What our work looks like.

Situation

21-year marriage. $42M marital estate including a closely-held business, multiple real-estate holdings, and significant separate-property tracing through commingled accounts.

What we did

Built a 90-line classification spreadsheet with documentation for every item. Engaged business appraiser, forensic accountant, and tax counsel. Settled at mediation with detailed integrated agreement.

Outcome

Client retained operating business interest with offsetting real-estate and retirement allocation. Tracing successfully preserved $1.8M of separate-property origin in marital accounts.

Situation

Hidden asset case — supporting spouse alleged to have transferred funds to family members during separation.

What we did

Subpoena practice, deposition of family members, forensic tracing of bank transfers.

Outcome

Funds returned to marital estate by court order; distributional adjustment made for the dissipation.

Situation

Father seeking primary physical custody after separation; mother had proposed weekday-only visitation.

What we did

Documented role as primary caregiver during marriage with school, medical, and extracurricular records. Engaged custody evaluator to assess attachment and routine.

Outcome

Joint legal custody and shared physical custody on a 2-2-5-5 schedule; primary residence designation declined as unnecessary given the schedule.

Situation

Out-of-state relocation request after a contested separation, school-aged children, custody dispute spanning two jurisdictions.

What we did

Litigated through full custody trial in Mecklenburg County District Court. Engaged child psychologist and presented relocation plan under Ramirez factors.

Outcome

Court approved the relocation with a custodial schedule that preserved the relationship with the non-custodial parent.

Situation

Petitioner sought protection following a pattern of escalating threats and one act of physical violence; firearm in the home.

What we did

Same-day ex parte filing with detailed verified petition. Coordinated firearm surrender. Prepared for and prevailed at contested 10-day hearing.

Outcome

Permanent DVPO entered for one year. Coordinated custody filing resulted in temporary custody to petitioner.

Situation

Tech executive divorce involving RSUs vesting over 10 years and ISOs near exercise window. Significant tax exposure on either side.

What we did

Negotiated coverture-fraction allocation with vesting-conditional offset. Coordinated with tax counsel on exercise timing and capital gains allocation.

Outcome

Settlement preserved approximately $620K in tax efficiency relative to the alternative structure proposed at the start of negotiations.

Situation

21-year marriage, dependent spouse out of workforce raising children, supporting spouse senior executive.

What we did

Negotiated structured alimony with step-down over 8 years, lump-sum component, and preservation of life insurance security.

Outcome

Settlement avoided trial, achieved client objectives on duration and security, and preserved supporting spouse's tax-aware structuring.

Situation

Self-employed parent with significant business deductions; opposing party challenged income classification.

What we did

Engaged forensic accountant to analyze five years of returns and trace add-back items to actual income available for support.

Outcome

Court adopted the proposed income figure. Resulting Guidelines obligation appropriately reflected actual cash flow.

Situation

Founder of a growing tech company entering second marriage; significant pre-marital ownership and ongoing equity grants.

What we did

Drafted prenup classifying pre-marital and post-marital equity, addressing future grants, and protecting the operating business.

Outcome

Agreement executed 90 days before wedding with full disclosure on both sides; mutual understanding of separate vs. marital character.

Situation

Custody modification — child age 13 expressed strong preference for primary residence with father; original order designated mother primary.

What we did

Engaged child therapist; documented child's preference and developmental change underlying it. Mediated and partially litigated.

Outcome

Modified order with father as primary residence and mother on a defined schedule. Smooth transition with continuing relationship with both parents.

Situation

Enforcement of unpaid alimony — supporting spouse stopped payment claiming inability.

What we did

Civil contempt motion supported by financial discovery establishing ability to pay.

Outcome

Court found willful nonpayment; ordered purge amount paid within 30 days. Wage withholding established.

Situation

Stepparent adoption with cooperative non-custodial biological parent overseas.

What we did

Coordinated international consent and notarization; navigated NC and federal requirements for finalization.

Outcome

Adoption decree entered. Family received amended birth certificate; legal parentage confirmed.

Situation

Second-parent adoption for same-sex couple seeking parallel legal parentage of two children.

What we did

Filed petitions for both children; coordinated home study and finalization hearing.

Outcome

Both adoptions finalized at single hearing. Parental rights of both spouses confirmed by decree.

Situation

Couple separating after 16-year marriage; both committed to a respectful process for the sake of their children.

What we did

Six-session collaborative process with financial neutral and child specialist. Negotiated parenting plan, ED, and alimony.

Outcome

Comprehensive separation agreement signed at sixth session. Couple proceeded uncontested through one-year separation and absolute divorce.

Situation

Charlotte tech executive, 14-year marriage, two children, complex equity compensation including unvested RSUs and ISOs.

What we did

Negotiated separation agreement with detailed RSU/ISO vesting allocation; structured tax-efficient property division with transition-period support component.

Outcome

ED finalized without litigation. Client retained primary residence and >$1.4M in protected separate-property assets correctly classified.