Lori M. Vitale

Profile
Credentials
Associations
Community Involvement

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. 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 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), 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, since 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, Since 1995
U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina, Since 1995
U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina, Since 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, 2009 to present
Top 100: North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2012-2018
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
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/10^th Judicial District
- Chair, Professionalism Committee, 2007–2012
- Member, Grievance Committee, 2022–present
- Mediator, Fee Dispute Committee, 2006–2020
- Board of Directors, 2006–2008
NC-AFCC/AFCC
- Chapter Formation Committee, 2022
- CLE Committee, 2023-present
Artsplosure
- President of Board of Directors, 2014-2016
- Board of Directors, 2009-2023

Awards

Lori Vitale & Kim Wallis
Lori Vitale- 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018

Lecturer/Course Planner

Lori has been a course planner, author and/or speaker for the following legal education programs:

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
“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
“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, 2019 "Trouble in Paradise"
“Deal or No Deal? Attacking and Enforcing Agreements, Orders and Awards”, NCBA, September 2009
“How Do You Mend A Broken Heart”, NCBA, Family Law Annual Conference, 2008
“Death and Divorce in North Carolina”, NCBA, September 2006
“Perils and Pitfalls in Alternative Dispute Resolution”, NCBA, September 2005
“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
Ethics Discussion (The Uh-Oh Moments….Intensive Equitable Distribution Seminar), NCBA, November 2009 and February 2010
Wake County Bar Association Professionalism Roundtable Discussion, 2005 – 2007
“Recent Developments in Professional Responsibility”, Wake Forest University, October 2006
“Broaching the Alternative Dispute Resolution Subject with Clients”, NCBA, September 2005
“Interstate Child Support”, Wake Forest University, October 2001
“Enforcing Your Order and Judgment Through Contempt and Proper Filing of Judgments”, NCATL, September 2001
“Parol Evidence”, NCBA, May 2001
“Legal Traps in Bankruptcy, Real Property and Domestic Violence”, NCBA, November 2000
“Post Trial Practice”, Wake Forest University, October 2000
“Child Support, Domestic Violence and Ex Parte Contact”, NCATL, January 1999

2025 Best Law Firms
Lori Vitale
Lori Vitale
Lori Vitale & Kim Wallis
Lori Vitale

Working With Our Firm

Strategic | Experienced | Intentional

When You Hire Our Firm, You Hire Our Entire Team
Attorneys Lori, Kim & Jennifer are Board Certified Specialists in Family Law
Over 50 Years of Combined Experience in Family Law
Exclusive & Intentional Focus on Family Law

Put Our Team On Your Side

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