The custody mediation intake form in North Carolina is AOC-A-208, the short administrative questionnaire the local Custody Mediation Office uses to set up your court-ordered sessions under General Statute 50-13.1.1North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 50-13.1 – Action or Proceeding for Custody of Minor Child Every contested custody or visitation case goes through the state’s Custody and Visitation Mediation Program before a judge will hear it, and the program is free to the parties.2North Carolina Judicial Branch. Custody Mediation
What the Form Is For
AOC-A-208 is not a legal filing. It does not change your case status, and submitting it is not the same as filing anything with the Clerk of Court. It is background information the mediation office needs so the assigned mediator can prepare: who the children are, where they live, and whether anything about the family situation requires special handling before people sit down together.3North Carolina Judicial Branch. Custody Mediation Intake Form
The screening function is the part that matters most. Mediators review the intake to decide whether mediation can proceed safely, especially when domestic violence, substance abuse, or existing court orders are in the picture. If there is an active Chapter 50B domestic violence protective order or a Chapter 50C civil no-contact order, that belongs on the form so the office knows before scheduling anything.
What to Have Ready Before You Start
Pull these together first. An incomplete form slows scheduling, and some of the details are not the kind you can guess at.
- Your civil district court case number, often labeled “CVD” on your summons or complaint.
- Full legal names, current addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for both parents.
- Full names and dates of birth for every child in the custody dispute.
- A short description of where the children are living now and who they have been with recently.
- Any existing protective orders, history of abuse, substance abuse concerns, or other safety issues affecting the children or either parent.
How to Get the Form and Fill It Out
Download AOC-A-208 from nccourts.gov or pick up a paper copy at the Custody Mediation Office in your local courthouse.3North Carolina Judicial Branch. Custody Mediation Intake Form The form is two-sided and used statewide.
Put the identifying information at the top: names, case number, contact details. For the sections about the children and their current living arrangements, write factually and keep it short. The mediator does not need a long narrative; they need accurate details they can reference when preparing. If a temporary custody schedule is already in place, describe it. If there are specific concerns around healthcare, education, holidays, or weekend scheduling, note them so the mediator can plan the conversation.
Answer the safety questions honestly. Marking those sections correctly protects both you and the process. Leaving them blank when real issues exist can put you in a session that is neither safe nor productive.
Where to Submit It
The completed form goes to your local Custody Mediation Office, not to the Clerk of Court. The office is usually inside or next to the courthouse. Most districts accept hand delivery or mailed copies. If you are not sure which office handles your county, the court locations directory at nccourts.gov will point you to it.4North Carolina Judicial Branch. Locations Contact the office directly if you need the mailing address or want to confirm how they prefer to receive the form.
What Happens After You Turn It In
Once the mediation office processes the form, you are scheduled for a custody mediation orientation. The orientation runs about 45 minutes and covers how mediation works, how it differs from a court hearing, how to prepare, and how to identify safety concerns that could affect the process.5North Carolina Judicial Branch. Child Custody Mediation Orientation Training You have to attend orientation before your actual mediation session will be scheduled.
After orientation, the office assigns a date and time for the first session with the other parent. A court-employed mediator leads the conversation. Both parents, and anyone else with a legal claim to custody, are required to attend.2North Carolina Judicial Branch. Custody Mediation Missing a scheduled session without good cause can lead to a show cause order or other sanctions from the judge.
When You Can Ask to Skip Mediation Instead
Mediation is mandatory in contested custody cases, but a judge can waive it for good cause. If that fits your situation, the right paperwork is not the intake form; it is form CV-632, Motion and Order to Waive Custody Mediation, available at nccourts.gov or from the mediation office.6North Carolina Judicial Branch. Motion and Order to Waive Custody Mediation Under GS 50-13.1(c), good cause can include allegations of domestic violence, abuse, or neglect; allegations of alcoholism, drug abuse, or severe mental health problems; either parent living more than 50 miles from the court; undue hardship; or an agreement between both parties to mediate privately, subject to court approval.1North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 50-13.1 – Action or Proceeding for Custody of Minor Child The statute phrases that list as “may include, but is not limited to,” so judges have discretion beyond those categories.