CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A small group of parents gathered outside the Mecklenburg County Courthouse on Friday afternoon to make sure their voices were heard about the need for family court reform.

But they say it’s not just an issue in Mecklenburg County but across the state of North Carolina.

They say each case is different but the main issues are that the courts need to be more transparent and court proceedings can drag on for years, leaving kids and parents in limbo.

“You have parents who are suffering court-induced trauma, suffering from mental health issues, falling into a depression,” said Jessika Morgan, with Survivor’s Outreach Ministry, who organized the protest.