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The Attorneys at Marcellino Moore, PLLC have been awarded Super Lawyers®, which includes less than 2.5% of the nation's top attorneys!

Fathers’ Rights Attorney in Charlotte

Founded in 2011, We Advocate for Your Role in Your Child’s Life

A disagreement over custody, parenting time, or major decisions can disrupt a father’s relationship with his child. North Carolina custody law focuses on the child’s best interests rather than a presumption favoring either parent, but presenting a clear account of your parenting role still matters.

At Marcellino Moore, PLLC, we advise and represent Charlotte fathers facing custody disputes. Our team understands how parenting schedules, decision-making authority, child support, and related family law issues can affect one another.

Discuss your custody concerns with our Charlotte fathers’ rights attorneys. Call (980) 427-3401 to request a consultation.

Contested Custody Results for Fathers

Our family law practice handles child custody, child support, mediation, domestic violence, and parental alienation matters. We negotiate when agreement is possible and litigate when court action becomes necessary.

In one contested custody and divorce action, we represented a father who received physical and legal custody. In another, we represented a father who received 50/50 custody and permanent final decision-making authority after restrictions had been placed on his parenting time, communication, and participation in important decisions. Prior results don’t predict the outcome of a new case because every family’s circumstances are different.

We are recognized by Super Lawyers®, a designation achieved by less than 5 percent of attorneys nationwide.

Custody & Related Fathers’ Rights Concerns

A custody dispute may involve much more than the number of overnights each parent receives. We examine how a proposed arrangement addresses care, communication, decision-making, exchanges, and other issues affecting the parent-child relationship.

Our representation may address:

Legal custody: Authority over major decisions involving education, medical care, and other significant matters.
Physical custody: The child’s care, living arrangements, and parenting schedule.
Parenting time: Regular schedules, holidays, exchanges, travel, and communication.
Related family issues: The interaction among custody, child support, divorce, and other disputes.

Fathers’ Rights Under North Carolina Custody Law

Any parent may file for custody, whether the parents are married, separated, divorced, or were never married. North Carolina law doesn’t presume that either parent will better promote the child’s welfare. Instead, the court determines custody according to the best interests of the child.

Custody may be joint or exclusive. Legal custody concerns authority over significant decisions, while physical custody concerns the child’s care and living arrangements. An order may also establish visitation or parenting-time terms.

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Our Client Testimonials

Behind Every Case is a Real Person and a Real Story

“Jennifer Moore, Alexis Gadzinski and their team were stellar in supporting me.”
“They were great to work with and achieved all of my goals. I highly recommend Jennifer and Alexis to represent you.”

- Richard R.
“Kay Bolaños and her team did an outstanding job.”
“Her legal advice and expectations were honest and accurate from beginning to end. The way Kay handled the case was on point. I am happy with the trust I placed in her.”

- Antonio A.
“It was a pleasure working with Kay and Katie.”
“The team at Marcellino & Moore (Kay Bolanos & Katie Glenney) handled my family matters in a very professional and efficient way. My situation was a bit unique, and they spent time researching and brainstorming potential outcomes.”

- Elena
“Will definitely use their representation again.”
“Their communication is top notch as well as their support which is the most important aspect in my opinion.”

- Former Client
“Matt, thanks for all the hard work, and more importantly, your compassion and real world knowledge.”
“I cannot say enough about the firm's pragmatism, understanding of the NC law process, and their level of communication.”

- William M.
“I HIGHLY recommend this law firm.”
“5 stars aren’t enough to rate my experience with this law firm. Attorney Clay Campbell exceeded my expectations. I just sat back and listened to him annihilate the opposing counsel. It was quite comical.”

- Monica H.
“I had the privilege of being represented by Clay Campbell and his exceptional team.”
“Their knowledge of the law is unmatched, and they navigated my case with precision and expertise. The entire team demonstrated outstanding communication, always keeping me informed and at ease throughout the process.”

- Former Client
“Her professionalism and commitment to my needs were evident from the start.”
“Jennifer was straightforward and transparent, giving me confidence in her abilities. The team was responsive and ensured my interests were always a priority. I'm grateful for their help, which has allowed me to move forward positively.”

- Zoraida G.

Settlements & Judgments

Our Case Results

Child Custody & Divorce
Father Awarded Physical and Legal Custody. Attorney Matt Marcellino represented a father in a contentious custody and divorce action involving serious concerns about the mother’s judgment, behavior, and decision-making involving the children.
Child Custody
Mother Secures Primary Custody After Highly Contested Litigation. Attorney Matt Marcellino represented a mother in one of the most highly contested and complex custody cases of his career.
Custody Relocation
Mother Granted Relocation to California with Child. Attorney Matt Marcellino represented a mother seeking permission to relocate with her child from North Carolina to California despite the father’s opposition.
Child Custody
Father Awarded 50/50 Custody and Permanent Final Decision-Making Authority. Attorney Matt Marcellino represented a father whose parenting time, communication with his children, and involvement in important decisions were increasingly restricted by the mother.
Spousal Support
In a case involving marital misconduct and complex financial claims, Jennifer Moore represented a Husband whose marriage ended following his Wife’s extramarital affair.

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Meet Our Team

Protecting What Matters Most

Learn More About Us

Custody, Parenting Time & Decision-Making

A custody case involving a father may concern an initial order, modification of an existing order, enforcement of current terms, or a different parenting schedule. Because decision-making authority can be addressed separately from physical care, a proposal should clearly explain both.

Relevant information may include:

Parenting involvement: Records showing participation in daily care, school activities, appointments, and other responsibilities.
Parent communication: Messages about schedules, exchanges, decisions, and attempts to resolve disagreements.
Practical arrangements: Housing, work schedules, transportation, and plans for the child’s routine.
Child welfare: School or medical information and facts related to the child’s health and safety.

Paternity

For an unmarried father, establishing or confirming legal parentage may be necessary before seeking or enforcing custody and parenting-time rights. The appropriate procedure depends on whether parentage has already been legally recognized or remains disputed.

Parental Interference

Repeated denial of access, disrupted exchanges, or blocked communication may require a review of the current custody order. If no order exists, a custody action may be needed to establish enforceable terms.

Relocation

A proposed move can affect school arrangements, transportation, exchanges, and the practical exercise of parenting time. Whether a modification is appropriate depends on the existing order, the proposed circumstances, and the child’s best interests.

Safety Concerns

Domestic violence, substance abuse, and other safety issues can influence custody or visitation terms. Depending on the facts, a court may consider protective provisions addressing contact, exchanges, or supervision.

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Custody Mediation in Mecklenburg County

North Carolina’s custody mediation program allows parents to discuss custody and develop a written parenting agreement before trial. Parties seeking custody generally must participate unless a judge waives mediation. Mecklenburg County Family Court also provides resources for local custody cases.

If mediation produces an agreement, the terms can be documented for review through the court process. If the parents can’t agree, a judge may decide custody after considering the testimony, documents, and arguments presented. We approach negotiation with the possibility of litigation in mind, preparing for either path from the outset.

Discuss Your Custody Plan With Our Charlotte Team

During a consultation, we can identify the immediate legal issue, explain the process that may apply, and discuss which records could be useful. We offer virtual and in-person consultations, backed by practical guidance, careful preparation, and strong advocacy.

Call (980) 427-3401 to request a consultation with the Charlotte fathers' rights attorney at Marcellino Moore, PLLC.

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