Congratulations to Rose Stout for her selection to North Carolina Super Lawyers for 2022! https://t.co/df4QWJ4Mow
Congratulations to Lynn McNally for her selection to North Carolina Super Lawyers for 2022! https://t.co/1JywRfEYeo
Congratulations to John Narron for his selection to North Carolina Super Lawyers for 2022! https://t.co/TNW97YoG18
Smith Debnam is a well-respected law firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. Our family law attorneys have an excellent reputation for effective advocacy and a responsible, caring approach to meeting the needs of our clients. With Board Certified Family Law Specialists leading our team, we will carefully listen to you in order to understand your unique situation and craft the most effective strategies and solutions to serve your family’s best interests. Our family law team is focused on helping you move forward – legally, financially, and emotionally.
Our divorce attorneys are uniquely qualified to handle all the issues surrounding your case including:
When you have a legal issue related to family law, you need reliable legal advice. From visitation rights to domestic violence issues, our Raleigh family law attorneys offer a comprehensive set of legal services for North Carolina families throughout central North Carolina. We take our legal responsibilities seriously, and we are dedicated to guiding you and your family through the entire legal process. Whether you are just beginning your divorce or separation, or you are in need of legal assistance with a dispute involving alimony, child support, and child custody, the Family Law team at Smith Debnam will be with you at every step of the way.
“Thank you doesn’t seem sufficient to express how appreciative I am of Rose Stout and her time. I will never forget our first meeting when she listened to me and conveyed that I was not simply billable hours. I continue to be moved by her kindness and decency. While I don’t know if I will ever be able to repay either, I hope if one day I can be of service, she will let me know. Thank you, Rose, for helping me reclaim the first day of the rest of my life and many other days to follow.” – Marie M.
We are ready to hear your story and help you with your family law case. To schedule a consultation with a Raleigh family attorney at our firm, call 919-250-2000.
The body of law governing divorce contains few absolutes. One such absolute is the timing of the divorce relative to the assertion of… Read More
Sometimes You Have to Let Them ‘Bring the Heat’ Kevin Costner has been in some fantastic baseball movies: Field of Dreams, For Love… Read More
All marriages have their challenges, but occasionally mistrust can become such an issue that one spouse may begin snooping or spying on the… Read More
In North Carolina and many other states, “stay-at-home” or “shelter-in-place” orders are in effect, and by now, we all know about “social distancing.”… Read More
When I meet with clients in anticipation of trial, they sometimes question the need for witnesses to support their testimony. They are confident… Read More
Spousal abandonment occurs when one spouse ends the marital cohabitation without justification or provocation, without the consent of the other party, and without… Read More
Family law clients are often told to “go get a restraining order” when someone has stalked them or threatened them with acts of… Read More
Clients and attorneys generally want to settle cases out of court. Clients readily recognize the financial and emotional benefits of avoiding court. Some… Read More
This article is PART TWO of a two-part series shedding light on some of the realities that can prolong the divorce process. Read More
I often warn clients at the outset of their divorce case that the process will likely take longer and be more expensive… Read More
The current federal tax laws enacted in late 2017 have been the subject of many news stories and articles. Read More
When it comes to modifications to child custody orders in North Carolina, parents often wonder if North Carolina law permits a child… Read More
Mediation can be an effective alternative to litigating your marital and family issues while avoiding the frustration and complexity of court proceedings. Mediation… Read More
North Carolina recognizes the Doctrine of Necessaries. The doctrine originated from the legal duty of the husband to provide for the expenses of… Read More
This is a question I am frequently asked; and although the technically correct answer is “yes,” my advice is usually “NO!” Such advice,… Read More
North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 1F: Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act North Carolina courts allow out-of-state subpoenas to be issued… Read More
Divorce and remarriage are common in the United States, and most legal professionals place these issues squarely within the family law realm. However,… Read More
Paul Harvey was an American broadcaster and commentator. He died in 2009 at the age of 90. I remember listening… Read More
It is not often in a complex equitable distribution case that we see a trial Judge’s fair and well-reasoned decision reversed on appeal. Read More
In many equitable distribution cases, where the value of real estate is an issue, the parties at least in negotiations debate the relative… Read More
In many family law settlements, whether they are obtained voluntarily through an agreement or the result of litigation ending in a court order,… Read More
Is there a difference between a divorce attorney and a family law attorney? The short answer is no. The term “divorce” contemplates the… Read More
Often in the world of courts and litigation, participants have to meet certain deadlines to file documents, make payments, and produce certain items. Read More
More common now than ever before, lovebirds will buy a house together before saying “I do” in the hopes they will grow old… Read More
Did you get engaged to the love of your life and expect to live happily ever after, just to be dumped before a… Read More
Girls believe in fairytales from the moment they watch their very first Disney movie. These dreams often include being given a sparkling diamond… Read More
If you and your spouse are considering divorce, it is important to understand North Carolina’s separation requirements. North Carolina law requires that a… Read More
Are you and your spouse out of sync? Do you just have this sixth sense that things are not right in your marriage?… Read More
For many divorcing couples, the marital residence is often their largest asset or perhaps largest debt. Therefore, when… Read More
Upon reaching the unfortunate decision to separate, some spouses begin discussing the terms of a mutual agreement regarding their assets, debts,… Read More
Divorcing couples should not overlook their joint debt liability when contemplating how best to divide their marital assets or debts. Separated spouses can… Read More
Divorce brings out the worst in people. No one knows you better than your spouse and no one knows what buttons to push… Read More
Many divorcing couples have retirement plans that they will want to divvy up as part of the equitable distribution process. Often times, a… Read More
Family law attorneys are seeing an increasing number of grandparents seeking visitation and custody with their grandchildren through the court system. Grandparents’ concerns… Read More
When a marriage ends, the emotional and economic impact on both spouses is immeasurable. According to a study conducted twenty years ago that… Read More
Reaching an agreement through mediation in a family law matter can be hard work, but also yield a great sense of relief when… Read More
With the ever increasing amount of technology available to us in our daily lives, many electronic devices such as computers or cell phones… Read More
When couples with minor children separate, they frequently have significant discussions and negotiations about the moral obligation that both parties have to provide… Read More
This is a question I am frequently asked; and although the technically correct answer is “yes,” my advice is usually “NO!” Such advice, however, bears… Read More
