Melissa Averett

I love practicing law. Guiding clients through the stress and upheaval of divorce, a custody battle or the aftermath of a death in the family is position of trust that I take seriously. Drafting an amicable separation agreement, or completing an adoption efficiently with as little drama as possible is equally important. I have been a NC Certified Family Law Specialist since 2009. My law firm handles divorce, custody, child support, alimony, property division, grandparents' rights, domestic violence, tort claims and personal injury, prenuptial and separation agreements, estate planning and administration in Chatham, Orange and Durham counties.

North Carolina Central University School of Law

J.D. (1998)

1994 - 1998

Honors: Magna cum laude

Managing Attorney

Averett Family Law

1998 - Current

Family Law firm representing clients in cases involving divorce, custody, probate, estate planning and personal injury

Founder and Executive Director

DVC Legal Services, Inc.

2000 - 2008

Non profit law firm representing indigent domestic violence victims in Orange and Chatham County, NC

Every Sperm is Sacred: Regulating Commercial Surrogacy

Representing Traumatized Clients

Representing Traumatized Clients - International

Domestic Violence Primer, NC State Bar Paralegal CLE, Cary, NC

March 14, 2011

Child Support: When Can You Deviate from the Guidelines?, NC Justice Academy CLE, Cary, NC

January 14, 2011

Representing Clients Seeking DVPOS and No Contact Orders, NC Centtral University School of Law CLE, Durham, NC

June 6, 2014

Child Custody and Domestic Violences, Law to the People Cle, Rlaeigh, NC

October 24, 2014

Obtaining Civil Domestic Violence Protection Orders in NC with Professor Deria Hayes, Law to the People CLE, Durham, NC

January 23, 2015

NC Family Law Specialist

NC State Bar

2009

SuperLawyer

SuperLawyer

2022

SuperLawyer

SuperLawyer

2021

SuperLawyer

SuperLawyers

2020

SuperLawyer

SuperLawyers

2019

SuperLawyer

SuperLawyers

2018

North Carolina State Bar

Member

Current

Judicial District 15B bar - Orange and Chatham County

Member

1998 - Current

NC Bar Association

Member

1998 - Current

NC Bar Domestic Violence Committee

Member

2016 - 2020

Activities: Draft and recommend changes to NC statutes on domestic violence

North Carolina

• Credit Cards Accepted

• Tort claims from Sexual abuse/Domestic Violence

Q. I live in north Carolina is a P. O. A still valid in the state of North Carolina after death or do i need a will

December 28, 2020

A: A power of attorney is not effective after death. You need a will. To make sure the will does what you want it to do, you should have an estate planning attorney draft, or at least, review it.

Q. My spouse filed a DBB against me.We have been physically separated for 1 year and 4 mo. Can I file an absolute divorce?

December 20, 2020

A: Divorce from Bed and board in no way tolls the one year separation for eligibility for divorce. You can absolutely countersue for an absolute divorce and schedule it as soon as legally possible. But more importantly what you need to do is consult with an attorney in your area regarding your options.

Q. im 16 and i live in north carolina.what would happen if i moved out without parental consent?

October 26, 2020

A: If you move out before the age of 18 without an order from the court that you are emancipated, your parents can have you declared an undisciplined or runaway juvenile and have you returned to the home by law enforcement. Or they can do nothing but since you're not 18, you can't get a job without their permission, you can't get school paperwork signed without them, you can't apply for college without their cooperation, you can't sign a contract to rent an apartment, or buy a car or get a credit card or open a bank account without their signature.

You're an adult when you turn 18 under the law. Almost an adult does not have any legal meaning. Almost an adult is still a minor child under the law. ... Read More