To the best of my recollection, the first Family Law Intensive Seminar was held approximately 25 years ago. It was the brainchild of a Rocky Mount family law attorney named J. Edgar Moore. I believe the first seminar was limited to 50 people and to family law specialists or lawyers who had practiced primarily family law for at least seven years.

It was only offered once. As the seminar became more popular over the years (and more lawyers became specialists), we expanded the seminar to two presentations and expanded the attendance to 85 lawyers and to lawyers who have practiced primarily family law for eight years or more. The idea for the seminar was to provide an advanced program with limited attendance to encourage a lot of dialogue between the speakers and attendees. The Bar Association decided to offer the seminar every other year for advanced practitioners and to provide what was originally called the “Basics of Family Law” in alternate years for new lawyers and paralegals.

Jump to this year’s intensive seminar, and we are focusing on issues concerning the Gray Divorce for people ages 50 and up. The speakers for the most part are not family lawyers, but lawyers who concentrate their practices on issues like trusts, incompetency/guardianship, pensions and survivor benefits, elder law, social security, and equitable distribution valuation. We will also cover grandparents’ rights and premarital agreements.

This is a two-day program with 12 hours of CLE, including one hour of ethics involving older clients. The hours count toward specialization credit. Chas Coltrane and I planned the program, and we believe it will cover areas that have never been addressed in a family law CLE. There is space for the seminar being offered in Greensboro on November 2 and 3, and very limited space remaining for the Wrightsville Beach seminar offered January 25 and 26. I urge you to sign up today!

October 25, 2023/by FamilyLaw