about debt. A disciplined financial case starts with targeted discovery.

North Carolina civil discovery methods include depositions, written interrogatories, document production, requests for admission, physical or mental examinations, and other authorized tools.¹⁷ Parties may request documents and electronically stored information within the scope of Rule 26, and the responding party generally must produce documents as kept in the usual course of business or organize them by request category.¹⁸ Subpoenas may command a person to testify or produce records, books, papers, documents, electronically stored information, or tangible things.¹⁹

Financial records to request or subpoena

• Checking, savings, money market, brokerage, cryptocurrency, and digital payment records
• Credit-card statements, loan documents, lines of credit, and debt applications
• Tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, payroll records, year-end pay summaries, and bonus/commission records
• Business ledgers, QuickBooks files, profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, general ledgers, invoices, merchant account records, corporate credit cards, and shareholder distributions
• Retirement plans, pensions, deferred compensation, RSUs, stock options, equity grants, and executive compensation documents
• Real estate closing files, deeds, mortgage statements, appraisals, and rental income records
• Insurance policies, cash-value life insurance records, and beneficiary designations
• Records of gifts, inheritances, trusts, family loans, or transfers to relatives

Red flags for hidden income or asset dissipation

• Sudden withdrawals or transfers after separation
• New accounts, new credit cards, or unexplained debt
• Business revenue declining without a business reason
• Large “loans” to friends, relatives, or business partners
• Personal expenses paid through a business
• Delaying bonuses, commissions, distributions, or contracts
• Overpaying taxes or creditors to reduce visible cash
• Unusual cash activity, digital wallet transfers, or cryptocurrency transactions

A forensic accountant can help trace funds, evaluate business income, identify inconsistent financial statements, analyze lifestyle, and prepare exhibits that translate complex transactions into a clear narrative for settlement or trial.

Step 6: Use North Carolina Financial Protections Correctly

The original concept of a “financial restraining order” should be stated carefully. North Carolina does not automatically freeze assets simply because a divorce is filed. Instead, after a party files or alleges that equitable distribution will be requested when timely, that party may seek injunctive relief under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20(i) and Rule 65 to prevent the disappearance, waste, or conversion of property alleged to be marital, divisible, or separate property.²⁰

Depending on the evidence, a court may restrain transfers, prevent account depletion, preserve business assets, require access to property, prohibit sale of specific assets, or require a bond or other assurance. The exact relief depends on the facts and the order requested.

North Carolina law also allows interim distribution in equitable distribution cases. Unless good cause is shown that there should not be an interim distribution, the court may enter an order before final equitable distribution declaring separate property and dividing part of the marital property, divisible property, marital debt, or divisible debt.²¹

Financial protection checklist

• File equitable distribution before the absolute divorce is final.
• Identify urgent risks: account depletion, sale of real estate, business transfers, vehicle transfers, or new debt.
• Collect baseline statements as of the date of separation and current statements.
• Ask counsel whether a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or other Rule 65 relief is warranted.
• Consider whether interim distribution would stabilize housing, vehicles, debt payments, business access, or attorney-fee resources.
• Do not drain joint accounts or retaliate financially without legal advice. Self-help can damage credibility and create legal exposure.

Step 7: Know How Property Division Works in North Carolina

North Carolina equitable distribution begins by classifying property as marital, separate, or divisible. Marital property generally includes property acquired by either spouse or both spouses during the marriage and before separation, except property classified as separate or divisible. Separate property generally includes property acquired before marriage or by inheritance or third-party gift during the marriage, subject to important exceptions and tracing issues.³

The court begins with a presumption that an equal division of marital and divisible property is equitable, but the court may divide property unequally if an equal division would not be equitable after considering statutory factors.²² Financial misconduct after separation can matter. The equitable distribution factors include acts to maintain, preserve, develop, or expand—or to waste, neglect, devalue, or convert—marital or divisible property after separation and before distribution.²³

That is why documentation of post-separation spending, transfers, business decisions, and property damage can be important. The issue is not whether the other spouse is unpleasant. The issue is whether the spouse’s conduct affected the marital estate, the value of assets, or the fairness of division.

Step 8: Address Post-Separation Support, Alimony, and Child Support

Financial abuse often shows up as control over cash, refusal to pay agreed expenses, threats to cut off access to accounts, or attempts to make the financially dependent spouse unable to litigate. In North Carolina, post-separation support is temporary spousal support based on the parties’ financial needs, accustomed standard of living, incomes, earning abilities, debt obligations, reasonable expenses, and legal support obligations.²⁴

Alimony is a longer-term spousal support claim. The court must award alimony to a dependent spouse if the other spouse is a supporting spouse and an award is equitable after considering relevant statutory factors.⁴ Those factors include marital misconduct, relative earnings and earning capacities, ages and health, income sources, duration of marriage, standard of living, education, assets and liabilities, homemaker contributions, needs, tax ramifications, and other economic factors.²⁵

Child support is separate. North Carolina law provides that parents are primarily liable for support of a minor child, and support must meet the child’s reasonable needs for health, education, and maintenance while considering the parties’ circumstances.²⁶ North Carolina’s Child Support Guidelines generally set the presumptive amount unless the court finds the guideline amount would not meet or would exceed the child’s reasonable needs or would otherwise be unjust or inappropriate.²⁷

Step 9: Take Safety Issues Seriously

Not every high-conflict divorce is a domestic violence case. But when there are threats, assault, stalking, harassment, coercive control, sexual violence, or fear of imminent serious bodily injury, safety planning must come before negotiation strategy.

North Carolina’s domestic violence statute includes attempting to cause bodily injury, intentionally causing bodily injury, placing the aggrieved party or a family or household member in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, continued harassment rising to substantial emotional distress, and certain sexual offenses, when committed by a person with whom the aggrieved party has or has had a qualifying personal relationship.²⁸

A Chapter 50B protective order can include relief such as restraining further acts of domestic violence, possession of the residence, eviction from the residence, temporary custody and visitation provisions, support, possession of personal property, no-contact and anti-harassment provisions, attorney’s fees, firearm restrictions, abuser treatment, and other terms necessary to protect a party or minor child.²⁹

Emergency custody is also available only in limited circumstances. The North Carolina Judicial Branch describes emergency custody as an immediate, short-term order that may be granted without hearing from the other party where grounds include substantial risk of bodily injury, sexual abuse, or removal from North Carolina to avoid the state court’s authority.³⁰

Practical point: If safety is an issue, do not rely on a general divorce strategy article. Contact a North Carolina family law attorney, a domestic violence advocate, law enforcement, or emergency services as appropriate.

Step 10: Prepare for Settlement Without Being Naïve

Many high-conflict spouses use settlement discussions as a stage: they promise cooperation, demand concessions, cancel mediation, change terms at the last minute, or make offers designed to punish rather than resolve. A durable settlement strategy should include deadlines, document exchange, written proposals, and clear consequences if negotiations fail.

Effective settlement preparation includes:

• Knowing the likely range of outcomes for custody, support, and property before mediation
• Completing enough discovery to avoid negotiating blind
• Using written term sheets and avoiding hallway deals
• Requiring detailed enforcement language, not aspirational promises
• Including default provisions for missed payments, transfers, refinancing, sale of property, or document signing
• Preserving trial readiness so the other party cannot use delay as leverage

How to Present Yourself to the Court

High-conflict litigation tempts good people into reactive behavior. The other spouse may send outrageous messages, violate boundaries, or try to provoke an emotional response. Your credibility is one of your most valuable assets.

A strong litigant is not passive. A strong litigant is disciplined. That means:

• Responding through counsel when appropriate
• Following existing court orders even when the other party does not
• Documenting violations instead of escalating them
• Avoiding social media commentary about the divorce
• Keeping children out of adult conflict
• Showing the court a pattern through records, not insults

Multidisciplinary Support Team

High-conflict divorces often require more than one professional perspective. The right team depends on the facts, but may include:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I divorce someone with narcissistic traits without escalating conflict?

Focus on structure, not persuasion. Use written communication, preserve evidence, avoid emotional exchanges, and let your attorney handle legal disputes. Ask for specific court orders with clear deadlines, exchange locations, payment terms, and enforcement language.

Can my spouse stop the divorce by refusing to sign?

Generally, no. In North Carolina, once the spouses have lived separate and apart for the required period, residency requirements are met, and the other spouse is properly served, the spouse does not have to agree to the absolute divorce.⁷ The more urgent concern is preserving equitable distribution and alimony claims before the divorce judgment is entered.⁸

Should I tell the judge my spouse is a narcissist?

Usually, it is better to prove conduct than to argue labels. Courts need admissible evidence tied to legal standards. Instead of relying on a diagnosis or insult, show the judge the messages, financial records, missed exchanges, contradictory statements, and impact on the children or marital estate.

What if my spouse is hiding money?

Tell your attorney immediately and begin collecting records. Financial discovery, subpoenas, depositions, business records, tax returns, and forensic accounting may be appropriate. If money or property is at risk of disappearance, waste, or conversion, counsel may consider injunctive relief under North Carolina equitable distribution law.²⁰

Can I get a court order to stop my spouse from draining accounts?

Possibly, but it is not automatic. In North Carolina, a party may seek injunctive relief to prevent disappearance, waste, or conversion of property alleged to be marital, divisible, or separate property after an equitable distribution claim is filed or alleged. The court can tailor relief to the facts.²⁰

How should custody be handled with a high-conflict parent?

Custody should be handled through the child’s best interests, not through adult labels. In many cases, the order should be detailed: exact exchange times, communication rules, holiday schedules, decision-making authority, expense-sharing procedures, travel rules, and enforcement mechanisms. In high-conflict cases, a parenting coordinator may be appropriate after a custody order is entered.¹⁵

Is parallel parenting the same as joint custody?

No. Parallel parenting is a practical structure for reducing conflict. Joint custody describes legal or physical custody arrangements. A parallel-parenting order can exist within different custody frameworks, depending on what best serves the child’s welfare.

What if my spouse violates the custody order?

Document the violation and speak with counsel. The North Carolina Judicial Branch explains that a party may file a Motion for Order to Show Cause or Motion for Contempt when the other parent violates a custody order, and potential penalties can include a reprimand, fine, jail time, or attorney’s fees.³¹

Should I communicate directly with my spouse?

It depends on the case and any court orders in place. In many high-conflict cases, written communication through a co-parenting app, email, or attorneys is safer and more useful than phone calls or in-person arguments. If there is a protective order or no-contact order, follow it exactly.

What if there is domestic violence?

Prioritize safety. North Carolina law provides protective-order remedies when the statutory requirements are met, including no-contact terms, possession of a residence, temporary custody, support, personal property provisions, and other protective conditions.²⁹ A lawyer or domestic violence advocate can help evaluate whether a Chapter 50B order, emergency custody, or other relief is appropriate.

Need guidance in a high-conflict divorce?

High-conflict divorce requires calm strategy, careful evidence, and orders built for enforcement. A North Carolina family law attorney can help protect property rights, preserve support claims, develop a custody strategy, and seek appropriate court protections when a spouse’s behavior creates financial, parenting, or safety risks.

References

1. Merck Manual Professional Edition, “Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD),” last updated Jan. 2026: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/personality-disorders/narcissistic-personality-disorder-npd
2. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.2(a): https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-13.2.html
3. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20(a)-(b): https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-20.html
4. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3A(a): https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-16.3A.html
5. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-6: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-6.html
6. North Carolina Judicial Branch, “Separation and Divorce”: https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/divorce-and-marriage/separation-and-divorce
7. North Carolina Judicial Branch, “Separation and Divorce,” spouse agreement not required: https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/divorce-and-marriage/separation-and-divorce
8. North Carolina Judicial Branch, “Separation and Divorce,” effect of failing to file equitable distribution or spousal support before divorce: https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/divorce-and-marriage/separation-and-divorce
9. North Carolina Judicial Branch, “Separation and Divorce,” custody and support not affected by divorce: https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/divorce-and-marriage/separation-and-divorce
10. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-7; North Carolina Judicial Branch, “Divorce from Bed and Board”: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-7.html
11. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-287: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_15A/GS_15A-287.html
12. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.1(b): https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-13.1.html
13. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.1(c); North Carolina Judicial Branch, “Custody Mediation”: https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/family-and-children/custody-mediation
14. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-90: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-90.html
15. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-91: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-91.html
16. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-92: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-92.html
17. N.C. R. Civ. P. 26(a), N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 26: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_1A/GS_1A-1%2C_Rule_26.html
18. N.C. R. Civ. P. 34, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 34: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_1A/GS_1A-1%2C_Rule_34.html
19. N.C. R. Civ. P. 45, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 45: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_1A/GS_1A-1%2C_Rule_45.html
20. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20(i): https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-20.html
21. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20(i1): https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-20.html
22. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20(c): https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-20.html
23. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20(c)(11a): https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-20.html
24. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.2A: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-16.2A.html
25. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3A(b): https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-16.3A.html
26. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.4(b)-(c): https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50/GS_50-13.4.html
27. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.4(c1); North Carolina Judicial Branch, “Child Support”: https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/family-and-children/child-support
28. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50B-1: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50B/GS_50B-1.html
29. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50B-3: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_50B/GS_50B-3.html
30. North Carolina Judicial Branch, “Child Custody,” emergency custody: https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/family-and-children/child-custody