Gastonia Area Family Court Resources
Family law cases for Gastonia, Belmont, Mount Holly, Cramerton, Dallas and Cherryville are heard at the Gaston County Courthouse. This page gathers the addresses, phone numbers and local procedures you are most likely to need.
Gaston County Courthouse
Divorce, custody, child support, alimony and property division cases are heard in Gaston County District Court. Gaston County is Judicial District 38. Older documents, including the local domestic court rules, refer to it by its former number, District 27A.
| Address | Gaston County Courthouse, 325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Suite 1004, Gastonia, NC 28052 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Superior Court | (704) 852-3100 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed on court holidays. |
| District Court Judges’ Office | (704) 852-3117 |
| Custody Mediation Office | (704) 852-3338 |
- Gaston County courts home page: court calendars, local rules and forms, and the contact directory.
- North Carolina court holiday calendar
- North Carolina court forms used in family law cases.
Our Gastonia office at 174 S. South St., Suite 301 is a short walk from the courthouse.
Courthouse staff cannot give legal advice. If you represent yourself, you are held to the same rules of procedure and evidence as an attorney. It is worth talking to a lawyer before you file anything on your own.
How Family Cases Move Through Gaston County District Court
Every domestic case in Gaston County is now assigned to a family court judge. Gaston County moved to electronic filing in October 2025, and its Local Rules of Domestic Court, which our firm helped draft years ago, are being rewritten to match. Until the new rules are published, these are the points that most often catch people by surprise.
Custody mediation comes before trial. Every contested custody or visitation case must go through the Custody Mediation Program first: a group orientation and at least one mediation session. A judge can waive mediation in some situations. An agreement reached in mediation is reviewed by a judge and can become a court order.
Financial documents are due before the hearing. For post-separation support and alimony, an income and expense affidavit must be served on the other side 10 days before the hearing. For child support, income verification, including your three most recent pay stubs, must be served 10 days before.
Motions are usually limited to an hour. Domestic motions are usually limited to one hour, though the judge can allow more time.
Trial calendars are published in advance. Trial calendars are published at least 10 days before calendar call. Whether a case is continued is up to the presiding judge.
Property cases require affidavits and usually mediation. In an equitable distribution case, the required affidavits must be completed before a trial is scheduled, and Gaston County participates in the Family Financial Settlement Program, which sends most property and support disputes to a mediated settlement conference.
The current rules and forms are posted on the Gaston County courts page. Because the rules are being rewritten, confirm any deadline or procedure with the clerk or your attorney. For how custody is decided, see our child custody page.
Gaston County Child Support
North Carolina Child Support Services helps parents establish paternity, obtain a child support order and enforce an existing order through income withholding and other collection methods.
| NC Child Support Services customer service | 1-800-992-9457 |
|---|---|
| Apply online | eChild Support |
| Gaston County Social Services | 330 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Gastonia, NC 28052, across the street from the courthouse. (704) 862-7500 |
To estimate what a court would order, use our North Carolina child support calculator.
Domestic Violence and Safety
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Hope United Survivor Network is Gaston County’s Family Justice Center. Its advocates can help with safety planning, shelter, filing for a protective order and going with you to court, and it offers Spanish-language advocacy.
| Hope United Survivor Network | 176 W. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28052. (704) 862-6783, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
|---|---|
| 24-hour crisis line | (704) 852-6000 |
| Child Protective Services hotline | (704) 862-7555 |
For how protective orders work in North Carolina, see our domestic violence page.
Other Help and Nearby Counties
If you cannot afford an attorney. Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income residents, including some family law and domestic violence matters.
Lincoln and Cleveland counties. We also represent clients in the neighboring counties. Court calendars and contacts are on the Lincoln County and Cleveland County court pages.
Charlotte and Raleigh. For Mecklenburg and Wake counties, see our Charlotte family court resources and Raleigh family court resources pages.
Gaston County Family Court FAQ
Where do I file a custody or divorce case if I live in Gastonia?
Family law cases are filed with the Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court. Attorneys file electronically through the North Carolina eCourts system, which Gaston County has used since October 2025. If you represent yourself, you can file electronically or in person at the Gaston County Courthouse, 325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Gastonia. A divorce is generally filed in the county where either spouse lives. If there is already a custody or support order from another county or state, talk to an attorney before filing, because the earlier court may still control the case.
How do I find out when my hearing is?
Court calendars for Gaston County are posted on the North Carolina Judicial Branch website, nccourts.gov, under Gaston County. You can also call the Clerk of Superior Court at (704) 852-3100. If you have an attorney, your attorney will tell you the date and what to expect.
Do I have to go to custody mediation in Gaston County?
In most cases, yes. Contested custody and visitation cases must go through the Custody Mediation Program before a trial, which means a group orientation and at least one mediation session. A judge can waive mediation in some situations. If you and the other parent reach a parenting agreement, a judge reviews it and may make it a court order. If you do not, the case is scheduled for court.
What should I bring to court?
Bring a photo ID, your copy of everything filed in the case, any existing court orders, and the documents the hearing calls for. For a child support hearing, that includes your most recent pay stubs. For alimony or post-separation support, it includes your income and expense affidavit. Arrive early to allow time for courthouse security.
Can courthouse staff help me with my case?
Clerks can accept filings, give you hearing dates and point you to forms, but they are not allowed to give legal advice. If you represent yourself, the court will expect you to follow the same rules of procedure and evidence as an attorney.
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Managing Partner and Co-Founder, McIlveen Family Law Firm. Angela is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, certified by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, and an experienced family law trial attorney who represents clients across North Carolina. She personally reviewed this page for legal accuracy.
