Tools for Raleigh Guardians ad Litem, Therapists and Mediators

A co-parenting app and case tools you can recommend to the Raleigh families you work with, whether you serve as a guardian ad litem, a therapist, or a mediator. Messaging between co-parents is free for both parents, and every message is time-stamped and tamper-evident.

Families in Raleigh who end up in the Wake County Family Court rarely arrive at a mediation, a therapy session, or a home visit with their records in order. FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform built for those parents. Below is what it does for them, what it means for you as a guardian ad litem, therapist, or mediator, and what to know about family court in Raleigh.

Area covered: Wake County.

Court for custody cases: Wake County Family Court (District Court, 10th Judicial District).

Custody mediation: Usually required in custody disputes (Child Custody and Visitation Mediation Program).

Parenting coordinators: Set by state law or court rule (N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 50, Article 5).

Parenting class: Depends on the county or judge.

State family law: North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 50 - Divorce and Alimony.

Co-parent messaging (Free): One time-stamped, tamper-evident thread, free for both parents, with a Tone Meter that offers calmer rewrites.

Invite a professional into the conversation (Free): A parent can add a guardian ad litem or mediator to the co-parent conversation with a single-use link.

Parenting plan, built and shared (Free to build): Parents draft a parenting plan and can share it with you to read and comment on.

Verify a chat export (Free): Check that an exported message record (the JSON file) has not been changed. No account needed.

Court-Grade Journal (Paid plan): A dated, no-delete journal; a parent can send you a packet of chosen entries.

Expense Tracker (Paid plan): Shared child costs with receipts; a parent can give you a view-only look.

Parents can create an account and message their co-parent for free, with no credit card. Building a parenting plan is free; sharing, downloading, and printing it, and the tools marked as a paid plan, are part of a monthly plan a parent can start and stop.

For guardians ad litem in Raleigh

On FamilyCourtHelp.com you see what a parent chooses to share. A parent can invite you into the co-parent conversation with a single-use link, which you accept with your own free account; from there you can read the thread, post in it, and review the shared calendar's requests and approvals. A parent can also share the parenting plan with you to read and comment on.

For therapists and counselors in Raleigh

Court-involved and reunification therapists, co-parenting counselors, and custody evaluators in Raleigh do not get an account view here, and that is deliberate: each parent keeps their own record and chooses what to bring you. The free messenger keeps the week's facts in one time-stamped thread, and its Tone Meter flags a heated message and suggests a calmer one before it is sent.

For mediators and parenting coordinators in Raleigh

In North Carolina, custody mediation is usually required when parents disagree about custody. The court program is the Child Custody and Visitation Mediation Program. Parenting coordinators are set by state law or court rule (N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 50, Article 5). The details are in the FAQ below.

Sessions in Raleigh start further along when the draft is already on the table. Parents can share their parenting plan with you to read and comment on, and invite you into their conversation with a single-use link. Agreements then live in one time-stamped thread, and every schedule change is a request on the shared calendar that the other parent approves or declines.

Parenting coordinators can be added to a shared plan as a viewer who reads and comments.

Family court programs in Raleigh

Custody cases in Raleigh are heard in the Wake County Family Court. The court-connected programs below were checked against official sources.

Wake County Child Custody Mediation: Parents in a Wake County custody case are ordered to attend a custody mediation orientation, where the county's custody mediators explain the process and schedule a mediation session.

If you searched for a guardian ad litem, a family therapist, or a custody mediator in Raleigh, the court that has your case, the order in it, or your lawyer is the place to find who is appointed or approved. This site does not appoint professionals or refer you to one. What you can do here is come prepared: keep every message with your co-parent in one time-stamped thread, write down what happened with dates while it is fresh, and work on a parenting plan before the meeting.

Free help for parents in Raleigh: the court help desks and legal aid offices below were checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

Wake: Wake County Legal Support Center. A help center inside the Wake County Courthouse with form packets and in-person help filling them out for people without a lawyer.

Wake legal aid: Legal Aid of North Carolina, (866) 219-5262.

FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform, not a law firm and not a court, and nothing on this page is legal, clinical, or mediation advice. Court rules and local programs change, so confirm anything that matters for a case with the court, the order that appointed you, or the program itself.

Frequently asked questions

Where are custody cases heard in Raleigh?

Custody, visitation and other domestic cases in Raleigh are heard by the Wake County Family Court in District Court, which has its own local rules for domestic cases.

Is there a court mediation program in Raleigh?

Yes. Families with a case in the local court can use the Wake County Child Custody Mediation. What it offers, and the official link, are in the family court programs section above.

Where can parents in Raleigh get free help with a family court case?

Free court help for parents without a lawyer: Wake County Legal Support Center. Free legal aid: Legal Aid of North Carolina. Phone numbers and links are in the parents section above, checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

How can parents prepare for custody mediation in Raleigh?

Bring the family calendar, a draft parenting plan, a list of the issues still open, and a list of shared costs with receipts. Parents can put all of that together on FamilyCourtHelp.com before the first session. Families with a case in the local court can ask about the Wake County Child Custody Mediation.

Is custody mediation required in North Carolina?

Contested custody and visitation cases in North Carolina go to the court's custody mediation program before a hearing, unless the judge waives it. A trained mediator employed by the district court meets with the parents to help them reach a parenting agreement.

Does North Carolina use parenting coordinators?

A North Carolina court may appoint a parenting coordinator in a high-conflict custody case. Coordinators on the court's list need a master's or doctorate in psychology, law, social work or counseling, five years of related experience, a current North Carolina license and 24 hours of training.

Do parents in North Carolina have to take a parenting class?

Some North Carolina judicial districts require parents in custody cases to complete a parent education class by local rule, unless the judge waives it. The court system's Access and Visitation Program also supports parent education programs that help separated parents understand their children's needs.