Rocky Point Family Lawyers

Managing Partner and the founder of The Law Group, Melissa Gott is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Campbell University School of Law. Melissa is a licensed North Carolina attorney, D.R.C. Certified Mediator, Financial (family law) Mediator, and Collaborative Attorney with Coastal Collaborative Colleagues. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Melissa graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration concentrating in finance and the legal environment of business. Melissa then matriculated to Campbell University’s School of Law. While in law school, Melissa was an editor...

My practice is restricted to family law issues such as adoption, annulment, divorce, child custody, child support, postseparation support, alimony, equitable distribution, separation agreements, premarital agreements and enforcement of court orders. I am certified by the NC State Bar as a Family Law Specialist in family law. I received the AV preeminent peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell; NC Business Legal Elite for family law; Super Lawyers for family law; rated 10.0 by Avvo.

Jeff Marshall has practiced family law for over 21 years. He brings a high level of experience to the firm along with a strong commitment to ethics and the desire to aggressively advocate for his clients and their best interests. Mr. Marshall is a Board Certified family law and divorce attorney in Raleigh who is well known for his ability to handle difficult cases in a professional manner. He handles a wide variety of family law and divorce-related cases including complex equitable distribution matters and highly contested child custody cases. Most of his clients come from...

I spend my time helping my clients and their families face the reality of handling child custody, asset divisions, child support and divorce. Many of these issues involve not only legal, but emotional, practical and even business implications. Our effective team understands the nuances of these cases, and provides supportive, competent, and, when needed, aggressive representation.

My goal is to provide the best possible service to my clients. My practices include family law and civil litigation. Please do not hesitate to call to schedule a consultation.

L. Bryan Smith’s primary practice areas are family law, criminal defense, and personal injury. He is proud of his dedication and responsiveness to clients. Bryan attended Francis Marion College in Florence, South Carolina, earning a degree in political science. He then matriculated to Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law for his juris doctor which he earned cum laude. After law school, Bryan was the founding member of a local law firm until he joined The Law Group as a partner.

Christian was born and raised in Indiana and attended Indiana University in Bloomington where he received a degree in Philosophy and Political Science. During college, Christian worked as a wildland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in the summers. Christian then attended the University of Montana School of Law in Missoula. While attending law school, Christian interned with Justice Goff of the Indiana Supreme Court and the Federal Defenders of Montana. It was both of these experiences that inspired Christian’s passion for criminal defense. Upon receiving his J.D., he moved to Wilmington and began...

The Houser Law Firm, P.C. is a Professional Corporation and full service, General Practice law firm located in Jacksonville, that serves Onslow Jones and surrounding counties in Southeastern North Carolina. We know that in these tough economic times, saving money wherever possible is important to most people. Our philosophy has always been to provide our clients with prompt, courteous and professional legal services at an affordable fee. While we never compromise on our legal professionalism, we do strive to manage our cost and expenses so that we can offer high quality legal services at fees that are...

Kevin E. Heckart was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1961. After graduating from Wentworth Military Academy he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves in the Spring of 1979. Kevin then continued to serve in the USMCR achieving the rank of Corporal while attending Drake University (B.A. – 1983). Before graduating from college, Kevin was accepted into the PLC program for prospective Marine Officers, completed the training and was Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in May, 1983.
After college Kevin attended Drake Law School (J.D. – 1985) and, upon graduation, the Basic School for Marine Officers in Quantico, Virginia and further...

Jennifer R. Pope has been an attorney in Jacksonville, North Carolina since 1988. She grew up in Jacksonville, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar, graduating with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology in 1985. She went on to attend Law School at UNC Chapel Hill, and graduated in 1988. Jennifer started her legal career with Ellis, Hooper, Warlick, Waters and Morgan, in general practice until 1992, when she joined Frank Pope and her brother, Gordon Robinson, Jr., in the firm of Robinson, Pope and Pope. In 1997, Jennifer decided to concentrate...

Angela McIlveen is the CEO and Co-Founder of McIlveen Family Law Firm.

The first thing you will notice when you meet Angela McIlveen is that she genuinely cares about her clients and the clients of the Firm.

Maybe it’s because she remembers going through her parents’ nasty divorce when she was 6 years old. Angela knows that her parents' divorce impacted her life. Angela McIlveen remembers growing up with her dad when kids didn’t grow up with their fathers and she says it definitely shaped her life. In case you are wondering, no her mom wasn’t a bad person. Her...

Most families will encounter the legal system at some point. Whether it involves divorce, adoption, child support, custody, or estate planning, it can all feel overwhelming. At Breeden Law Office, we remove the loneliness and uncertainty around domestic law issues. Attorney Jonathan Breeden is a North Carolina family lawyer with over 20 years’ experience, who aggressively fights for families in Johnston, Harnett, and Wake counties. No matter what your family is dealing with, we genuinely care about the outcome and have the skill to fight for your children, your financial security, and your future. Our clients expect honest advice and fierce...

Since 1992 I have focused my practice primarily on criminal defense. In 1998, along with Seth Blum, I founded the Raleigh Law Firm of Kurtz & Blum PLLC. At Kurtz & Blum we help people who have been accused of crimes from minor traffic cases and DWIs all the way up through high profile murder trials. On our civil side we help people who have been harmed by the negligence of another such as in car wrecks, nursing home negligence cases and legal malpractice cases. We round out our practice by helping people with family law...

Cristina Quantock joined Beaver Courie Law Firm in 2012. Prior to working in private practice she served as a prosecutor in Hoke County. Since joining the firm, Cristina has worked on hundreds of cases in both District and Superior Courts. During her 10 years of practicing law, Cristina has exemplified an attention to detail and a dedication to achieving the best possible results for her clients. She has experience in handling difficult cases and knows how to help clients through challenging times.

Cristina’s practice covers all areas of family law including absolute divorce, child custody, alimony and equitable distribution. Cristina also...

Steve Mansbery joined Tharrington Smith in 2006 after earning his law degree from Case Western Reserve University. Prior to law school, Mr. Mansbery attended the University of Kentucky, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Finance, with Departmental Honors, and graduated magna cum laude. He is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.

Mr. Mansbery has been appointed to the Wake County Bar Association and the Tenth Judicial District Bar Professionalism Committee every year since 2009. He was recognized as a “Rising Star” in North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine for the years...

Need a Raleigh Family Law or Contract Litigation Attorney? Call Bryant Paris today at (919) 832-5577. Since 2002, Bryant has represented people from all walks of life across North Carolina as well as small businesses in a wide-variety of civil and criminal law cases. Through the years, he worked tirelessly to obtain just results for his clients in an effort to put them in a position to move on with their lives after their cases are resolved. Bryant uses his vast experience gained from actual courtroom hearing and trial experience, as well as in arbitration and mediation, to...

If you are facing a divorce or child custody matter, you are probably feeling overwhelmed. Where you previously may have been able to resolve your family matters internally and privately, you must now retain the help of a legal representative to protect your (and your children’s) best interest in the public court system. Finding someone with the right mix of emotional support for you during this very difficult time, while at the same time being relentless in their fight to protect you is harder then you may think. Jammie Lynn Wacenske is a proven advocate with a...

EDWIN HARDY has been practicing law for over 31 years. With more than 30 years experience at bankruptcy, he has over 3000 bankruptcies successfully filed to help people. He is a former member of the N.C. General Assembly as a State Representative in the N.C. House of Representatives where he served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He has served on the N.C. Courts Commission and the Governor's Crime Commission. He is a past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Beaufort Regional Health Systems which operated Beaufort County Medical Center. He has also served as President of the Beaufort...

Casey Fidler grew up in Huntersville, North Carolina. She graduated with Highest Distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication with a second major in Political Science. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and is licensed to practice law in North Carolina.

While in law school, Casey served as the Executive Editor of the Wake Forest Law Review and was a member on the Moot Court Board. She was also a student advocate in the Elder Law Clinic. Throughout her time...

Lynn Burleson is a native of Albemarle, North Carolina. He was admitted to the practice of law in North Carolina after receiving his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his Juris Doctor degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law. Before joining Tharrington Smith, Mr. Burleson served as a district court judge and was a partner in the law firm of Kilpatrick Stockton. He has served as an adjunct professor of law for the Wake Forest University School of Law and High Point University....

Jaye Meyer is listed in the Best Lawyers in America® and North Carolina Super Lawyers®. Ms Meyer received the Super Lawyers award for Top 50 Women Lawyers in North Carolina from 2010-2014, and Top 100 Lawyers in 2011. She has been recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as one of the “Legal Elite” in North Carolina. Ms. Meyer is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and is certified as a Family Financial Mediator.

Ms. Meyer was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1990. She received her B.A. cum laude from...

Jill Schnabel Jackson originally is from Wisconsin. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1996. Ms. Jackson graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1999. While in law school, Ms. Jackson was a staff member for the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation and a member of the Holderness Moot Court National Team. She also received the Gressman-Pollitt Award for outstanding oral advocacy during her first year of law school. Before joining the firm, Ms. Jackson served for two years as a law clerk to the Honorable...

Mary Aiken Barrow, a Raleigh native and Broughton graduate, is a partner at Tharrington Smith. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law.

Prior to joining Tharrington Smith in 2012, Ms. Barrow earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2006 and subsequently received her law degree from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University in 2012. During her time at Campbell Law School, Ms. Barrow served as a member and as submissions co-editor of the Law Review. Additionally, she was a family law research assistant for Professor Jean...

Evan Horwitz was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. He received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University in 1997 and graduated from the Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University in 2001. While in law school, Mr. Horwitz was the managing editor of the Campbell Law Review. After graduating, Mr. Horwitz served as a law clerk to Justice Robert F. Orr at the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Prior to joining Tharrington Smith in 2008, Mr. Horwitz spent almost six years as an associate at Manning, Fulton & Skinner, P.A., where he was a member of the firm’s litigation section practicing...

Jeffrey R. Russell is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law. A Western North Carolina native, he is a member of the Family Law section at Tharrington Smith, LLP. Mr. Russell earned his undergraduate degree in political science from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina in 1999 and subsequently graduated magna cum laude from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. During his time at Campbell Law School, Mr. Russell served as a candidate member and as Chief Comments Editor of the Law Review. Additionally, he was a research assistant for Professor James B. McLaughlin...

Alice C. Stubbs is a partner in the firm. She joined Tharrington Smith in 2006 after having served for eight years as a Wake County District Court judge. First appointed in 1997 by Governor Jim Hunt, she was elected to the judgeship in 1998 and 2002. During her time on the bench, Ms. Stubbs presided primarily in domestic court. She was certified as a juvenile judge in 2001 and was designated and presided as a family court judge from 2002 until she came to Tharrington Smith.

Ms. Stubbs is a native of New Bern. She graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover,...

Parker grew up in the Raleigh & Wake County, North Carolina. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1975. After graduation, Parker worked in public relations at Duke University Medical Center for several years before enrolling in law school at Wake Forest School of Law, where she completed her Juris Doctor in 1985. As a law student, Parker was a member of the Moot Court Board and was elected to the Order of the Barristers. She was a member of the school’s National Appellate Team and...

With over a decade of experience practicing family law in the Triangle area, she has cultivated a stellar reputation for her genuine kindness and unwavering dedication to her clients' well-being. Holly's approach is deeply rooted in building meaningful relationships with each of her clients. By understanding their individual priorities, she crafts tailored case strategies that reflect their needs. Armed with a formidable skill set in negotiation and litigation, she consistently goes above and beyond for her clients at Breeden Law, earning admiration for her thorough preparation and tireless advocacy.

Attorney Steve Palme has devoted his practice exclusively to family law since 2005. The Palme Law Firm prides itself on the individual attention it offers to clients and their cases. Steve Palme has extensive experience both in and out of the courtroom and handles all aspects of family law, including: child custody, child support, interstate custody and support, alimony, equitable distribution, domestic violence, separation and prenuptial agreements, and alienation of affection and criminal conversation claims.