LGBTQIA+ Families

North Carolina’s laws affecting LGBTQIA+ families are evolving, and our attorneys remain committed to staying informed as new legislation develops.

At Wake Family Law Group, we work with same-sex couples and other members of the LGBTQIA+ community on a full range of family law matters, including divorce, adoption, parentage, surrogacy, agreements, alimony, child support, and custody.

Same Sex Marriage in North Carolina

Wake Family Law Group offers a full range of family law services for clients in the LGBTQIA+ community, including premarital and postnuptial agreements, as well as divorce-related matters. We also assist clients who are unmarried but entered into civil unions or domestic partnerships in other jurisdictions, helping them protect both financial and personal interests in the event of a separation.

LGBTQIA+ Adoption & Parentage in North Carolina

Adoption and parentage laws in North Carolina can be especially complex for same-sex families. Wake Family Law Group helps LGBTQIA+ couples understand their rights and navigate legal processes involving adoption and parentage.

In the past, North Carolina law did not allow same-sex couples to adopt jointly, even if they were married. Today, married same-sex couples can adopt children together. For families where only one parent is the legal or genetic parent, “confirmatory adoptions” — filed as step-parent adoptions — are now available to legally formalize the parent-child relationship for the other parent.

Our practice also assists families who wish to build their family through assisted reproductive technology. The legal issues that surround surrogacy can be complicated and require detailed agreements to ensure that all parties are protected.

LGBTQIA+ Child Custody in North Carolina

Child custody issues are never easy, especially when a relationship ends and decisions must be made about the care of children. For same-sex parents in North Carolina, custody laws can differ from those affecting different-sex couples, particularly when only one parent is legally recognized as the parent.

Our family law attorneys have extensive knowledge of North Carolina’s custody laws and experience helping families navigate these important matters. For same-sex couples, parenting agreements created during the relationship are especially valuable. These documents reflect the couple’s shared intent to function as a two-parent family and can be instrumental in guiding judicial decisions if custody disputes arise in the future.