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 most common types of ADR for civil cases are neutral evaluation, mediation, arbitration, and settlement conferences. All of these are designed to… Read More
Any of us with children knows how hard it is to co-parent with our spouse or partner in an intact relationship. It is… Read More
Did you know that over half of all divorces result from low-conflict relationships? This may seem surprising, but it’s true. When a marriage… Read More
Parties unfamiliar with the legal system shudder at the thought of seeing their life in its most personal context, displayed on a witness stand… Read More
In recent years, the term “narcissism” has become a common topic of discussion between divorce lawyers and their clients. Now more than ever,… Read More
Unfortunately, most teachers have witnessed the unintended consequences of protracted child custody cases and the enormous pitfalls that result when schools are forced… Read More
Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a court-ordered payment that one former spouse makes to the other after a divorce or separation. Read More
This article will go through some helpful tips on approaching the topic of a prenup. This is one of the most challenging conversations… Read More
Who Has to Pay Child Support? In North Carolina, the biological or adoptive parents are almost always on the hook for child support. Read More
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
Friday, March 13, 2020, will be a day I’ll never forget. It was the day that North Carolina’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri… 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
In the wake of Kobe Bryant and his daughter’s death this past week, I found myself thinking about my Dad and the special… 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
A common concern among spouses facing separation and divorce is the prospect of dividing their retirement accounts because of the misconception that… 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
The term “co-parenting” describes the process where two parents work together to raise a child even though they are divorced or separated and… 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
Self-care is a hot topic these days. If you are a Pinterest fan, a quick search of “self-care” brings up… Read More
This is a question I am frequently asked; and although the technically correct answer is “yes,” dating while separated may be used as… 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
One Big, Happy Family? It’s Not Easy, But It’s Worth It. I’m a longtime listener of The Bob and Sheri Show. When… 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
Our dogs and cats are part of our family, right? They do not just represent property to be divided, right? Actually, in North… 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
I grew up during the ’50s and ’60s. During that time, many believed a child should be seen, not heard in the presence of adults. Read More
What do Katy Perry, John Legend, Miley Cyrus, Faith Hill, Elton John, and Bruno Mars have in common? They all use a different… Read More
April 25 is “Parental Alienation Awareness Day.” Perhaps, you haven’t heard of Parental Alienation. Unfortunately, many children and parents going through a divorce know… Read More
Is there a difference between a divorce attorney and a family law attorney? The short answer is no. The term “divorce”… 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
I came across this article online just the other day, regarding the characteristics of healthy and happy relationships. The information in the article rings… 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
Should I Sign a Prenuptial Agreement? Prenuptial agreements are not only for celebrities and billionaires. They have become increasingly more common based on… 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
For couples no longer living together as husband and wife, establishing a date of separation and becoming legally separated in North Carolina does… 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
What is nesting? Nesting is a child-centered custody arrangement that has recently become more common among divorced parents. Rather than the child staying… Read More
It is no secret that divorce is tough on children, but does that mean that every child should attend therapy after their parents’… Read More
Managing Expectations Towards a Successful Outcome Bad behavior during a marriage does not waive a party’s property division rights. The bad behavior of… 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
Divorce is expensive. Between child custody and support, property division and spousal support, there are many issues that must be addressed, and thoughtful… Read More
No matter what your specific family-related legal issue, whether it be child custody, property distribution, alimony, child support or otherwise, having the right… 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
In a previous post, I noted that the legal obligation to support a child in North Carolina generally ends when either the child… Read More
It’s no secret that I’m an animal lover. Anyone who knows me can tell you that my dog, Taco, is like a member… 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
Should I or shouldn’t I? Get a prenuptial agreement, that is. The idea of a prenuptial agreement can be an uncomfortable topic to broach… Read More
It’s the new year; and for many people, including myself, it’s time to make those resolutions in an attempt to make life easier,… Read More
Picture this: You have been in business for 12 years. You are well past the start-up stage and you are making good money. Read More
