Top Best Family Lawyers | 17471 Available

Janet Amburgey is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law. Since graduating from Appalachian School of Law in 2008 she has focused her practice exclusively on family law matters, assisting people through family chaos, ensuring the protection of their rights and property and helping to blend and expand families. She has represented clients in divorce and separation with issues surrounding child custody, child support, alimony, and in property settlement matters. She also assists families through adoption, name changes and protects parents and children in both domestic violence matters and DSS matters. Janet believe’s problem-solving is a primary responsibility of a lawyer, and through her family law practice she facilitates the transition to newly designed futures, which is the heart of any family law practice. Janet joined Gum, Hiller & McCroskey in 2012 and became a named partner in 2018.. Janet is a member of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association where she has previously served as the co-chair on the parents rights committee in 2017. She is an active member in the 28th Judicial Bar, serving on the executive committee since 2015, and currently, serving as Secretary since 2018. Janet has been listed for inclusion in the North Carolina Super Lawyers master list since 2020 and was listed in their “Rising Stars” category in both 2017 and 2018. She has been recognized in the Legal Elite Family Law Section in 2017 and 2018 and included in their Young Guns section in 2015. Janet has also been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Family Law Section since 2019 and maintained a BV Distinguished Rating from Martindale Hubbell since 2015.

When I first started practicing law, everything about my practice was litigation.  However, since becoming certified as a Superior Court Mediator, a Family Financial Mediator, and a Parenting Coordinator, I see litigation differently.  Both mediation and litigation are methods of resolving disputes.  With litigation, other people decide your dispute.  With mediation, the parties decide the outcome of the dispute.  Recognizing this has made me a more result-oriented lawyer.  I want to help my clients get through difficult times with as little stress and cost as possible while still seeking to achieve my clients’ goals.  I strongly believe that a lawyer can be a strong and effective advocate for his clients while still maintaining a professional and courteous approach to the practice of law.  As a Parenting Coordinator, I aid parents in high conflict custody matters in their co-parenting efforts while maintaining a focus on the best interest of the children involved.  I currently focus my practice on the areas of Family Law, Mediation, Parenting Coordination, Collaborative Family Law, Foreclosures and Collections.

I am attorney Laura G. Hooks.  I maintain high standards of professionalism and ethics while attending to every detail of a family law matter.  Throughout the course of your case, I will remain a strong advocate who remains at your side until your matter is resolved. I also maintain open lines of communication, providing you with regular updates pertaining to the progress of your case. You will always speak to me directly.

Melody is an experienced litigation attorney well-versed in the intricacies of family law. She offers a tailored approach for each client's unique needs and objectives in sensitive and complex matters such as property division pursuant to North Carolina's equitable distribution statute, spousal support/alimony, child custody and child support, and divorce proceedings.. Melody has received high level training in family law trial advocacy and litigation through the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. This intensive training focuses on complex equitable distribution and support matters, including a focus on evaluation and distribution of businesses and examining expert witnesses for complex equitable distribution and child custody cases.. Beyond litigation services, Melody also counsels clients through premarital and post-marital agreements, as well as separation and property settlement agreements.. Outside of her family law practice, Melody also provides clients with comprehensive litigation services in a variety of commercial, business, and community association disputes.. Melody attended the University of Florida Levin College of Law and is fully licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Florida.

As an attorney based in Asheville, Jacob C. Martin offers clients a well-rounded legal perspective rooted in academic achievement and broad professional experience. Jacob graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina, earning a degree in Political Science with a minor in Social Work. At Drexel University School of Law, he obtained his Juris Doctor with a Concentration in Health Law, founding the Mental Health Law Society and holding leadership roles in several student organizations. Professionally, Jacob has gained valuable insight working in areas such as health insurance, civil litigation, family law, and within a university general counsel’s office. Jacob and his wife have made Asheville their home, where they enjoy hiking, camping with their dogs Etta and Hazel, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Patrick has practiced law in western North Carolina since 2012, and primarily focuses his practice in the areas of Family Law, complex civil litigation and appeals. Patrick, in his professional career, has also served as the Director of Development for the Children & Family Resource Center of Henderson County – where he acted as an advocate for children and young families in our community.. Patrick is passionate about promoting the wellbeing of children, and believes every child deserves a shot at growing into a life full of love and prosperity. In an effort to better foster the development of our area’s youth, Patrick has served as President of the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina, serves on the Children & Family Resource Center’s Scholarship for Single Parents Committee, and mentors a young man through Big Brothers Big Sisters. He also practices collaborative law -- a process through which separating partners or spouses can avoid the often inherent pains and public displays of Family Law litigation.. Patrick is originally from the Shoals in Alabama, but has called western North Carolina home since 2012. Patrick is a moviegoer, and enjoys watching classic films. He also enjoys evening walks, improv comedy, and Ole Miss athletics.

Yes, it’s accurate to say that Katelyn Bailey Hodgins works at Triangle Smart Divorce as an attorney. Yes, she graduated cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in History and Criminal Justice. Yes, she graduated from Campbell Law School with honors in 2017. Yes, she’s been practicing family law since she graduated and passed the bar exam. And yes, she was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2023 and 2024.. None of that fully conveys how fortunate Triangle Smart Divorce – and consequently our clients – are to have her on our TSD Team. It’s akin to describing Shohei Ohtani as a “good baseball player in Japan.” In other words, you have to see and work with Katelyn to truly appreciate our excitement.. Here’s the thing—she’s passionate. Okay, a lot of lawyer bios say that, and many might consider it a cliché, but sometimes clichés are accurate.. Katelyn is genuinely passionate about family law. She’s a child of divorce, and by the time she was in college and had her sights set on law school, she knew with absolute certainty she would be a family law attorney. Not ‘go to law school and take family law classes,’ but ‘go to law school to become a family law attorney.’. Two days into an internship at a family law firm cemented her future. One of the many intriguing aspects of family law is its intersection with various other legal fields, a fact that shaped the rest of Katelyn’s law school education.. She also served as a member of the Campbell Law Observer, where she was the Ethics Editor Emeritus. Additionally, she was a member of Campbell’s Restorative Justice Clinic. The program’s description fits Katelyn exceptionally well: “to develop attorneys who possess moral conviction, social compassion, professional competence, and a view of using the practice of law as a calling to serve others.” Perfect.. According to Katelyn, there are ‘only’ six things anyone needs to know about her: she loves to joke with people, Taylor Swift, her dog Huck, Harry Potter, the Jonas Brothers, and romance novels, in no particular order.. She adds that her husband is also ‘on the list somewhere’ along with—and this is a mystery to us—being a Philadelphia Eagles fan. Really, there is no explanation, nor does anything we wrote before this in any way explain how this fantastic lawyer is part of a fanbase famous for booing Santa Claus.. We are proud to have Katelyn as a part of our Triangle Smart Divorce Team and know our clients will continue to benefit from her dedication and expertise for a long time!

Sasha's practice is limited solely to family law issues, including, child custody, child support, spousal support, postseparation support, alimony, property distribution, equitable distribution, separation agreements, prenuptial agreements, paternity, legitimation, domestic violence and absolute divorce.. Prior to her legal career, Sasha worked as a Child Protective Services Social Worker in Lincoln County, North Carolina.  From this experience, Sasha recognized her desire to advocate for families and children.. After graduating with honors from North Carolina Central University School of Law, Sasha joined Ward Family Law Group and focused her practice solely on family law issues.

Twenty years in the making, Corrie Seagroves finally joined the Triangle Smart Divorce Team after a wide-ranging, somewhat eclectic career as an attorney from the Balkans to the Triangle (and a few places in between).. Corrie’s travels started at UNC, where she graduated with Highest Honors and a degree in Political Science and Government. She continued to Vanderbilt University Law, where she achieved the Order of the Coif. Then, she went to Upstate New York at Ft. Drum (home of the famed 10th Mountain Division), where she started a career as an Army JAG officer. Next up was Bosnia-Herzegovina during the United Nations intervention, where she served as a Senior Defense Counsel. Then, to Fort Gordon in Georgia, where she not only litigated complex military cases throughout the Southeast but also trained and supervised other attorneys and paralegals.. After all that, Corrie returned to the Triangle and dove into what can only be described as a tour of some of the most complex and demanding areas of the law, from medical malpractice to civil litigation and criminal complaints. It was demanding, tough work that exposed her to a wide range of legal issues and techniques while honing her long-term career goals.. Those became clear after Corrie was named the Lead Litigation Attorney of a large family law firm, taking responsibility for all litigation and litigating attorneys. That kind of intense, everyday exposure to litigation led her to two unshakable conclusions: she loves going to court and she enjoys working directly with clients.. “There is something unique about family law,” Corrie says, “where clients come to you in real difficulty, and you get to work with and help them through the worst of times and see it all work out in real time. I don’t think there’s another area of the law so challenging and so rewarding at once.”. Corrie knew Triangle Smart Divorce’s founder, Jenny Bradley, for twenty years, before TSD was even a distant twinkle in Jenny’s eyes. But somehow, they knew they would always work together. Both are thrilled it’s finally happening – for reasons beyond the obvious.. Corrie because she is excited to work with our Team. Jenny because Corrie brings a deep knowledge of executive compensation packages, deferred compensation, and closely held business valuations to our firm.. The fact that Corrie bleeds Carolina Blue and helps even out allegiances in an office that has been slowly tilting towards the Wolfpack had, we are told, “nothing to do with anything.”. When Corrie is not helping our clients, she lives on a 14-acre farm with her husband where she gardens and helps manage her – and she cannot stress this enough – small vineyard. She and her husband travel and fly fish – two activities that are not mutually exclusive. Aside from cheering for the Tar Heels and Hurricanes, she is also a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan.

Rachel is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and has limited her practice to family law in Wake County since 2004. She is also a Certified Family Financial Mediator. Prior to opening Campbell Family Law in 2014, she practiced with Ward & Campbell, P.C. in Cary. She is experienced in representing clients in all aspects of divorce, including complex property division, alimony, child custody, child support, and domestic violence.Rachel is a native of Cary and is involved in the Apex and Cary communities. She is an active member of the Apex Rotary Club, in which capacity she volunteers at various community events. She served as President of the club for the 2014-2015 Rotary year. As an alumna of Salem Academy, Rachel also served for six years on the Board of Visitors of Salem Academy and College in Winston-Salem. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Apex Chamber of Commerce and as chair of the Governmental Affairs committee for the Apex Chamber. She is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cary, where she serves on various committees and often teaches Vacation Bible School.In addition to her community involvement, Rachel is engaged in the legal profession outside of her daily practice. She has served as chair of the Membership Committee for the North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Council. Rachel has also served as a volunteer attorney coach and judge for the Wade Edwards Mock Trial Competition for high school students and as a judge for the American Bar Association's Client Counseling Competition for law students.Rachel earned her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech and her law degree from Mercer University School of Law and holds professional memberships in the Wake County Bar Association and the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.

I am an experienced litigator with hundreds of hours in the courtroom handling domestic and civil matters. My practice is focused on helping individuals and business understand and address the legal problems they did not ask for. I will give you an honest read of your case, even if the best course of action is not to hire me.

A North Carolina native, Dale has called the Triangle home for over twenty years.Staying close to her Wake County roots, she attended Peace College earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Spanish. While in college, Dale studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain at the University Autònoma de Barcelona.. Following in her mother and father’s footsteps, Dale attended Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. While at Campbell, Dale pursued her passion for trial work earning an Advanced Certificate of International Advocacy & Negotiation through the University of Reading. In 2017, Dale was selected to represent Campbell on its Mock Trial team in competitions throughout the country. In 2018, Dale and her team won the National Championship at the Capitol City Challenge National Invitational Mock Trial Competition in Washington, DC, becoming the first all women’s team to win a National competition for Campbell University. Upon graduation, Dale was awarded the Order of Old Kivett, an honor that commends exemplary representation in advocacy competitions while maintaining the highest ethical standards.. Since graduating, Dale has worked for Stephenson Law practicing personal injury and insurance defense. Recognizing her immense passion for helping families and children, she joined Ward Family Law Group in 2019.. Giving back to the community is one of Dale’s most treasured accomplishments. She is a coach for Broughton High School’s Mock Trial Team and a certified Guardian Ad Litem for Wake County’s abused and neglected children. Apart from giving back within the legal community, Dale is also an Advanced Certified Coach for the Special Olympics since 2008.. Dale lives in Apex, North Carolina with her cat, Napoleon, and her horse, Icarus de Carolina.

Ashley graduated Campbell Law (Cum Laude) with an eye toward criminal law. In law school she interned in the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Raleigh, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission.. It seemed as if she was well on the way to a career as a criminal defense attorney after graduation from law school, when the firm where Ashley worked became in need of a family law attorney. Ashley either volunteered or was volunteered (the facts are somewhat cloudy), but the result was like something out of Hollywood sports movie: the [almost] brand new attorney thrown into a family law trial and thriving.. Flash forward almost ten years, and Ashley is not only a family law attorney, handling a heavy load of cases from intake through depositions, mediation, and trial when necessary, she’s on an impressive – and close to unprecedented – six years and counting run as a North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star.. It’s pretty easy to see why all of us at Triangle Smart Divorce are thrilled Ashley chose to bring her knowledge, experience, empathy, and passion for family law to our team.

Family law practitioner, representing clients in the Triangle and beyond in the areas of custody, separation agreements, spousal and child support, name changes, absolute divorce, and paternity issues. Offers full service representation and unbundled legal services.. Check out our reviews here:

Gerrans, Dawson & Ball primarily focuses on Family Law and Criminal Defense. David Ball has primarily practiced family law for the past 8 years representing clients regarding issues of child custody, child support, divorce, equitable distribution, domestic violence, adoption, alimony and post separation support, separation agreements and prenuptial agreements. With an office in Kinston and Morehead City, he practices in Onslow, Jones, Duplin, Craven, Carteret, Pamlico, Wayne, Greene, and Lenoir County.  Call Gerrans, Dawson and Ball for a consultation at.. David Ball grew up in a small rural town in Pennsylvania and he is a veteran of the Army and Army National Guard. He begain his military career in the Airborne Infantry with the 82nd Airborne in 1999 when he was 18. He continued on reaching the rank of Staff Seargeant. In a 10 year period he has earned two honorable discharges from Active Duty and one from the Pennsylvania National Guard.  He graduated first in his class at Indiana University of Pennsylvania earning the outstanding academic achievement award in 2008. He then went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from the Norman Adrian Wiggin's School of Law at Campbell University in 2011. He started practing family law in 2011 learning under a board certified family law specialist before partnering with Gerrans, Dawson & Ball, P.A. in August of 2018.. He is an avid outdoor sportsman who enjoys Kayaking, shooting, and big game fishing.