Passionate. Caring. Fierce. Knowledgeable. Meet Melissa Averett. She has been practicing as a family law attorney in Orange and Chatham Counties since 1998. From separation, to divorce, to child custody and more, she fights to protect her clients’ rights.
“Guiding clients through some of the most traumatic chapters in their life, a divorce, custody battle or probate after the death of a loved one, is a position of intimacy and trust. It’s an honor to be chosen for that role.”
Melissa has been selected for the past several years running to the North Carolina Super Lawyers list in recognition of her work in family law. She speaks regularly to legal groups on family law issues, both in North Carolina and internationally.
Melissa is one of a handful of Family Law Specialists primarily practicing in Chatham County.
Melissa shares her knowledge in North Carolina and internationally, speaking at family law conferences, and teaching workshops and continuing legal education seminars. She is a member of the National Crime Victim Bar Association and is qualified to testify as an expert witness on the subject of domestic violence.
Melissa also works with the North Carolina Bar to promote new and updated legislation related to family law.
Melissa has earned a reputation as one of the go-to attorneys on complex family law topics. She has been invited to speak at a number of international conferences and attended others to stay current on the latest in family law.
When she’s not working or traveling, Melissa can be found crocheting, weaving on her floor loom, and trying to keep her cats from covering all her yarn and crafts in fur, usually unsuccessfully.
” Attorney Averett is beyond amazing! From the first meeting with her I felt relieved. She listened to me even when I was extremely anxious about what I felt was a difficult situation. She really helped calm my mind. She went through all my documentation and addressed every issue perfectly. I can not recommend her highly enough! If you want a tough attorney that will fight for you, she’s the one! “
Melissa and her folks were very relaxing to work with – lessening the negativity of my hectic divorce proceedings.
Anthony “Tony” Williams
“I am impressed with Ms. Averett’s thoughtful advice and answers to legal questions on Avvo. She has an in-depth understanding of the law and an ability to communicate legal concepts clearly and effectively. I endorse this lawyer!”
Andrew Dickens, Foreclosure Attorney
“I hired Melissa and her team over 3 years ago to handle my divorce and custody issues. She is extremely understanding and will fight to get what her clients need. She actually listens and gives her clients the legal advice and options for their particular case. She helps her clients make the tough decisions together as a team. Melissa is extremely detailed and efficient. I would strongly recommend her and her staff in whatever your legal needs are.”
“I was privileged to be D. Melissa Averett’s Program Manager. She is incredibly effective for her clients as well as for the judicial systems of Orange, Chatham, and the other counties she practices in. I highly recommended Attorney Averett. Justice is blind but Attorney Averett isn’t. She is sharp and so is her staff. The other side never knows what hit them. You are lucky beyond belief if Attorney Averett will take your case.”
Melissa M.
“I have worked with Melissa as opposing counsel on cases and know her generally as a member of our local family law bar. Melissa is an excellent attorney, and any client would be well-served by her representation. She is highly knowledgeable in all areas of family law, and she is a zealous and effective advocate for her clients.”
Brian Johnston, Family Attorney
“Melissa is known to be a fighter for her clients and she always goes the extra mile to achieve positive results for her clients. Her particular niche is dealing with clients who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence in their personal relationships. She is sensitive to the dynamics of those relationships and her experience allows her to be a zealous advocate for that client, both inside the courtroom and out.”
Sarah Carr D’Amato- Bilingual Family Law Attorney
Averett Family Law is a team of caring and efficient professionals. As a paralegal myself, I was truly impressed by the personal and skillful service I received throughout the painful process of divorce. I would recommend Melissa Averett to absolutely anyone. She is a tireless advocate for justice.
Catherine Wright
“Melissa is a wonderful lawyer, as well as being a wonderful human being. She and her team were with me every step of the way – helping me through some of the most difficult times of my life.”
Jacky R.
Outstanding law firm. Melissa puts her clients first. She is also a no non-sense attorney who sets reasonable expectations. The fees are the most reasonable of any attorney I interviewed. I have used Averett Family Law multiple times and do not hesitate to highly recommend them!
Nee Ghi
“Melissa has kept me informed of everything that was going on in my case right from the beginning. I can honestly say that she has truly advocated for me (not the case), and has done her best to minimize my costs. She is very knowledgeable of divorce and family law in NC.”
Pete
“I am a family law attorney in Greensboro with great respect for Melissa as a fellow attorney. Melissa is a fierce advocate for her clients and a leading voice in the community for victims of domestic violence. She is a valued colleague who willingly offers her knowledge to others. Her advice as a colleague is prized because of her expertise and common sense approach. She knows what she’s doing. period.”
Afi J.
“I really enjoy working with Melissa. She is an excellent attorney, very dedicated and hard-working, and she really cares for her clients. I hope to work with her a great deal in the future. “
Tony Parrott at Spartan Investigative Services, LLC
“I cannot put into mere words my pleasure with having hired Melissa. Her expert knowledge, compassion, and fortitude have yielded the best possible legal results for my family. She demonstrates an unparalleled spirit advocating for domestic violence victims. She was creative, tireless, and exceptional in addressing my concerns over two successive years. I wholeheartedly recommend Melissa for anyone in need of a family law advocate.”
Mary D.
As someone who has had to navigate the world of family lawyers in an incredibly difficult divorce, I have learned that there very big differences in approaches. Some simply don’t have the expertise or temperament to get truly tough when necessary. If you are in a situation where you need someone who will help you stand your ground, especially when it comes to dealing with an abusive ex, you would be very wise to have her represent you.
Mike Davis
“Ms Averett did a fantastic job answering multiple questions I had regarding post separation support, child support, and separation agreements. She even went so far as to recommend a military law specific attorney for me.”
Chris Johnson
“Searching the internet, I found a family law attorney in Chatham County. Based on the information I provided, she recommended Attorney Averett. To that point, it was the best advice an attorney ever gave me. A recommendation to speak with Melissa made a world of difference for my children and I hope it can for yours too. Everyone suspects that his or her problems are worse and different from everyone else’s. Having worked my way thru family courts in three different states, I can attest that everyone is right about that. Melissa understands that each family brings their own unique challenge to the table and that each person deserves fair and respectful treatment. As I am not a resident of North Carolina, all of our first communication was over the phone. Melissa took the time to hear and understand my perspective. Based on our initial conversations, we agreed to take each other on as partners.
It was (and is) very important to me that Melissa took the time to understand my children, my own ‘worse and different’ circumstance, and me. Melissa put me in touch with the right professionals in the Hillsborough and Chapel Hill area to develop a support team. That support team was critical to the case ending in my children’s best interest. Melissa and Alva have been with me every step of the way. The legal and professional advice they have given me has been tremendous. The general ‘counsel’ they provided helped keep me calm and confidant – not making any poor ‘reactionary’ decisions. This allowed me to keep what was most important in front of me. Over time, those conversations were more important to my family than any of the excellent ‘nuts and bolts’ legal advice and guidance they provided.
Thank You, Melissa. I cannot recommend you strongly enough.”
Scott R.
Dedicated attorneys and staff that are prepared to FIGHT for their clients.
Ron Cooley, Cooley Law Offices
“Melissa is an approachable and outstanding attorney who is committed to her clients day in and day out. She is knowledgeable and a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom. Whenever I have a client in her service area, I send them directly to her.”
Katherine Hudson, Litigation Attorney
“I recently had the unpleasant experience of going through a divorce in NC. Melissa and Alva have been professional, efficient and knowledgeable throughout the entire process. They respond timely and accurately. On more than one occasion, they went above and beyond to facilitate the process. Melissa sought out ways to save me time and money and was always cost-conscious when billing me for her services. I always received accurate information/analysis and was never waiting on them. I knew I was in good hands and can’t say enough about how pleased I am with the services I received from this firm.”
Jeremy T
