Family Law in Jacksonville & Eastern North Carolina
Steady Counsel for the Most Consequential Decisions a Family Will Ever Make
Family matters are rarely simple, and they are never small. Whether the question is the custody of a child, the division of a household, or the terms upon which two people will move forward separately, the answers shape years to come. The decisions made today will follow you, your children, and the people you love long after the courthouse door closes — which is why they deserve a steady hand and a clear head.
For five decades, Attorney Thomasine E. Moore has guided clients through the most painful and the most joyful moments a family can face — separations, custody disputes, support arrangements, terminations of parental rights, and adoptions. Each matter is approached with the discretion the subject demands and the experience that only fifty years of practice in the District Courts of Eastern North Carolina can provide.
Children First, Always
When children are involved in a family dispute, every legal strategy must begin and end with their welfare. We counsel parents to keep conflict away from the children, to preserve routines and relationships wherever possible, and to make decisions that they will be able to explain to their children years from now without regret. The court will be watching for the parent who behaves this way — and so will the children.
Discretion, Patience, and Honest Counsel
The most personal facts of your life will pass through our office in the course of a family case, and they will be handled with the discretion they deserve. You will receive a candid assessment of what the law allows, what the local courts typically order, and what a realistic resolution looks like — never a promise of an outcome no lawyer can guarantee. Every matter is handled personally by Attorney Moore, from the first conversation to the last.
Four Steps to Take Right Now
The first decisions in a family case often shape the outcome more than any motion filed months later. Take a breath, take care, and take counsel before you take action.
- 01
Take a Breath
Family decisions made in the heat of conflict rarely serve anyone well. Before you sign, send, or say something that cannot be taken back, pause and seek counsel.
- 02
Protect the Children
Whatever the dispute between adults, children should not be drawn into it. Continue routines, limit exposure to conflict, and let the court handle the adult disagreements.
- 03
Preserve the Record
Save text messages, emails, school records, medical records, and a contemporaneous calendar of events. Documentation matters far more than memory in family court.
- 04
Speak with Counsel Early
The earlier you understand your rights and obligations, the better the decisions you can make. A confidential consultation is where clarity begins.
Experience Families in Eastern NC Have Trusted for Half a Century
Years guiding families through hard transitions
Counties of regular practice across Eastern NC
Personal attention from Attorney Moore
Confidential initial consultation
A Practice Built on Trust
- Every family matter handled personally by Attorney Moore — never reassigned.
- Five decades of experience in the District Courts of Onslow, Duplin, Craven, Carteret, and Jones counties.
- Frank, realistic counsel about what the law allows and what local judges typically order.
- Discretion in matters that touch the most private corners of a client's life.
- Free, confidential initial consultation with a clear written fee agreement.
Questions Families Ask First
Family Matters Handled by the Firm
From the establishment of a custody order to the joyful finalization of an adoption, the firm represents families across the full range of matters that come before the District Courts of Eastern North Carolina.
Custody
Establishing, modifying, and enforcing legal and physical custody arrangements in the best interest of the child.
Visitation
Negotiating and litigating reasonable visitation schedules that preserve the parent-child bond.
Prenuptial Agreements
Carefully drafted pre-marriage agreements addressing property, debt, and support contingencies.
Separation Agreements
Comprehensive agreements covering property, support, custody, and the terms of living separately.
Divorce from Bed and Board
Fault-based judicial separations granted on grounds recognized by North Carolina law.
Uncontested Divorce
Absolute divorce filings after the statutory one-year separation period, handled efficiently.
Child Support
Establishment, modification, and enforcement of child support consistent with NC Guidelines.
Adoption
Stepparent, relative, and agency adoptions handled with care from petition to final decree.
Termination of Parental Rights
Representation on either side of these grave proceedings with discretion and precision.
Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation
Call (910) 347-2060 or visit us at 410 New Bridge Street, Suite 12, Jacksonville, NC 28540.
Contact the Firm