Same-Sex Divorce Attorneys

Respectful Representation. Clear Guidance. A Process That Honors Your Life Together—And Apart.

Every marriage deserves thoughtful legal closure. We help LGBTQ+ clients throughout the Triangle get to the other side of divorce with dignity, clarity, and a strategy that protects their rights, their families, and their future.

Same-Sex Divorce Follows the Same Laws—But Often Involves Different Questions

Since marriage equality became the law nationwide in 2015, same-sex couples have had the same legal rights as any other couple. But divorce in these cases still raises unique issues, especially when it comes to:

Children born before marriage
Property acquired before marriage equality
Co-parenting arrangements without formal adoption
Unequal financial contributions in long-term relationships
Social stigma or misunderstanding of LGBTQ+ family structures

At Ellis Family Law, P.L.L.C. in North Carolina, we guide same-sex couples through the divorce process with care, competence, and a deep respect for the full history of your relationship, not just the legal parts.

Ready to Talk?

Speak with a board-certified specialist.

We Help With All Aspects of Same-Sex Divorce

Married LGBTQ+ couples navigating separation or divorce
Clients in domestic partnerships or civil unions prior to marriage equality
Parents with adopted or non-biological children
Spouses with blended families or legacy estate concerns
LGBTQ+ professionals and business owners managing complex property division
Anyone seeking a fair, respectful divorce process that reflects their lived experience

As same-sex divorce attorneys, We know that not every story fits neatly into a checkbox. We meet you where you are—and help you move forward from there.

Key Issues We Often See in Same-Sex Divorces

Parenting & Custody Disputes

When both spouses are legal parents, child custody follows North Carolina law. But many same-sex families involve children born before marriage or adopted by one spouse. These cases require a thoughtful strategy to preserve co-parenting rights and responsibilities.

We help you:

Understand your legal standing as a parent
Protect your relationship with your child
Create parenting plans that reflect your real-life involvement
Resolve disputes respectfully, but firmly

Property Division After Long-Term Relationships

Many same-sex couples were together for years—or decades—before marriage equality. That can make dividing property difficult when much of it was acquired before the legal marriage began.

We help you:

Trace assets and determine what’s marital vs. separate
Understand how North Carolina’s equitable distribution laws apply
Avoid unfair assumptions about financial contribution
Reach agreements that reflect the full length of your partnership

Spousal Support (Alimony)

In cases where one partner earned significantly more—or where one partner stepped back from their career to support the household—we help negotiate or litigate fair spousal support.

We understand how household contributions are often nontraditional and equally valuable.

This Isn’t Just a Legal Process. It’s a Life Transition.

Our LGBTQ+ clients are often navigating more than just a divorce. They’re facing:

Emotional fallout after years of partnership
Fear of being treated unfairly by the legal system
Complex feelings around chosen family, community, or coming out
Worry that their identity or story won’t be understood

We get it. And we want you to know: you’re not alone in this.

We create a space that’s safe, informed, and focused—so you can make decisions with clarity, not fear.

Divorce Done Right—Even When It’s Difficult

We offer full-service divorce representation that includes:

Property division and asset tracing
Child custody and visitation
Child support and alimony
Retirement and pension division
LGBTQ+-inclusive estate planning review
Separation agreements
Modifications and enforcement actions post-divorce

Whether your divorce is cooperative or contested, we bring calm, consistent support and keep your goals at the center of the process.

Serving Durham’s LGBTQ+ Community With Pride and Respect

We’ve worked with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples throughout Durham, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and the surrounding Triangle region. We are proud to support a diverse community and honored to help our clients feel safe and seen during one of life’s hardest transitions.

We also offer virtual consultations for privacy and accessibility.

You Deserve a Divorce Process That Reflects Who You Are— And Where You’re Headed

You don’t need to explain your family. You don’t need to apologize for your story. And you don’t have to fight harder than anyone else to be treated fairly.

We’ll help you protect what matters and move forward with strength and clarity.

Hear From Our Clients

Jolie is an exceptional attorney who made it her mission to ensure that I had quick correspondence when it was absolutely needed. Jolie and her team answered any in all...

Jolie is an exceptional attorney who made it her mission to ensure that I had quick correspondence when it was absolutely needed. Jolie and her team answered any in all questions I had and worked with me, taking into consideration the best interest of my family and situation. I cannot say enough good things about how Jolie handled my case, her knowledge, expeditious review of my case, and the amazing work she did. Jolie gave me peace of mind, truly working to understand my case. It is clearly evident how much Jolie cares about her clients.

Shane Davekos

My lawyer Shannon Tucker was absolutely amazing and won me my case.

...

My lawyer Shannon Tucker was absolutely amazing and won me my case.

Joseph Williford

Kathleen has done an AMAZING job. In an otherwise terrible situation, Kathleen has kept things moving forward and has been an amazing attorney! She is excellent at keeping up communication,...

Kathleen has done an AMAZING job. In an otherwise terrible situation, Kathleen has kept things moving forward and has been an amazing attorney! She is excellent at keeping up communication, and is a bulldog in the courtroom. I highly recommend Kathleen, she has made an otherwise bad situation very manageable.

David Kimball

Emma and Sarah were absolutely wonderful to work with during the Separation Agreement process and then through the divorce process. They stayed in contact with me, and advised me as...

Emma and Sarah were absolutely wonderful to work with during the Separation Agreement process and then through the divorce process. They stayed in contact with me, and advised me as to the best actions to take. They also presented all of the options that I could take. I would highly recommend them.

Rebecca McPeak

My fiance and I worked with Jack T. for custody of his two kids over the last year-ish. He’s truly been heaven sent. He’s responsible, detail oriented, genuinely invested, remembers...

My fiance and I worked with Jack T. for custody of his two kids over the last year-ish. He’s truly been heaven sent. He’s responsible, detail oriented, genuinely invested, remembers conversations for months prior & genuinely will stand up for his clients! We worked with him at his old firm and through the transition also, and he didn’t miss a beat. Thankful for him & the outcome. Definitely recommend.

Olivia Conner

Working with Tony Kehoe during my separation was easily one of the best decisions I made during a challenging time. Tony brings a rare combination of legal precision, calm professionalism,...

Working with Tony Kehoe during my separation was easily one of the best decisions I made during a challenging time. Tony brings a rare combination of legal precision, calm professionalism, and genuine empathy to the process. He kept the strategy focused, protected my interests every step of the way, and made sure I felt informed and supported through every detail. If you need a steadfast, highly capable attorney who truly advocates for you, I cannot recommend Tony highly enough!

Skot Smith

Related Practice Areas

We are equally skilled in litigation and in resolving disputes outside of court.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation Today

Because respect shouldn’t be optional. And divorce shouldn’t make you feel invisible.

Ex Files featuring Pour Decisions

Stay up to date on changes in North Carolina law
Get specialist legal insights to your most pressing family law questions
Access exclusive guides and resources you won’t find anywhere else

And for a fun twist: don’t miss our “Pour Decisions” section, featuring wine tips from our lawyer-wine specialist Gray Ellis!