Four Oaks Family Lawyers

Ellis Family Law, PLLC was founded in 2008 by board certified family law specialist Gray Ellis with the singular goal to provide the very best legal representation to North Carolinians facing challenging family law issues. Since that time, the firm has successfully represented hundreds of husbands, wives, children, grandparents, and other family members in courts across the state. Our work has not gone unnoticed as the firm has earned awards from both national and local organizations such as Super Lawyers, Martindale Hubbel, North Carolina’s Legal Elite, NC Lawyer's Weekly Power List, NC leader's in the Law, and the...

Sara Barlowe is an associate attorney at Bagwell Holt Smith where she practices in the Firm’s Family Law department. Sara joined the Firm in July of 2020 shortly after relocating to the Research Triangle area from Astoria, Queens with her family and their two cats. While in New York, Sara worked as an Assistant District Attorney with the Bronx District Attorney’s office where she focused primarily on domestic violence and special victims cases with the exception of a year-long stint in the office’s Special Investigations Division where she handled long-term wiretap investigations. Sara received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Benjamin...

D. Cole Phelps manages our office in the northeastern part of the state. Attorney Phelps is a native of Washington County, and he returned to his home community to serve and give back. After winning his first primary election with over 62% of the votes, he later became the youngest county commissioner at the time of his election to serve in any of North Carolina’s 100 counties. During his first term of office, he was selected by his fellow board members as vice chairman and then chairman. Currently, he is serving his second term of office as a member of...

Former District Court Judge. General Practice, Criminal Law and Family Law Attorney in Guilford County, Greensboro, North Carolina, handling District and Superior Court Litigation.

At the Law Office of David E. Sherrill, we provide the best possible legal services to clients needing help in Greensboro, High Point, and throughout Guilford County, North Carolina. If you’re looking for the best lawyer to help with your criminal, traffic, juvenile, divorce or other family law case, please consider us as your 1st choice. We work with you to achieve the best possible results, no matter your legal issue. With a strong...

Shahzad Khan, a native of Pakistan, has put down roots in High Point, North Carolina, where he serves the legal needs of his community and the residents of the surrounding counties of the Triad.

A former business owner and manager of a used car dealership, Shahzad earned a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro. Shahzad then went on to pursue his Juris Doctor, which he received from Elon University School of Law.

Shahzad made the decision to pursue a legal career when he saw a need for accessible, efficient, and affordable representation in...

Rachel is a born and raised Richmond, Virginia native. She attended James Madison University, where she received her undergraduate degree, including Bachelor of Arts degrees in both International Relations and Arabic Language. After graduating from college, she worked for one year as a paralegal at an elder law firm in the Midlothian area, which solidified her desire to attend law school.

Rachel attended law school at Elon University School of Law, in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she received her Juris Doctor degree in 2017. During law school, Rachel had the opportunity to serve as an intern to the Honorable David J....

After a failed marriage of 26 years, 5 children and a two year custody battle; I knew becoming a family lawyer was my dream.

I have been a nurse since 1991, I spent the first years of my career delivering babies at Forsyth Hospital. After 5 years, I discovered that I really wanted to be at home with my children and I started a Nursing Triage Company that now operates in almost 1/2 of the United States.

I had the perfect life, a company that was successful and allowed me to be a mom. Then; my life was turned upside...

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.

I am a Randolph County native and Family Law practitioner in Asheboro, NC. I provide quality legal counsel and aggressive representation and enforcement for those involved in Randolph County child custody and child support cases, property disputes stemming from separation and divorce, alimony/post-separation support actions, domestic violence, and juvenile petitions.

Upon graduation from law school, I joined my present firm and began practicing family law. I am a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, handling child custody and support, adoptions, alimony, equitable distribution (division of marital property), paternity, domestic violence, and issues related to military family law and non-traditional families. I also practice collaborative family law, a type of alternative dispute resolution.

Julia received a BA in Criminology and BA in Sociology from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Julia went on to earn her J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley Law School (N/K/A Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School), in Lansing, Michigan. During law school, Julia competed in the Mock Trial First Year Competition and was a semifinalist. She also competed in Moot Court and was a finalist in the Negotiations Competition. During her last semester of law school, Julia completed an externship at the Durham County Public Defender’s Office. Julia is an associate attorney in the Family Law department. Julia focuses...

I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law and I have since dedicated my career to various areas of law including Criminal Law, Family Law, Landlord-Tenant issues, Civil Litigation, and Business Formation. As a trial attorney, I firmly believe in the power of trials to reveal the truth, which I consider the most formidable tool in the quest for justice. "Trials expose the truth and the truth is the greatest weapon in the pursuit of justice." I am committed to advocating fiercely on your behalf and ensuring that your interests are protected at all...

I am a former Marine, (1982-1986) who began practicing Federal Criminal law in 2001 in New York City. In 2004 I was admitted to the North Carolina Bar and have been a practicing trial attorney ever since. I say "trial attorney", because that is what I am. Whether you have a complex criminal felony, a misdemeanor, a DWI, or a domestic case; if I cannot reach a reasonable conclusion with opposing counsel, I am always prepared to empanel a jury and plead your case.

With nearly 19 years of Criminal, Domestic and Civil trial experience, both...

Leah Shellberg is a highly skilled and experienced trial attorney in Asheboro, North Carolina focusing on all areas of family law, as well as criminal defense and immigration matters. Ms. Shellberg appears in court weekly for her clients, and has an impressive record of success in even highly contentious family law matters. Although she is a fierce and zealous advocate in the courtroom, Leah Shellberg prioritizes exceptionally compassionate and kind client service. Ms. Shellberg practices in Randolph, Guilford, Forsyth, and Montgomery counties, and is currently accepting new clients in the areas of family law/divorce, criminal defense, and...

Andrea is a North Carolina girl through and through, growing up in Greensboro and completing her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and graduating cum laude from Elon University School of Law in 2012. Since beginning her law practice in 2012, Andrea has practiced civil litigation all over North Carolina, and added Florida into her law practice in 2018. Andrea has participated in litigation in both District and Superior Court on matters varying from employment law, to business litigation, to estate litigation and family law. She has experience in collections, real property, business...

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.

Paul Mengert II is a graduate of Elon University School of Law. During his eight-plus years of practice, Paul has accrued significant experience as a litigator and has handled all aspects of family law cases, including custody and divorce. Paul has a keen eye for big picture problem solving and a genuine desire to help his clients achieve their goals. Attorney Mengert is a native of Greensboro. As a young man, Paul achieved the highest rank in Scouting, the Eagle Scout Award. Paul has experience in acting, singing, and debate. While at Elon, Paul excelled at national-level mock trial competitions as...

“We are a better State Bar because of people like Deborah Moy who want to be attorneys.”
Superior Court Judge Michael L. Robinson - Vice President, NC Bar Association; Councilor, NC State Bar

A self-professed “Air Force brat,” Deborah Moy was born in the Philippines and spent her childhood living in Gainesville, FL (Go Gators!); Dayton, OH (Go Reds!); Fairfax, VA (Go ‘Skins!); and Greensboro, NC. Deborah’s maternal grandmother, Eva Jones, was a tobacco sharecropper in Eastern NC, who raised nine children on her own. She credits Grandma Jones for instilling in her the importance of strength, hope, and humility, and for...

In 2012, Sharon Thompson became Of Counsel to NicholsonPham. She has been in private practice since 1976 and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the areas of family law, including all aspects of adoption and family formation through assisted reproduction and surrogacy; estate planning, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney and probate administration; and LGBT legal issues. In 2010, Sharon became the first female attorney in North Carolina to be accepted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. A significant portion of Sharon’s practice has been devoted to providing advice and services to LGBT...

I have practiced law for 29 years and have over that time handled thousands of cases in court. My practice focus is Family Law cases involving child custody, grandparent and third-party custody, divorce, alimony and property distribution.

Gib Irons is the managing partner of Irons & Irons, P.A. in Greenville, NC. He is in charge of running the day to day operations of the business including but not limited to implementing firm policy related to cash flow and profitability, staffing, client development, time management, and productivity systems. His practice is focused on family law and personal injury litigation. He does extensive screening before accepting a family law or personal injury case. He seeks to limit the number of active clients that he is representing at any given time in an effort to streamline the litigation process....

Kelly was born and raised in North Carolina, and currently lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina with her wife and daughter. Kelly has worked with the seriously mentally ill, at risk youth, troubled families, domestic violence aggressors and victims and as an intake counselor for a four county area in NC. She has extensive training as a mediator As an attorney, she has represented defendants with serious felony offenses through negotiated pleas or jury trials to verdict. She has represented a wide variety of clients in negotiated and litigated family law matters and believes that negotiation should always be pursued...

With an engineering degree and MBA, I started my career as an in-house consultant in the aerospace industry. After a few years I transitioned to engineering and consulting positions in other industries. Eventually I returned to college for a law degree and have been a courtroom lawyer for more than 20 years.

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...

As a dedicated attorney with experience in personal injury, family law, and criminal defense, I understand that legal challenges can be overwhelming and life-altering. Whether you’re recovering from an accident, navigating difficult family transitions, or facing criminal charges, I am here to provide compassionate, strategic guidance to help you move forward with confidence. Serving Wilmington, North Carolina, and the greater New Hanover, and Brunswick Counties, I bring years of experience as an Assistant District Attorney in Brunswick, Bladen, and Columbus Counties, offering a unique perspective on each case. From securing fair compensation in personal injury cases to advocating for clients in...

*Education* Ric received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Honors Program at the School of Engineering at North Carolina State University in Raleigh (1973). He received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1977). *Specialized Training* Ric has augmented his training in advocacy and mediation. In 1996 he was certified to conduct mediated settlement conferences in Superior Court Civil actions. In 1999 he was certified to conduct mediation of equitable distribution and other family financial cases in District Court actions. In 1999 he also completed a professional intensive training program by the National Institute for...

I am an experienced attorney dedicated to assisting individuals with your family law cases, according to your means and in such a way as to minimize the conflict and stress experienced by your family.

Mr. Osegueda has has nearly 15 years of civil law experience in North Carolina. His practice includes personal injury matters such as trucking cases, car wrecks, premise liability, and family law. Mr. Osegueda is also is bilingual in Spanish. Please visit our website at www.Aglinett.com to learn how Mr. Osegueda can assist you with your legal matters.

Attorney Van Apeldoorn majored in Trust and Wealth Management Pre-Law at Campbell University and graduated in 2018. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she stayed to attend Campbell Law School and was active in several organizations, including the Christian Legal Society, Women in Law, and the Re-Entry Project. During law school, she was an Honor Court Justice, interned at the Craven County District Attorney’s office for two summers, and also had an externship with Judge Flanagan at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. After graduating from law school, Attorney Van Apeldoorn passed the bar exam...

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...

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.