Cary divorce lawyers handle contested and uncontested matters with a focus on custody, child support, equitable distribution, alimony, mediation, and collaborative divorce.
Alisa Huffman represents clients in District Court matters at Alisa Huffman MSW, JD Family & Elder Law throughout Cary, Wake County. The practice includes Divorce & Family Law along with separation agreements, domestic violence protective orders, and collaborative options when appropriate. Each case begins with a practical plan, organized disclosures, and regular updates on deadlines and hearings. Day to day work includes pleadings, motions for temporary relief, discovery management, mediation sessions, and courtroom readiness. When property is divided, the plan may include business or retirement valuations and a QDRO for qualified plans. First meetings review goals, safety concerns, parenting logistics, finances, and practical options for settlement and court.
Amanda C. Knight represents clients in District Court matters at Ellis Family Law, P.L.L.C. throughout Cary, Wake County. The practice includes Divorce & Family Law along with separation agreements, domestic violence protective orders, and collaborative options when appropriate. Each case begins with a practical plan, organized disclosures, and regular updates on deadlines and hearings. Day to day work includes pleadings, motions for temporary relief, discovery management, mediation sessions, and courtroom readiness. When property is divided, the plan may include business or retirement valuations and a QDRO for qualified plans. First meetings review goals, safety concerns, parenting logistics, finances, and practical options for settlement and court.
Ann-Margaret Alexander is a North Carolina family law attorney at Alexander & Doyle, P.A. serving clients in Cary, Wake County. Primary work includes Divorce & Family Law. Cases often involve separation agreements, 50B protective orders, and collaborative or mediated resolutions. The approach emphasizes planning, document readiness, and timely updates so clients stay informed. Typical tasks include drafting and filing pleadings, preservation of claims, temporary relief, discovery, mediation, and preparation for hearings or trial. Property division can involve appraisals, financial affidavits, and coordination on QDROs for retirement accounts. Early strategy sessions focus on goals, any safety issues, parenting plans, budgets, and a roadmap for settlement or litigation.
Anna Ayscue is a North Carolina family law attorney at Rosen Law Firm serving clients in Cary, Wake County. Primary work includes Divorce & Family Law. Cases often involve separation agreements, 50B protective orders, and collaborative or mediated resolutions. The approach emphasizes planning, document readiness, and timely updates so clients stay informed. Typical tasks include drafting and filing pleadings, preservation of claims, temporary relief, discovery, mediation, and preparation for hearings or trial. Property division can involve appraisals, financial affidavits, and coordination on QDROs for retirement accounts. Early strategy sessions focus on goals, any safety issues, parenting plans, budgets, and a roadmap for settlement or litigation.
Benjamin T. McLawhorn is a North Carolina family law attorney at The Law Offices of Benjamin T. McLawhorn serving clients in Cary, Wake County. Primary work includes Divorce & Family Law. Cases often involve separation agreements, 50B protective orders, and collaborative or mediated resolutions. The approach emphasizes planning, document readiness, and timely updates so clients stay informed. Typical tasks include drafting and filing pleadings, preservation of claims, temporary relief, discovery, mediation, and preparation for hearings or trial. Property division can involve appraisals, financial affidavits, and coordination on QDROs for retirement accounts. Early strategy sessions focus on goals, any safety issues, parenting plans, budgets, and a roadmap for settlement or litigation.
Charles H. Montgomery focuses on North Carolina family law at Montgomery Family Law and helps clients across Cary, Wake County. Matters commonly involve Divorce & Family Law, plus separation agreements and 50B protective orders where needed. Clients can expect clear timelines, organized paperwork, and steady communication about next steps. Work often covers pleadings, counterclaims, temporary orders, discovery, mediation, negotiation, and hearing preparation. Equitable Distribution may require valuations, financial disclosures, and coordination for QDROs where retirement plans are involved. Consults usually cover goals, safety, parenting schedules, income and expenses, and a first pass at strategy for settlement and court.
James Tyler Brooks is a North Carolina family law attorney at Law Offices of James Tyler Brooks serving clients in Cary, Wake County. Primary work includes Divorce & Family Law. Cases often involve separation agreements, 50B protective orders, and collaborative or mediated resolutions. The approach emphasizes planning, document readiness, and timely updates so clients stay informed. Typical tasks include drafting and filing pleadings, preservation of claims, temporary relief, discovery, mediation, and preparation for hearings or trial. Property division can involve appraisals, financial affidavits, and coordination on QDROs for retirement accounts. Early strategy sessions focus on goals, any safety issues, parenting plans, budgets, and a roadmap for settlement or litigation.
Janelle Brienzi is a North Carolina family law attorney at Life Path Legal serving clients in Cary, Wake County. Primary work includes Divorce & Family Law. Cases often involve separation agreements, 50B protective orders, and collaborative or mediated resolutions. The approach emphasizes planning, document readiness, and timely updates so clients stay informed. Typical tasks include drafting and filing pleadings, preservation of claims, temporary relief, discovery, mediation, and preparation for hearings or trial. Property division can involve appraisals, financial affidavits, and coordination on QDROs for retirement accounts. Early strategy sessions focus on goals, any safety issues, parenting plans, budgets, and a roadmap for settlement or litigation.
Jeanne Ford focuses on North Carolina family law at JEANNE FORD FAMILY LAW and helps clients across Cary, Wake County. Matters commonly involve Divorce & Family Law, plus separation agreements and 50B protective orders where needed. Clients can expect clear timelines, organized paperwork, and steady communication about next steps. Work often covers pleadings, counterclaims, temporary orders, discovery, mediation, negotiation, and hearing preparation. Equitable Distribution may require valuations, financial disclosures, and coordination for QDROs where retirement plans are involved. Consults usually cover goals, safety, parenting schedules, income and expenses, and a first pass at strategy for settlement and court.
Judy Tseng focuses on North Carolina family law at Judy Tseng, Attorney at Law and helps clients across Cary, Wake County. Matters commonly involve Divorce & Family Law, plus separation agreements and 50B protective orders where needed. Clients can expect clear timelines, organized paperwork, and steady communication about next steps. Work often covers pleadings, counterclaims, temporary orders, discovery, mediation, negotiation, and hearing preparation. Equitable Distribution may require valuations, financial disclosures, and coordination for QDROs where retirement plans are involved. Consults usually cover goals, safety, parenting schedules, income and expenses, and a first pass at strategy for settlement and court.
Kellie Gonzalez represents clients in District Court matters at Capital to Coast NC Law Group throughout Cary, Wake County. The practice includes Divorce & Family Law along with separation agreements, domestic violence protective orders, and collaborative options when appropriate. Each case begins with a practical plan, organized disclosures, and regular updates on deadlines and hearings. Day to day work includes pleadings, motions for temporary relief, discovery management, mediation sessions, and courtroom readiness. When property is divided, the plan may include business or retirement valuations and a QDRO for qualified plans. First meetings review goals, safety concerns, parenting logistics, finances, and practical options for settlement and court.
Linda K. Ward focuses on North Carolina family law at Ward Family Law Group and helps clients across Cary, Wake County. Matters commonly involve Divorce & Family Law, plus separation agreements and 50B protective orders where needed. Clients can expect clear timelines, organized paperwork, and steady communication about next steps. Work often covers pleadings, counterclaims, temporary orders, discovery, mediation, negotiation, and hearing preparation. Equitable Distribution may require valuations, financial disclosures, and coordination for QDROs where retirement plans are involved. Consults usually cover goals, safety, parenting schedules, income and expenses, and a first pass at strategy for settlement and court.
Lindsey D. Granados represents clients in District Court matters at Granados Law Group, PLLC throughout Cary, Wake County. The practice includes Divorce & Family Law along with separation agreements, domestic violence protective orders, and collaborative options when appropriate. Each case begins with a practical plan, organized disclosures, and regular updates on deadlines and hearings. Day to day work includes pleadings, motions for temporary relief, discovery management, mediation sessions, and courtroom readiness. When property is divided, the plan may include business or retirement valuations and a QDRO for qualified plans. First meetings review goals, safety concerns, parenting logistics, finances, and practical options for settlement and court.
Lisa LeFante is a North Carolina family law attorney at Triangle Smart Divorce serving clients in Cary, Wake County. Primary work includes Divorce & Family Law. Cases often involve separation agreements, 50B protective orders, and collaborative or mediated resolutions. The approach emphasizes planning, document readiness, and timely updates so clients stay informed. Typical tasks include drafting and filing pleadings, preservation of claims, temporary relief, discovery, mediation, and preparation for hearings or trial. Property division can involve appraisals, financial affidavits, and coordination on QDROs for retirement accounts. Early strategy sessions focus on goals, any safety issues, parenting plans, budgets, and a roadmap for settlement or litigation.
Rachel C. Campbell represents clients in District Court matters at Campbell Family Law throughout Cary, Wake County. The practice includes Divorce & Family Law along with separation agreements, domestic violence protective orders, and collaborative options when appropriate. Each case begins with a practical plan, organized disclosures, and regular updates on deadlines and hearings. Day to day work includes pleadings, motions for temporary relief, discovery management, mediation sessions, and courtroom readiness. When property is divided, the plan may include business or retirement valuations and a QDRO for qualified plans. First meetings review goals, safety concerns, parenting logistics, finances, and practical options for settlement and court.
T. Miles Williams focuses on North Carolina family law at Williams Family Law and helps clients across Cary, Wake County. Matters commonly involve Divorce & Family Law, plus separation agreements and 50B protective orders where needed. Clients can expect clear timelines, organized paperwork, and steady communication about next steps. Work often covers pleadings, counterclaims, temporary orders, discovery, mediation, negotiation, and hearing preparation. Equitable Distribution may require valuations, financial disclosures, and coordination for QDROs where retirement plans are involved. Consults usually cover goals, safety, parenting schedules, income and expenses, and a first pass at strategy for settlement and court.
Choose a divorce lawyer in Cary, NC by focusing on fit, experience, and cost clarity: build a short list of family law attorneys who practice in your local District Court and verify state bar license, disciplinary record, and if possible board certified family law specialist status.
In the initial consultation confirm case fit for child custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support or alimony, equitable distribution or property division, and complex assets like business valuation, real estate, stock compensation, and retirement accounts that require a QDRO. Ask about strategy for settlement, mediation, collaborative divorce, discovery, temporary orders, protective orders, and trial.
Evaluate communication, who does the work attorney, associate, or paralegal, response time, and whether there is a secure client portal. Get a written fee agreement that explains retainer, hourly rates, flat fee options, billing increments, expert costs, and realistic timelines. Bring tax returns, pay stubs, bank and brokerage statements, insurance, prior orders, and a parenting plan to speed up the review. Run a conflict check and confirm attorney client privilege. Choose the lawyer who explains next steps in plain language, knows local procedures and case management orders, offers transparent pricing, and provides a clear path from intake to mediation or trial.
What are the typical costs, fees, and timelines for an Absolute Divorce and contested family law cases in North Carolina District Court?
Costs and timelines in North Carolina depend on case type and county docket. An Absolute Divorce requires one year of separation and six months of residency, and an uncontested divorce is often handled with a flat fee plus filing fee and service of process, with a timeline of weeks that varies by District Court calendar and local rules.
Contested family law matters drive both cost and length, especially child custody, parenting time, child support, post separation support, alimony, and equitable distribution or property division. Expect a written fee agreement that explains retainer, hourly rate, flat fee options, billing increments, and estimated expenses. Common expenses include mediator fees, discovery costs, court reporter, expert witnesses such as a forensic accountant for business valuation, a real estate appraiser, a vocational expert, and QDRO preparation for retirement accounts, and in some cases a guardian ad litem.
The typical path runs from intake to filing in District Court, service, temporary orders when needed, disclosures and discovery, case management order, mediation or collaborative divorce, settlement conference, consent order, and if needed trial, with possible continuances. Timelines vary with complexity and cooperation, so ask your attorney for a projected schedule from filing to mediation or trial and confirm how fees, costs, and updates will be handled.
North Carolina Court & Filing Basics
Family law cases in North Carolina are heard in District Court. To start, file a Complaint and Civil Summons with the Clerk of Superior Court in the proper venue (usually a party’s county of residence) and pay the filing fee.
Proper service of process by sheriff or certified mail triggers a 30-day deadline to file an Answer and counterclaims; many litigants also file a Notice of Appearance and request a 30-day extension. Preserve rights by filing Equitable Distribution, Post Separation Support, and Alimony before Absolute Divorce; you may also seek child custody, child support, and temporary orders.
Expect a case management order, disclosures, discovery, mandatory mediation in many counties, possible collaborative law, then consent order, hearing, or trial, scheduled under local rules and the District Court calendar. Some counties use eCourts eFiling; always follow the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure and check the Clerk of Superior Court for forms and fees.
Next steps
Shortlist a few lawyers from the list, open popups for details, then book consultations. Bring finances summary, parenting concerns, and prior orders.