Polkton Lawyers

I am an AV-rated attorney, acknowledged by both Super Lawyers and Legal Elite for my professional conduct and capabilities. My practice areas include representing both individuals and businesses in employment law, malpractice law, and personal injury law. I hold a deep commitment to the well-being of my clients, ensuring that each one is treated with the utmost respect and consideration.

Chad Garrett, a former prosecutor, is a founding partner of Garrett, Walker, Aycoth and Olson, a firm that seeks to help clients navigate criminal cases, personal injury matters, family law cases, and business and civil litigation issues. Mr. Garrett concentrates on criminal law, traffic tickets and DWI trials. He is the author of the NCBAR Association's "ABC's of Criminal Court," and "ABCs of Traffic Law," among other publications. He teaches regularly on the topic of DWI trials. Mr. Garrett and his partners pride themselves on returning every call, everyday, and are always here to help. ...

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...

I graduated from Elon University School of Law and now assist clients with various family law matters including child custody, child support, divorce, separation agreements, spousal support, and equitable distribution. I am passionate about my work and excel in working with diverse populations as a family law attorney. During my time at Elon, I was a Leadership Fellow and served as a student mentor for other law students. I was also an active member of the Moot Court Board and volunteered as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem. My commitment to volunteerism was recognized when I received the 2023 North Carolina State...

Emma Tillotson did not know she would find her calling in family law. Emma received her undergraduate degree from Clemson University cum laude in Psychology and Criminal Justice, with a minor in Sociology. She left her home state of South Carolina to attend the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University, where she graduated cum laude. During her legal studies she found her passion representing people going through difficult family transitions. She participated in the family law clinic representing underprivileged residents of Raleigh in their family law needs, was an active member of Law Students Against Sexual Assault...

I graduated from Elon University School of Law and have since dedicated my practice primarily to family law. I assist clients with custody issues, including high-conflict custody cases, and also manage divorce, separation agreements, domestic violence and 50B matters, and equitable distribution. I joined the team at Woodruff Family Law Group in 2025, where I was warmly welcomed.

Mr. Jeremy Cotten is a native of Fuquay-Varina in Wake County, North Carolina. He attended primary education in Fuquay and has many family members from the area.

After completing his high school education, he was drafted in the 2nd Round (58th overall pick) of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft and signed a professional contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played for five seasons in the Pirates organization as third and first baseman. He was a Baseball America Top Prospect in 1998; his career stats are available here. He then returned to North Carolina to obtain his BA in Trust and...

Daniel Krchnavek is an attorney licensed to practice law in North Carolina. He is a member of the Wake County Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association. Daniel mostly practices in Chatham, Durham, Harnett, Johnston, and Wake counties. The majority of his practice involves family law, including, but not limited to: adoptions, alimony, child custody, child support, divorce, equitable distribution, guardianships, and postseparation support. When not practicing law, Daniel enjoys spending time outdoors with his family.

William “Bill” Hudson has been engaged in the practice of estate planning, wills and trust law, and probate since 1972. He has not only represented married couples with children in the “traditional” long-term, one-spouse marriage, but has also represented the more legally complex, “blended” families (the new “normal”) with multiple marriages and children from each one. He has served unmarried couples and individuals from different cultural traditions, members of the LGBT community, business owners, farmers, ranchers and other land owners, artists and clients who had eight-figure wealth as well as those who had virtually no assets but big problems....

Shaunis Mercer co-owns Peaceful Law with her husband, where together they champion amicable resolutions in family law and comprehensive estate planning. With nearly two decades of legal expertise, Shaunis is passionate about helping her clients achieve clear and peaceful agreements—be it prenuptial, separation, or custody—that protect and honor their family. Her holistic approach to estate planning ensures that her clients' legacies reflect their values and aspirations for generations to come. In addition to her role at Peaceful Law, Shaunis is a respected consultant for other law firm owners. She shares her insights on business growth, client relations, and the delivery of...

I'm Bill Ramos, a husband, father, grandfather, disabled USMC vet, small business owner, and attorney. I understand the need to protect those we love. As a husband, father, and grandfather, I understand how important it is to protect and provide for those we love. As a disabled Marine Corp veteran, I understand how the unexpected can happen in an instant, and change your life forever. As an attorney, I apply all I've learned personally and professionally to serve the needs of my clients. In all these ways, I've been there, I understand.

Paul J. Ditz has been practicing law in Cleveland County, NC and surrounding counties for nearly 20 years. He has extensive experience in both criminal and civil courts having tried dozens of cases during that time. As a former prosecutor, he possesses the insight necessary to prepare and present your case successfully and to help you get the best result under the law.

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.

With more than fifteen years of litigation experience, Caleb brings a broad base of legal knowledge to every single client encounter. Representative clients during that time include individuals, families, small businesses, and even large national corporations. Caleb integrates his keen understanding of human interactions with the complexities of legal matters to ensure effective and equitable results.

Deborah (“Deb”) Bowers graduated from the University of Texas in 1974 and received her J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Houston, Bates College of Law in 1980. She practiced in New Jersey for several years before moving to North Carolina in 1997. Throughout her practice, Deb has concentrated her practice on construction litigation and, in more recent years, on insurance coverage matters.
Deb is currently serving as Chair of the Insurance Law section of the North Carolina Bar Association for 2018-2019 and has been named as a North Carolina SuperLawyer in the field of insurance law....

Attorney Brandon Jaynes is the managing partner and owner of Archonix Law, primarily working in the areas of estate planning (wills, trusts, probate, etc.) and business law . Brandon received a Bachelors of Computer Science and a Bachelors of Mathematics from Gardner-Webb University in 2003 where he graduated magna cum laude. While at Gardner-Webb, Brandon was President of both the SIGMA Math Association and the Association for Computing Machinery, Gardner-Webb chapters. In 2006, he was awarded a full scholarship to attend Campbell University’s Norman A. Wiggins School of Law, graduating cum laude with his Juris Doctor degree in 2009. While in...

Attorney Val Cesanelli handles family law cases for our firm, with a focus on child custody cases and matters arising out of the process of separation and divorce, such as separation agreements and questions of spousal and child support. Val also handles other family related cases, such as paternity actions, legitimations, name changes and changes in birth certificates, as well as provides drafting services of powers of attorneys and simple wills.

Val is as much a litigator as she is a counselor at law for her clients. As a mother of three children and three stepchildren, Val is both professionally and...

Having practiced at both an international law firm and as in-house counsel at a large publicly traded company, Rich McAvoy has a history of providing superior litigation and other legal services to some of the most discerning clients. By engaging the Law Office of Richard McAvoy, PLLC, you or your business can receive the same quality representation that the world's largest corporations receive, but at a fraction of the cost, right here in Apex, North Carolina.

Relevant Experience
-Represented Fortune 50 client in state and federal court litigation at both the trial court and appellate court level
-Negotiated $70 million investment in...

Adam focuses primarily on business/corporate and construction law. As at partner of Felton Banks, PLLC, Adam understands the importance of quality, affordable legal advice. Felton Banks is structured to be the first stop for a small business's legal needs. In 2011, Adam, a lifelong North Carolinian, joined the North Carolina National Guard. He spent a short time as an engineering officer, and was then selected to serve as a North Carolina National Guard Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, focusing specifically on soldier defense.

John Jensen is an accomplished trial attorney who over the course of his career, has helped his clients achieve record setting recoveries. John dedicates substantial time, energy and resources to helping victims of catastrophic injuries, as well as the families of wrongful death victims, obtain the compensation and justice they deserve. With more than 25 years practicing law, Mr. Jensen possesses sophisticated litigation and trial experience. He can evaluate your situation from every angle to determine the best course of action. During his years of practice, John has represented people who have been critically injured on...

Rich Daugherty is an employment law attorney with extensive experience serving clients throughout the State of North Carolina. Since 2003, Rich has represented individuals in a wide range of employment disputes including severance negotiations, executive exit negotiations, wrongful termination, sexual harassment and assault, discrimination, retaliation, and FMLA violations. He has successfully litigated against Fortune 500 and other large corporations in federal and state cases in North Carolina with results favorable to his clients. Rich also negotiates confidential severance agreements for his clients. Rich earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics from the University of Richmond and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth...

Jim White’s practice focuses on complex litigation, lender liability and debtor bankruptcy. Clients are individuals and businesses who have suffered serious financial injury. For some, a lawsuit or aggressive negotiation can resolve a dispute or right a wrong. For others, Chapter 7, 11 or 13 bankruptcy can save their home, help rebuild their finances or repair a business. He received the Business Leader Media Pro Bono Impact Award and was named Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by Legal Aid of North Carolina, Durham County. Jim is rated AV Preminent by Martindale-Hubbell, was recognized by...

Narendra graduated from Harvard University, summa cum laude, in 1998, and from the New York University School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2005. Prior to attending law school, Narendra was a computer programmer for several companies in Silicon Valley, including Network Appliance, Inc. In law school, he served on the NYU Review of Law and Social Change as a Staff Member and a Managing Editor. After graduation, he was a law clerk to the Honorable A. Wallace Tashima of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and to the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan of the United...

We understand how overwhelming immigration issues can be, we are sensitive to the frustrations foreign nationals face when dealing with the government. It is our goal to help clients understand and maneuver the various governmental procedures required in the immigration process. At Alice Glover Immigration Law in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, we help immigrants attain immigration status in the United States with a focus on individuals who hope to reunite with their families. Our track record is solid and we only take on cases we plan to win. We pride ourselves on providing clients with the care...

Attorney Kristi Haddock was born and raised in Cary, North Carolina. A true hometown attorney, she knows how much central North Carolina has changed over the past 30 years. Kristi recognizes the issues her clients face in growing cities that lack good public transportation. For that reason, Attorney Haddock is committed to helping her clients restore their license.

Prior to starting her own firm, Kristi worked as a criminal defense attorney for four years and enjoyed successfully defending a wide variety of misdemeanors, felonies, and traffic offenses both in and around Wake County. Kristi also successfully represented clients at numerous...

Jackie Bedard’s estate and long term care planning practice is focused on guiding clients through the complicated, often confusing, maze of balancing family protection, long-term care planning, wealth preservation, and cherished family values in the planning process.

Jackie determined early on that traditional estate planning has primarily focused on what happens upon death, but a far more pressing concern for many families today is—what happens if you don’t die suddenly, but instead need long term care for several months or years? A comprehensive estate and long term care plan should address both of these concerns.

Jackie is a member of WealthCounsel...

I grew up Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where I lived most of my life. I moved to North Carolina to be closer to family and have lived here 13 years. In 2009, I began private practice concentrating in the areas of debt resolution/negotiation, estate planning and probate.

Our law practice is dedicated to protecting the interests of our clients through all of life’s seasons. As a small, local firm it is in our nature to provide a level of service and attention to detail that is unmatched by larger corporate entities or generic software products. We are also committed to staying on the cutting edge of our field through our membership in ElderCounsel – a national support organization that keeps us armed with the latest tools and research that produce successful asset protection strategies.

John Wright’s law practice is primarily bringing claims on behalf of people who have been injured in some way by the acts of another. This includes motor vehicle accidents, products liability, catastrophic injury, wrongful death and personal injury that result from another’s negligence or purposeful harm. John also advises clients on business formation, business disputes, buying and selling of businesses and avoiding liability.

John has a background in business consulting. Additionally, he was the head coach for the University of Oregon Men’s lacrosse team and later coached for a number of years at Grimsley High School. He served in the United...

We have been serving our community for 11 years now. We handle traffic and personal injury cases. We are one of the few bilingual firms in the area.

Mr. Jennings joined the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin in 2006 and practices in the Firm's Workers' Compensation Department. He received his J.D. with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina State University, where he received his B.S. in Animal Science. Since obtaining his law degree, Mr. Jennings has practiced in the area of workers' compensation, and is now representing workers having suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of a work accident. "After working in insurance defense as an attorney for workers' compensation insurance carriers, I sought to make an...

Brod Disability Law is dedicated to Social Security law. We guide people from their initial application for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income through every step of the appeals process. We offer free consultations, and there is no attorney fee unless the case is won.

Mike Godley has practiced family law in Mooresville, North Carolina for 31 years. Family law deals with issues concerning the break up of a marriage such as divorce, custody of children, child support, spousal support and division of property. Family law also involves issues prior to marriage such as prenuptial agreements and issues after marriage such as separation agreements.

Mike serves his clients as an educator, adviser and advocate through the legal system, which can often be very confusing, frustrating, and time-consuming without a guide to help through the process.

Mike Godley is also a mediator who helps parties and their...

Tom Wright is a trial lawyer. His practice focuses on a wide area of litigation matters, including environmental litigation, employment law, insurance defense, personal injury, real estate and construction litigation, and estates and trust litigation. He represents clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts, and before federal and state administrative agencies. Mr. Wright advises clients in corporate, environmental and real estate matters and handles transactional matters for a variety individuals and corporations. Mr. Wright graduated from Haverford College with a A.B. in Political Science. In 1975, he received his J.D. with honors from the Law...

Christopher D. Lane has been practicing law in North Carolina since 1994.

He received hs Bachelor of Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude, from Albion College in 1986.

He is a Cum Laude graduate of Wake Forest University School of Law, where he also received an MBA degree.

Mr. Lane is admitted to practice in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Western, Middle and Eastern District Federal Courts of North Carolina, as well as the State Courts of North Carolina.

Mr. Lane has extensive experience in Debtor / Creditor law.

His practice areas include debt counsel, debt settlement, bankruptcy, and the...

Andrew J. Wingo graduated from Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University with his J.D. in 1998. He has nearly two decades of legal experience in the areas of commercial real estate, business law, criminal law, personal injury, and domestic/family law. A true trial attorney, Andrew has effectively litigated cases across state and federal courts for his clients. He is aggressive when protecting his clients and bold when asserting their rights. Andrew is licensed to practice in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Vicki Webb is a native of North Carolina. She graduated from NC State University with a B.S. in Statistics. Knowing she wanted to work with people more than numbers and with a desire to make a difference in the world, she chose to pursue law. She saw a chance to broaden her horizons and view of the world when she was accepted to California Western School of Law in San Diego.

During law school, Vicki founded the Family Law Society at CWSL. She was chosen to participate in the year long Child Abuse Interdisciplinary Program, an intense...

After graduating from Duke University School of Law, I was offered a position with a North Carolina law firm, and I have practiced law in Greensboro ever since. The most rewarding aspect of my practice has been working with individual clients and helping them get benefits they are owed. I work to maintain a personal relationship with each of my clients and stay available to them by phone or in person as needed throughout the representation. Since the start, my clients have included people injured at work. I have handled many types of workers' compensation claims from on-the-job accidents to occupational...