Top Best Family Lawyers | 21033 Available

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!

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.

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.

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

Matthew attended undergrad at North Carolina State University and law school at the University of Alabama School of Law in Tuscaloosa. Matthew's practice primarily focuses on civil litigation, family law and personal injury. Matthew is an experienced litigator who regularly tries cases to verdict. He represents clients out of offices in Mooresville, Statesville and Taylorsville, North Carolina.. Matthew is respected among his peers as an experienced and effective advocate. He has represented fellow attorneys, judges and prosecutors in Iredell and Alexander Counties in a wide variety of matters: criminal, domestic and family law, civil litigation, probate matters, ethical complaints to the North Carolina State Bar and legal malpractice. Those that work alongside and across from Matthew daily entrust their own legal needs to him when the need arises.. Professionally, Matthew has served as an officer for Judicial District 32, encompassing Iredell and Alexander Counties. He served as Treasurer in 2012, Vice-President in 2013 and President of 22A in 2014. He also served as chairman of the Iredell County Indigent Defense Committee from 2012 to 2015.. Matthew is originally from Wilkes County, where he was raised on a tobacco and cattle farm. Matthew, his wife and two children now reside in Mooresville, North Carolina.. Matthew spends most of his time outside of work cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide and NC State Wolfpack. He also enjoys BBQing, and is a member of his Father-in-Law's competition barbecue team, The Fabulous Faultliners, competing in both the Memphis Barbeque Network and Kansas City Barbecue Society contests.

Experienced attorney, specializing in family law, social security disability, and appellate law.. A native of Boone, Kim Eggers graduated summa cum laude from Appalachian State University and earned her Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law in 2001. Before joining Eggers, Eggers, Eggers, & Eggers, Kim served as a Watauga County Magistrate Judge for six years. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Watauga County Bar Association.

I was born and raised in Boone, North Carolina. I went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for both my undergraduate degree and Juris Doctorate.  After graduation from law school, I moved back home for a short time before joining a national family law firm in Charlotte, North Carolina in May 2010. During my tenure there, I became an Assistant Litigation Manager, managing two associate family law attorneys while also having a full case load.  In July 2013, I attended and graduated from the ABA Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute, a week long intensive program for trial advocacy in the specific field of family law. In June 2015, I transitioned to a boutique law firm in Charlotte, NC specializing in the practice of family law.. In 2016, with my daughter and husband, I moved back to the High Country where I call home.. I bring my zealous advocacy to the High Country region to aggressively fight to protect the interests of my clients, both in the courtroom and in settlement negotiations.

Tamara C. DiVenere became a shareholder and partner in the law firm in May, 2008 and the firm then became known as Walker & DiVenere, Attorneys at Law. She has worked with Mr. Walker since 2003, beginning as a law clerk after her graduation from Duke University.. Ms. DiVenere graduated cum laude with a degree in Political Science from Duke University in 2003. While at Duke, Ms. DiVenere was on the Dean's List and received the RSR Award in American Government. She continued her education at the University of North Carolina School Of Law, Chapel Hill, where she was also on the Dean's List and graduated with High Honors in 2006.. Tamara is a lifelong resident of the High Country of North Carolina and graduated from Beaver Creek High School in 1999. She is married to Jak Reeves, also an attorney in Ashe County, North Carolina.. Walker & DiVenere will continue to concentrate their practice in general civil litigation, including personal injury and wrongful death, construction and real estate disputes, family law, workers compensation, business formation and residential and commercial real estate closings and transactions.