Recognized in Family Law; listed since 2007.
RALEIGH, N.C. (August 20, 2026) – Smith Debnam partner Rose H. Stout has been recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Family Law, adding to a year in which she was also named a North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Excellence in Law “Icon” and selected for Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite.
Stout has practiced family law for more than 30 years and has been a Board Certified Family Law Specialist since 1991. She handles divorce, custody, property division, child support, alimony, and financially complex litigation, and also serves as a mediator when families can resolve differences outside court.
Her work in custody matters is especially grounded in what happens after the legal case ends. Stout focuses on the children at the center of a dispute and on outcomes that can allow parents to maintain workable family relationships long after the final order. She also devotes significant time to mentoring younger family law attorneys.
“Rose has the experience to handle the hardest family law cases, but what people remember is how carefully she listens and how deeply she cares about what happens to the family after the case is over,” said Smith Debnam Managing Partner Jerry T. Myers. “Her recognition this year reflects both the lawyer she is and the impact she has had on generations of clients and attorneys.”
Stout has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2007 and was named Best Lawyers’ Raleigh Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2025. She received the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization’s Sarah H. Davis Excellence Award in 2018. She earned both her J.D. and undergraduate degree from Campbell University.
About Smith Debnam
Founded in 1972, Smith Debnam Attorneys at Law has built its reputation by helping businesses, financial institutions, professional service providers, and individuals navigate important legal decisions with confidence. From headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, and regional offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina, the firm serves clients across diverse industries, delivering comprehensive legal counsel in litigation, business and transactional matters, creditors’ rights, family law, estate planning, and personal representation. Whether helping a financial institution manage risk, guiding a family-owned business through growth, assisting a family in planning for the future, or resolving complex disputes, Smith Debnam combines deep legal experience with integrity, responsiveness, and a commitment to building relationships that span generations.
