Top Divorce Lawyers Near Me in Charlotte Area

I am a pasionate and caring lawyer, with a primary goal on fostering long term relationships.  My desire to become a "different" attorney was fueld by my own divorce in 2006.  Many lawyers did not seem interested in me as a person; I was just one of many cases.  Here at the DeCosta Law Firm, "your family matters become our family matters.

Family defines who I am both as a person and an attorney.  It is from my family that I continuously draw my inspiration to be a better person in my personal life, as well as a compassionate attorney in my professional life.  I understand that when you have asked for my help, you are most likely facing tough and defining decisions in your life.  With that in mind, my commitment to you is to advise you as best as I can and guide you through difficult times.  My counsel to you is two-fold.  Not only will I help you better understand and navigate the legal system that you will encounter in my role as an attorney, but I will also be there to support you emotionally.  While I will always be there to provide sound and strong legal advice, I understand that sometimes people just need someone to talk to.

Dara Duncan Larson received her law degree from Florida State University. While attending Florida State, she spent time studying international law at Oxford University in England.  She also attended Elon University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications.. She is licensed to practice law in both North Carolina and California.  Dara is a member of the Mecklenburg County Bar and the Young Lawyers Division of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and Mecklenburg County Bar Association.  She is also a member of the family law section of both the Mecklenburg County and North Carolina Bar Association.. Dara is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina but has spent the last several years in Florida and then Los Angeles, California.. When Dara is not working she enjoys spending time with her husband, watching sports, traveling, and trying new recipes.. Contact Dara at

After being raised by a family of lawyers, including my mother, father, grandfather, two brothers, and an uncle, I initially decided to be anything but a lawyer. However, while exploring graduate school in a number of other areas, I took a number of career assessment tests which overwhelmingly concluded that a career as either a lawyer or a teacher would be a good fit for me. I feel like practicing Family Law allows me to be both – I am able to help clients by educating them about the law and by handling complex legal issues on their behalf. I am a part of the third generation of attorneys to practice at Conrad Trosch and Kemmy and am now a partner at the firm. I have pushed myself to become and expert in family law.  My first goal was to be a Board Certified Family Law Specialist, which I did in 2010.  I have taken the opportunity to teach other lawyers the nuances of Family Law and authored the book: Divorce in North Carolina – Answers to Your Legal Questions, which answers over two hundred of the thousands of questions that have been posed to me over the years.. I am not a one-trick pony unless the pony is called common sense. I take an approach to my practice that causes me to wear a lot of hats. I am an aggressive advocate when necessary, but I also I help my clients see that settling their case is a reasonable way out of court. I think quickly on my feet, which allows me to perform well not only in litigation, but also in a stressful time-sensitive negotiation. What I enjoy the most about Family Law is that it encompasses so many other areas of the law. A Family Law attorney also needs to understand Real Estate Law, Estate Planning, Business Law, Tax Law, Criminal Law, and Bankruptcy, just to name a few. I enjoy the constant intellectual challenge.. My goal is always to give my client the peace of resolution in the least damaging way possible to their family. The most rewarding part of my practice is seeing my clients, who have just gone through one of the most difficult times of their lives, with a smile of relief because their case is resolved. It is that “light at the end of the tunnel” moment that keeps my clients and me pushing forward toward resolution.. My wife, Elizabeth Trosch, is Mecklenburg County’s Chief District Court Judge, and we have two sons. When one of my sons was about three years old, he asked me if he could have some candy before dinner. I told him no and sent him on his way. As is the case with children, he went around the corner to my wife and asked her the same question. She quizzed him, “What did your father say when you asked him?” My son paused and then said, “Well you see Mommy, you are a judge and Daddy’s just a lawyer. Don’t judges just tell lawyers what to do?” Despite his clever “lawyering,” she denied his request. Ultimately, if parties cannot agree, then the only way to have your case resolved sometimes is to have a judge make the final decision. I want to get the best result for my client’s individual situation, and the key is that I do not use only one “tool” all the time. The thing that sets me apart from other Family Law attorneys is that I know what tools I have in my toolbox and when to use them.

"The way that  I represent my clients is pretty simple really. I treat my clients the way that I'd want to be treated if I were in their shoes.  I listen to my clients carefully and then help them define reasonable goals and expectations. Then I work to the best of my ability to achieve the goals we establish. Sometimes those goals can be achieved outside of the courthouse. Sometimes it is necessary for a Judge to decide the issues. But in every instance, my clients know that they have a hard-working, honest and experienced attorney on their side."

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Experienced Divorce attorney serving clients in Charlotte and surrounding areas.