Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy to take over Custody Advocacy Program for children in high-conflict cases

The Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy will take over management of the Custody Advocacy Program for Mecklenburg County, ensuring that children caught in high-conflict custody disputes continue to have a voice in family court, the organization announced.

According to an April 28 press release from the advocacy center, the program supports children in cases involving serious allegations such as child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, substance abuse, and parental kidnapping by appointing Custody Advocate/Guardian Ad Litems to represent the children’s interests. For decades, that work was handled by the Council for Children’s Rights, but the organization closed last year, leaving the program without a permanent home. Mecklenburg County District Judge J. Rex Marvel temporarily maintained a shell of the program until a permanent solution could be found. A donation from the Mecklenburg County Bar Foundation made the transition to the Advocacy Center possible.

The Advocacy Center plans to hire a staff attorney and coordinator to manage volunteers and match advocates to cases, the release states. The organization said the need for coordinated volunteer support has grown increasingly urgent as more parents navigate custody disputes without legal representation.

Marvel praised the transition. “Far too often children in our community are stuck between high-conflict custody cases,” he said. “Allegations of child abuse, parental kidnapping, substance abuse, and mistreatment emphasize the importance of accurate and reliable advocacy during custody proceedings. The Advocacy Center has decades of experience ensuring access to justice for our community. Their mission of justice and the stability of their nonprofit will ensure that children stuck in high-conflict custody proceedings will have a voice in court. This is an invaluable service to the children of our community, and one which will help countless children in need.”

Larissa Mañón, CEO of the advocacy center, said the decision was both strategic and mission-driven.

“Children caught in high-conflict custody cases are among the most vulnerable — often navigating emotional trauma, instability, and systems that were not designed with their needs in mind,” Mañón said. “By providing custody advocacy, we ensure that their voices are heard, their best interests are prioritized, and their rights are protected during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.”