Best Family Lawyer in Charlotte
Scott W. Roberts
Family Lawyer
Attorney Scott W. Roberts is a partner at Roberts Law Firm, P.A. He is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and South Carolina. His primary areas of legal practice include workers’ compensation and personal injury. He has over 20 years of experience practicing law across the Carolinas. Contact Roberts Law Firm, P.A. to schedule a free initial consultation with attorney Scott W. Roberts.
- Gaston County Bar Association, President, 2002 – 2003
- Gaston County Bar Association, Vice-President, 2001 – 2002
- North Carolina Bar Association, Member
- South Carolina Bar, Member
- North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Member
- American Association for Justice, Member
- Legal Services of the Southern Piedmont, Chairman and Vice President, Finance Committee
- North Carolina Bar Association, Gaston County, Young Lawyers Representative
J. Bradley Smith, Esq.
Family Lawyer
Brad Smith is one of the founding members of Arnold & Smith, PLLC in North Carolina. As a litigator, Mr. Smith has dedicated his career to advocating for individuals in courtrooms throughout North Carolina. He focuses his practice on representing individuals charged with DWI / DUI, felonies, misdemeanors, and federal criminal charges. In addition to his criminal practice, Mr. Smith also handles civil rights and police misconduct cases, as well as personal injury and wrongful death claims. In 2013, and again in 2014 he was named the Charlotte Observer’s Readers’ Choice Best Lawyer in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has been listed as a Super Lawyer in North Carolina since 2011. In 2011, Mr. Smith was named by Lawyers Weekly Magazine as one of the Emerging Legal Leaders in North Carolina. He is considered one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the United States by the National Trial Lawyers Association and has argued cases in front of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, VA. Mr. Smith is frequently asked to appear on television news programs to provide his legal insight into developing stories. In 2019, Mr. Smith was appointed to serve on the board of directors for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ).
Mr. Smith has lived in Charlotte for most of his life. He is a graduate of Charlotte Country Day School and North Carolina State University. He received his law degree from Mercer Universities Walter F. George School of law where he was a member of the Dean’s List and President of the Federalist Society. After graduation, Mr. Smith returned home to Charlotte and joined the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s office prosecuting both felony and misdemeanor cases. In 2006, Brad left the public sector and entered private practice. In 2007, he teamed up with fellow Charlotte native Matt Arnold and founded Arnold & Smith, PLLC.
Jana K. Jones, Esq.
Family Lawyer
Jana K. Jones is a Charlotte-area native who attended East Mecklenburg High School. After high school, Ms. Jones studied sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). While enrolled at the UNC-CH, she was a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity.
Ms. Jones mentored “at-risk” students in multiple programs including Carrboro, North Carolina’s Teens Climb High and Durham, North Carolina’s Standards Based Solutions. Ms. Jones also participated in a UNC-CH’s MANO Program that provided English as a second language and mentoring services to immigrant women.
As an undergraduate student, she received UNC-CH’s Academic Achievement Award as well as The National Dean’s List Multiple Year award. Ms. Jones graduated from UNC-CH on the UNC-CH’s Dean’s List and was a member of their Sociological Honor Society.
Anna N. Westmoreland
Family Lawyer
Attorney Anna N. Westmoreland was admitted to practice law in North Carolina in 2004. Before attending law school at New England Law, she was a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She majored in Political Science, with a minor in Women’s Studies. After two very cold winters of law school in Boston however, Anna decided it was time to come home to Charlotte.
Anna was born in Lomza, Poland, and immigrated to the United States at age 6 with her parents. Since then, she has lived in Boston, Massachusetts; Brooklyn, New York; Hartford, Connecticut; and most notably Charlotte, North Carolina, which she considers home.
Anna also has 2 “canine children”- an English Bull Terrier and a Jack Russell Terrier. Having volunteered for Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control, she is passionate about animal welfare.
Anna has been a solo practitioner for over a decade and a half, focusing on family law (including child custody, child support, spousal support, and equitable distribution), she also represents clients in employment law, and simple Wills.
Shawna Collins
Family Lawyer
Shawna Collins is the original founder of Collins Family & Elder Law Group. She has lived in the Carolinas since she was very young, having been raised in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. She received her undergraduate degree from the College of Charleston in 1992 and her law degree from the University of Florida in 1995 after spending her last year of law school at Wake Forest University.
Attorney Collins is licensed to practice law in the states of North Carolina and South Carolina. She has been an attorney for over 24 years and has litigated civil and criminal cases. Shawna handles complex divorce cases, as well as municipal and civil litigation. Additionally, she handles complicated estate litigation matters, such as will contests where the validity of a will or the competency of the deceased is contested.
Angela McIlveen
Family Lawyer
Angela McIlveen, a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, is the CEO and Co-Founder of the McIlveen Family Law Firm. Renowned for her leadership and legal acumen, Angela has been the driving force behind the firm’s growth, shaping it into a powerhouse that provides top-tier services to families and a nurturing environment for its employees.
In Her Own Words: A Personal Connection to Family Law
Angela’s commitment to family law is deeply personal. Having experienced her parents’ tumultuous divorce at a young age, she understands the profound impact such events can have on children. Her own experiences have fostered a genuine empathy for her clients, making her a compassionate and understanding advocate.
Unique Perspective: From Witness to Advocate
Angela brings a unique perspective to her practice, having been a witness in her custody trial. This experience has given her an intimate understanding of the emotional toll involved in divorce and custody cases, equipping her with the ability to guide her clients through these challenging times with both sensitivity and strength.
Passionate and Determined Representation
Described by colleagues as aggressive, Angela prefers to think of herself as passionate. Whether in or out of the courtroom, she commits wholeheartedly to her clients, fighting tirelessly to achieve the best outcomes. While she excels in litigation, Angela also understands the value of mediation and encourages settlements outside the courtroom when it benefits her clients.
Kate Rech
Family Lawyer
I am a native Charlottean and graduated from Myers Park High School. I did my undergraduate studies at UNC Charlotte, graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration, major in Marketing, as well as a B.A. in Spanish. While in undergrad, I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain through a program with UNC Chapel Hill. I graduated from law school as class valedictorian. While in law school, I studied abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland through a program with William Mitchell College of Law and I also interned with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office.
When I am not practicing law, I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling. I also sit the board of a wonderful non-profit organization, Fashion & Compassion.
Since opening Rech Law in 2010, I have helped hundreds of clients through the tough times that almost always come along with family law issues, including divorce. I believe in fighting hard for my clients and being there for them when they need me the most.
I chose the field of domestic law because I felt that I could make a direct and positive impact on people’s lives. I believe that helping provide a service to the community is not only a benefit to the public, but it is satisfying and rewarding for the practice and for me. I believe in giving my clients realistic expectations, instead of telling them what they want to hear. To me, such a philosophy makes for more collaboration between the lawyer and the client, which ultimately makes a very difficult situation just a little better.
Brandon Remington
Family Lawyer
Born and raised in North Carolina, Brandon is a founding partner at Remington & Dixon, PLLC. Brandon concentrates his practice in the areas of criminal defense, professional license defense and traffic law.
Brandon double-majored in Political Science and Criminal Justice at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He earned his Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law in Orlando, Florida. At Barry University School of Law, Brandon was a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International. He also served as a mentor for first year law students through his fraternity. During law school, Brandon interned at the Attorney General’s Office – Office of Statewide Prosecution in Orlando, Florida; the Barry University School of Law Children and Families Clinic where he represented children charged with delinquent acts; and the Legal Aid Society of Orange County.
Brandon has spent his entire career representing and defending individuals charged with crimes and professionals being investigated by their respective state licensing boards. He understands that his clients often come to him in their most difficult and vulnerable times in their lives and works tirelessly to ease their fears and obtain the best possible result in their cases.
Throughout his career, Brandon has received numerous awards and recognition from his peers and agencies that rate attorneys. A few of these awards are from The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyer in 2014, The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 in 2014, Nation’s Top One Percent: National Association of Distinguished Counsel in 2015, Super Lawyers: Rising Stars each year from 2018 to 2023, and Business North Carolina Magazine: Legal Elite in 2019, among others.
Brandon maintains a statewide practice for criminal defense and professional license defense and has practiced in many jurisdictions throughout North Carolina.
What does the family law consist of?
Family law is a branch of legal practice that deals with matters related to family relationships. It encompasses a wide range of issues that affect families and domestic relationships. Here’s an overview of what family law consists of:
1. Marriage and Civil Unions
- Marriage: Family law covers the legal requirements for getting married, including age, consent, and licensing. It also addresses issues that may arise during the marriage, such as spousal rights and responsibilities.
- Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships: Some jurisdictions recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships as alternatives to marriage. Family law governs the formation, recognition, and dissolution of these relationships.
2. Divorce and Separation
- Divorce: Family law governs the legal process of ending a marriage. This includes filing for divorce, dividing marital property, determining alimony (spousal support), and addressing issues related to children.
- Separation: Legal separation allows couples to live apart without formally ending the marriage. Family law provides for separation agreements that outline the rights and responsibilities of each spouse during the separation.
3. Child Custody and Visitation
- Child Custody: Family law determines who will have legal and physical custody of the children after a divorce or separation. Legal custody refers to the right to make important decisions about the child’s upbringing, while physical custody refers to where the child will live.
- Visitation Rights: If one parent is granted primary custody, the other parent typically receives visitation rights. Family law governs the terms and conditions of visitation to ensure the child’s best interests are served.
4. Child Support
- Family law establishes the obligation of a non-custodial parent to provide financial support for their children. Child support covers basic living expenses, education, healthcare, and other needs. The amount of child support is typically determined based on state guidelines and the parents’ financial situations.
5. Alimony (Spousal Support)
- Alimony, or spousal support, is a financial payment made by one spouse to the other after a divorce or separation. Family law determines whether alimony is appropriate, how much should be paid, and for how long. The purpose of alimony is to provide financial support to a spouse who may not be able to maintain their standard of living without assistance.
6. Property Division
- When a marriage ends, family law governs the division of marital property and debts. This can include real estate, bank accounts, investments, and personal belongings. The division may be based on equitable distribution (fair but not necessarily equal) or community property laws, depending on the state.
7. Adoption
- Family law regulates the legal process of adoption, where a person or couple becomes the legal parent(s) of a child who is not biologically their own. This includes stepparent adoptions, foster care adoptions, and international adoptions. The law sets the requirements and procedures for adopting a child, ensuring that the process serves the best interests of the child.
8. Paternity
- Establishing paternity is the legal process of determining the father of a child. Family law governs paternity actions, which may be necessary for establishing a father’s rights and responsibilities, including child support, custody, and visitation.
9. Domestic Violence and Protective Orders
- Family law provides protections for individuals who are victims of domestic violence. This includes obtaining protective orders (restraining orders) that restrict the abuser’s contact with the victim and can include provisions for temporary custody, child support, and spousal support.
10. Guardianship
- Family law addresses the appointment of guardians for minors or incapacitated adults who are unable to make decisions for themselves. A guardian is given the legal authority to make decisions regarding the care, education, and finances of the person under guardianship.
11. Surrogacy and Reproductive Rights
- Family law can also cover issues related to surrogacy agreements, sperm and egg donation, and other reproductive rights. This area of law is complex and often involves contracts and legal agreements that protect the rights of all parties involved.
12. Emancipation of Minors
- Emancipation is a legal process through which a minor becomes legally independent from their parents or guardians before reaching the age of majority. Family law sets the criteria and process for minors seeking emancipation, which can include demonstrating the ability to support themselves financially.
Conclusion
Family law is a comprehensive area of legal practice that addresses various aspects of family and domestic relationships. From marriage and divorce to child custody, support, and adoption, family law plays a critical role in resolving disputes and ensuring the rights and responsibilities of individuals within families are upheld. Because family law deals with sensitive and often emotionally charged issues, it requires a delicate balance of legal expertise, negotiation skills, and empathy.