Biography
Lori Vitale is the founding partner of Vitale Family Law in Raleigh, North Carolina, a firm that specializes in representing individuals going through a divorce, planning to marry, or facing custody, support, domestic violence, or other family law issues. She is a Board-Certified Specialist in Family Law and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She is currently serving as an Advisor on the Ethics Committee of the NC State Bar (2023–present). Lori has also served as the President of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2015), Chair of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association (2011-2012), and Chair of the Wake County Bar Association Professionalism Committee (2007-2012). In addition to other activities, she is a frequent course planner and lecturer for legal education courses on family law and related topics. A graduate of Wake Forest University School of Law, Lori has been recognized in the Best Lawyers in America since 2007, Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite since 2009, designated “Top Legal Elite for Family Law” in 2014, and is now in the Legal Elite Hall of Fame. She has been named in North Carolina Super Lawyers, including the Top 50 Women Attorneys (2012- Present), Top 100 Attorneys in North Carolina (2012-2018, 2025-2026), and Top 25 Lawyers in Raleigh (2013, 2015-2016, 2018). Vitale Family Law has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as a Top Tier Family Law Firm since 2013. Certified Legal Specialties Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, North Carolina State Bar, 2001 Education Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston-Salem, North Carolina J.D. – 1995 Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, Lynchburg, Virginia B.A. – 1992 (International Relations, Philosophy, German) The University of Texas at Austin 1988-1990 Bar Admissions State of North Carolina, 1995 U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina, 1995 U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina, 1996 Honors and Awards Best Lawyers “Women in the Law”, 2022-present AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell Best Lawyers, 2007-present “Legal Elite” and “Legal Elite Hall of Fame” by Business North Carolina, 2009- present North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2011 to present Top 100: North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2012-2018, 2025-2026 Top 50: Women North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2012-present Top 25: Raleigh Super Lawyers, 2013, 2015-2016, 2018 Rising Star: North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2009-2010 President’s Award of Excellence from the Wake County Bar Association and Tenth Judicial District, 2009 Professional Activities North Carolina State Bar Advisor, Ethics Committee, 2023-present American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Fellow, 2007-present President, NC Chapter of America Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2015-2016 North Carolina Bar Association Chair, Family Law Section, 2011-2012 Chair, Family Law Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2007-2010 Member, Family Law Council, 2002-2004, 2006-2010 Wake County Bar Association/10th Judicial District Chair, Professionalism Committee, 2007-2012 Member, Grievance Committee, 2022-2024 Mediator, Fee Dispute Committee, 2006-2020 Board of Directors, 2006-2008 NC-AFCC/AFCC Chapter Formation Committee, 2022 CLE Committee, 2023 Artsplosure President of Board of Directors, 2014-2016 Board of Directors, 2009-2023 Lecturer/Course Planner Lori has been a course planner, author, and/or speaker for the following legal education programs: Course Planner, “Human Intelligence: The Algorithm and Beyond - Human Advocacy in a Digital Era; Family Law Intensive Program,” NCBA, October 2025 and January 2026 Course Planner, “Phone-A-Friend, 2024 Family Law Fall CLE Program,” NCBA, September 2024 Panelist, NC-AFCC: The Slippery Slope of Definitions, The Deceptive Concepts of Trauma, Intimate Partner Violence, and Resist-Refuse Dynamics, 2023 Course Planner, NC-AAML Family Law Symposium: "Cutting Edge Family Law", 2023 Speaker, “The Effect of The New Legislative Changes to N.C. Gen. Stat.§50-20.1 On The Treatment of Executive Compensation in Divorce in North Carolina”, NCBA Family Law Intensive Seminar, January 2022 Course Planner, “Happy Anniversary ITACAT! The Next 10 Years….What the Future Held”, NCBA, September 2020 Speaker, North Carolina State Bar Opioid Summit, October 2019 Course Planner, NC Family Law Specialist CLE, Kiawah , SC, 2019 "Trouble in Paradise" Course Planner, “Deal or No Deal? Attacking and Enforcing Agreements, Orders and Awards”, NCBA, September 2009 Course Planner, “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart”, NCBA, Family Law Annual Conference, 2008 “Death and Divorce in North Carolina”, NCBA, September 2006 Course Planner, “Perils and Pitfalls in Alternative Dispute Resolution”, NCBA, September 2005 Course Planner, “Family Law In Bush’s America”, Family Law Specialist Seminar July 2005 “Hot Topics in Family Law: Evidentiary Issues in Child Custody” Cases, NCBA, September 2004 “What About the Children?”, NCBA, September 2002 “Ethical Considerations When Representing a Special Needs Client”, NCBA, 2011 Speaker, Ethics Discussion (The Uh-Oh Moments….Intensive Equitable Distribution Seminar), NCBA, November 2009 and February 2010 Program Planner, Wake County Bar Association Professionalism Roundtable Discussion, 2005 – 2007 Course Planner, “Recent Developments in Professional Responsibility”, Wake Forest University, October 2006 Speaker, “Broaching the Alternative Dispute Resolution Subject with Clients”, NCBA, September 2005 Speaker, “Interstate Child Support”, Wake Forest University, October 2001 Speaker, “Enforcing Your Order and Judgment Through Contempt and Proper Filing of Judgments”, NCATL, September 2001 Speaker, “Parol Evidence”, NCBA, May 2001 Speaker, “Legal Traps in Bankruptcy, Real Property and Domestic Violence”, NCBA, November 2000 Speaker, “Post Trial Practice”, Wake Forest University, October 2000 Speaker, “Child Support, Domestic Violence and Ex Parte Contact”, NCATL, January 1999