What can I do if my ex will not let me have my children back?

In North Carolina, there are two types of custody. The first is physical custody, which is generally referred to as primary custody and visitation. The children generally live with the person who has primary custody and the parent with visitation picks the children up for visits. The second type of custody is referred to as legal custody. There is sole legal custody, which means that one parent has the authority to make all decisions for a child without the input of the other parent, and there is joint legal custody, which refers to a situation where both parents are to make legal decisions for the child jointly after consulting with each other. Generally, the local sheriff's department will enforce a court order on custody for a parent if the parent who does not have custody refuses to turn over the child at the proper time.