Family Resources and Recommendations

State, Federal, and International Resources

    • www.nccourts.org— Court of Appeals and Supreme Court opinions, local court rules, domestic court calendars, judicial directory, AOC forms, court fees research tools, and helpful links.
    • www.ncbar.com— North Carolina State Bar with member directory, publications, ethics, rules and regulations, legal specialist directory, and more.
    • www.ncbar.org— North Carolina Bar Association containing ethics information, Continuing Legal Education classes, forms, appellate rules, Casemaker (research for members that includes appellate decisions, statutes, city ordinances), etc.
    • www.ncleg.net— North Carolina General Assembly, bill drafts, bill status, and statutes
    • https://www.sosnc.gov— North Carolina Secretary of State site that includes Uniform Commercial Code filings, corporations database, notary public guidelines, LLC annual reports, etc.
    • www.legalaidnc.org— Statewide legal aid offices, information about the program, publications, and brochures.
    • http://www.golawenforcement.com/— List of law enforcement agencies in North Carolina with links to local agencies across the state.
    • www.ncgov.com— List of North Carolina radio and TV stations, magazines and newspapers, ability to search for statutes and bills, list of state employees with contact information, travel maps by county, and many other interesting facts about North Carolina and its residents.
    • www.nccourts.org— Court of Appeals and Supreme Court opinions, local court rules, domestic court calendars, judicial directory, AOC forms, court fees research tools, and helpful links.
    • www.ncbar.com— North Carolina State Bar with member directory, publications, ethics, rules and regulations, legal specialist directory, and more.
    • www.ncbar.org— North Carolina Bar Association containing ethics information, Continuing Legal Education classes, forms, appellate rules, Casemaker (research for members that includes appellate decisions, statutes, city ordinances), etc.
    • www.ncleg.net— North Carolina General Assembly, bill drafts, bill status, and statutes
    • https://www.sosnc.gov— North Carolina Secretary of State site that includes Uniform Commercial Code filings, corporations database, notary public guidelines, LLC annual reports, etc.
    • www.legalaidnc.org— Statewide legal aid offices, information about the program, publications, and brochures.
    • http://www.golawenforcement.com/— List of law enforcement agencies in North Carolina with links to local agencies across the state.
    • www.ncgov.com— List of North Carolina radio and TV stations, magazines and newspapers, ability to search for statutes and bills, list of state employees with contact information, travel maps by county, and many other interesting facts about North Carolina and its residents
    • http://www.dfas.mil/ — Defense Finance and Accounting Service with military pay tables, Basic Allowance for Housing calculator, sample military pension division order language, Survivor Benefit Plan information, and other valuable information when you are dealing with a military party.
    • www.navy.mil – U.S. Navy: Listing of all naval vessels, Navy bases, death benefits for veterans, active duty and retired members locator.
    • http://www.afpc.af.mil/ — Air Force Personnel Center with information about the Survivor Benefit Plan, including enrollment, enlisted members benefits, eligibility for retirement information and air force service member’s demographics.
    • www.army.mil— U.S. Army web site with access to Army publications (Army Echoes), information on USFSPA, SBP, military installations and bases, useful addresses and telephone numbers
    • www.uscg.mil— U.S. Coast Guard site with information on the Freedom of Information Act, useful addresses and telephone numbers, and more.
    • www.va.gov— Department of Veterans’ Affairs with compensation and pension information, health benefits, life insurance, veterans, benefits time tables and more.
    • www.mytricare.com— Military health benefits information, forms, and requirements for coverage and contact information.
    • http://travel.state.gov/ — The Bureau of Consular Affairs includes information on travel warnings, international adoptions, International Parental child Abduction, child protection services, passport and visa information, children’s issues, Hague Convention, list of lawyers abroad, summary of how to serve documents abroad, and frequently asked questions and a list of state authentication authorities which may be needed when dealing with a rogatory state.
    • www.hagueservice.net – U.S. Central Authority with Service requirements under the Hague Convention and contact information.
    • www.processnet1.com – Process Service Network with Hague Convention process servers.

Resources by Family Law Topic

    • www.collaborativepractice.com – Website of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals
    • www.divorcemag.com – Articles with general information about collaborative family law and its features.
    • www.collaborativedivorce.com -Information about collaborative law in general, including the collaborative divorce model, sample forms, books, training, and many links to articles and other resources about collaborative law.
    • www.aamft.org— American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Listing of marriage and family therapists nationwide.  If your area does not have a chapter, call your state’s psychological association.
    • Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 608-251-4001.  Publishes a brochure on joint custody nationwide.
    • www.crckids.org— Children’s Rights Council.  Local chapters deal with custody issues and divorce reform.
    • www.socialworkers.org— National Association of Social Workers. Referral service of social workers who can provide family counseling and/or mediation.
    • www.parentswithoutpartners.org— Parents Without Partners.  Referral service for more than 400 local chapters.
    • www.stepfam.org— Stepfamily Association of America, Inc. Publishes materials about educational resources for stepfamilies.
    • www.acf.hhs.gov — Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement site with links to state sites
    • www.supportguidelines.com – Online child support guidelines, child support calculators, legal research links, case law on the issue of child support, articles, and books.
    • https://ncchildsupport.com/ecoa/#home – North Carolina Child Support Enforcement, where you can make payments online, view NC child support guidelines, CSE guidelines, and links to CSE offices around the state.
    • www.salaryexpert.com – National salary compensation information
    • www.ourfamilywizard.com – Website that includes visitation calendars and communication between parents.
    • www.parentingtimecalendar.com – Contains free demo for visitation calculators and calendars for use by lawyers, legal assistants, judges, mediators, and parents.
    • www.homefair.com – Cost of living comparisons, information on schools, city reports, salary calculator, moving cost calculator, and apartment locator.
    • www.schoolmatch.com – School Research and Data Consulting Services, which has information on all school districts, high schools, and most private schools, offers school comparisons for custody cases.
    • www.nccourts.org/citizens/gal/ – North Carolina Guardian Ad Litem attorney manual and forms, links to custody resources, information about the program, and contacts each county in the state.

Reading Recommendations and Self-Help

    • The Divorce Handbook by James T. Friedman, Random House, 1998.
    • Divided Families by Frank Furstenburg and Andrew J. Cherlin, Harvard University Press, 1994.
    • Growing Up with Divorce by Neil Kalter, Fawcett, 1991.
    • Vicki Lansky’s Divorce Book for Parents by Vicki Lansky, Book Peddlers, 1996.
    • Mom’s House, Dad’s House by Isolina Ricci, Fireside, 1997.
    • Second Chances by Judith S. Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee, Houghton Mifflin, Co., 1996.
    • The Single Mother’s Book by Joan Anderson, Peachtree Publishers, 1990.
    • Families Apart by Melinda Blau, Perigree, 1995.
    • Mothers on Trial by Phyllis Chesler, Harcourt Brace, 1991.
    • Dividing the Child by Eleanor MacCoby and Robert H. Mnookin, Harvard University Press, 1994.
    • 101 Ways to be a Long Distance Super-Dad-or Mom, Too! By George Newman, R&E Publishers, 1996.
    • The Custody Revolution by Richard A. Warshak, Poseidon Press, 1992.
    • Divorce Happens to the Nicest Kids by Michael S. Prokop, Alegra House Publications, 1996.
    • At Daddy’s on Saturdays by Linda Walvoord Girard, Albert Whitman and Co., 1991.
    • Dinosaurs Divorce by Marc Tolon Brown and Laurence Krashy Brown, Little Brown and Co., 1988.
    • Mom and Dad Don’t Live Together Anymore by Nancy Lou Reynolds (Illustrator) and Kathy Stinson, Firefly Books, 1988.
    • How it Feels When Parents Divorce by Jill Krementz, Alfred A. Knopf, 1988.
    • The Kids’ Book of Divorce, Eric Rofes, editor, Random House, 1982.
    • It’s Not Your Fault, Koko Bear by Vicki Lansky, Book Peddlers, 1998.