Fred M. Morelock

Fred M. Morelock

Tharrington Smith, LLP
  • Family Law, Divorce, Arbitration & Mediation
  • North Carolina
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Biography

Fred Morelock received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974 and his law degree from UNC in 1976. He then practiced as a trial attorney for ten years in the areas of criminal defense and family law litigation before being appointed to the bench. He joined Tharrington Smith in 2001.

In 1986, Mr. Morelock was appointed by Governor James G. Martin to a Wake County district court judgeship. He was reelected three times and served for fourteen years. In 1990, Mr. Morelock became the first judge in Wake County to become a Certified Juvenile Law Specialist. During the last several years on the bench, he presided almost exclusively in domestic court, most recently in North Carolina’s first designated specialized judgeship in the area of family law.

As a district court judge, Mr. Morelock was a frequent speaker and instructor for continuing legal education seminars for attorneys (North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and Bar Association) and for judges (North Carolina Association of District Court Judges and the Institute of Government New Judges School) on various family law issues. He has also been a seminar speaker for the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants and the Wake County public school principals. Mr. Morelock has served on the Board of Directors of the Wake County Bar Association and its Professionalism Committee, the Raleigh Rescue Mission, and Carolina Legal Assistance.

Mr. Morelock’s practice includes the representation of clients in all areas of family law, as well as mediation and arbitration. He is admitted to practice in all state courts and the federal district courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina. Mr. Morelock is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and its family law section.

Mr. Morelock is married to Jeannie S. Morelock, and they have two teenage sons.

Practice Areas
Family Law
Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
Divorce
Collaborative Law, Contested Divorce, Military Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony, Uncontested Divorce
Arbitration & Mediation
Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
North Carolina
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Languages
  • English
Professional Experience
Partner
Tharrington Smith, LLP
- Current
Independent Counsel
NC Medical Board
-
District Court Judge
North Carolina District Court, 10th Judicial District
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Appointed by Gov. James G. Martin. First judge in Wake County to become a Certified Juvenile Law Specialist, 1990
Trial Attorney
Criminal & Family Law
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Education
University of North Carolina School of Law
J.D. (1976)
University of North Carolina School of Law Logo
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
B.A. (1974) | Arts and Law
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill Logo
Awards
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Law Firms
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Law Firms
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Law Firms
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Law Firms
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
Best Lawyers in America
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Law Firms
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
Best Lawyers in America
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Law Firms
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Law Firms
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Law Firms
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
Appreciation Award
10th Judicial District Bar
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Law Firms
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
Legal Elite
Business North Carolina magazine
Award of Excellence
Wake County Bar Association Presidents
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Super Lawyers
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
Best Lawyers in America
Professional Associations
North Carolina Bar Association, Family Law Section
Member
Current
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Wake County Bar Association
Board of Directors, Professionalism Committee
Current
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10th Judicial District Bar, Grievance Committee
Past-Chair
Current
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North Carolina State Courts
Member
Current
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United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
Member
Current
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North Carolina District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
Member
Current
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North Carolina Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section
Member
Current
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State Bar Council, Disciplinary Hearing Commission
Vice-Chair
- Current
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North Carolina State Bar  # 7239
Member
- Current
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Websites & Blogs
Website
Contact & Map
Tharrington Smith LLP
150 Fayetteville Street
Suite 1800
Raleigh, NC 27601
Telephone: (919) 821-4711
Fax: (919) 829-1583