Top Best Family Lawyers | 14504 Available

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I am celebrating my 25th year of law practice in 2019.  Siemens Family Law Group is one of my proudest achievements.  Each of our lawyers are zealous and ethical advocates.  Together, we achieve results that would not be possible as sole practitioners.  My current focus is in the area of complex equitable distribution, but I am accepting cases that include a child custody component.  For more on the firm, and my practice, please visit .

David is an NC Board Certified Specialist in Family Law with over 17 years of experience helping clients.. David believes strongly that the client is always the master of their case and that the client is best served when they determine their priorities in the case. David collaborates in goal setting and then works cooperatively with the client to achieve goals set. Maintaining close relationships and regular communication with his clients is key to David’s practice. David enjoys getting to know new clients and learning the particulars of their individual circumstances so that he can better understand what they want and need from him.. David advises cooperative, non-combative resolutions to cases where he can for the benefit of all parties, and especially for their children. Sometimes cooperation is not possible, and David can manage a high conflict case. In all cases, David recognizes the importance of maintaining a professional, courteous relationship with other attorneys and the courts. David holds himself to a high standard of professional conduct.. David was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and he grew up along the gulf coast, first in southeast Texas and then in southwest Louisiana. He graduated from Berry College in Rome, Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a minor in Religion. He received his law degree from the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia. David was first admitted to the bar in Louisiana in 2006, and he established a family law practice in Lake Charles, Louisiana for over thirteen years before relocating to western North Carolina with his wife, Tanya, and his daughter, Ember. He was admitted to the bar in North Carolina in 2019.. David works exclusively as a family law attorney and has spent his entire career focusing on family law and domestic violence law. David has worked at non-profit and for-profit law firms during his career, and he has experience working with clients from all walks of life and all income levels. David is currently accepting family law cases in Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, Yancey, McDowell, Rutherford, Henderson, Transylvania, and Jackson counties.

Transplanted from Michigan, I attended Western Michigan University where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Literature. Fortunately, I can include the University of Cambridge and Michigan State University to my educational experience as well. I then went on to receive my Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest School of Law.. A twisted sense of humor and passion for individualism, settling down in Western North Carolina was only natural for me. Having been licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Oregon by sitting each state's bar exam, I look forward to expanding my primary practice from North Carolina to sister southern states. Personal recreational passions are summed up by adoring my dogs and running everywhere I can get a plane ticket.. However, my main passion and drive is excelling as an attorney and providing excellent client representation.

Do you have a legal issue you need assistance with in the areas of Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Probate matters, Elder Issues, Business law or Family law matters? Our firm is dedicated to providing our clients with information and advocacy for their legal needs. Call our office if you have a need for legal services at.. Dedicated to service in the community and to my clients, we attempt to treat everyone with the respect and attention that we wish to be treated with!. A "local," I graduated from Brevard High School in Brevard, North Carolina and Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina before attending law school at North Carolina Central University School of Law.

My name is Elizabeth Radnothy (formerly Thueme) and I graduated from Campbell University School of Law in 2017 and University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2012. I practice primarily in the areas of estate administration, estate planning, family law, and civil litigation. I serve primarily the area of McDowell and Buncombe County but often can be found in neighboring counties.

Liana Orta had a decision to make when she graduated from Florida International University – pursue an MBA or go to law school. On paper, it looked like an easy choice: she majored in Finance and International Business. She spent part of her junior year furthering these studies in Sorrento, Italy. She seemed destined to get the MBA and then jump on the first flight back to Europe. But the MBA never really had a chance – Liana needed a profession where she helped people, not corporations. She went to the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law instead.. When Liana graduated from law school, she went to one of the few ‘fresh out of law school’ jobs that offered an immediate and impactful chance to help people – she became an Assistant Public Defender in Florida working with juveniles.. Her experiences with court, children, families in crisis, interviewing, negotiating, and so much more are invaluable. She had more client contact in a week than most attorneys have in a month.. In short, Liana acquired the temperament, empathy, knowledge, and negotiating skills that are as hard to come by as they are invaluable in family law. She was a perfect fit for the Triangle Smart Divorce team . . . except she was 500 miles away in Jacksonville, Florida.. We seemed certain to never meet but, thankfully, insects intervened. Specifically, Euschistus servus, the brown stink bug.. Liana’s husband, Kevin, came to NC State to pursue his PhD in Entomology, studying the brown stink bug and its effects on corn and soybean crops. Liana came to North Carolina determined to put her experience to use in a field she is passionate about: family law.. As a child of divorce, Liana is dedicated to doing all that she can for her clients and their children to achieve the best possible outcome as quickly and painlessly as possible while avoiding the pitfalls and uncertainties of the courtroom.. Liana was looking for a firm that reflected her values at precisely the same time Triangle Smart Divorce was searching for a new associate. The timing was perfect.. Liana lives in Apex with Kevin, their two miniature dachshunds, Oggie & Callie, and not a single Euschistus servus. The four of them spend time exploring our Greenways and their new home.

Experienced Family Attorney handling divorce, separation, domestic violence, child custody and support and other domestic related matters in Wake and surrounding counties.

Delia Ledesma is an associate in the firm's Family Law practice group, where she focuses her practice on divorce, custody, and the trial of family law matters. Delia is completely bilingual in Spanish and performs all legal work effectively and efficiently in both languages.. Prior to joining the Van Winkle Law Firm, Delia worked in private practice as an immigration attorney, and also as a family law attorney. Most recently, Delia worked as a domestic violence and family law attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina, gaining significant trial experience. Prior to graduating from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2016, Delia obtained a B.A. in both English and Psychology from St. Mary's College of Maryland. Delia is also admitted to practice in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' Tribal Court.