Page 17 - NC Triangle Vol 7 No 1

“Modern families can be a one- parent home, a stepparent’s home or grandparent’s home. e modern family may have two parents living in the same neighborhood. Today, both parties are typically college educated, understand complex nances and in- vestments and both parents actively parent the children. We help you get an idea of what you want your family to look like in the future, then we nav- igate the case from there. We actually give our clients a compass to symbol- ize the journey,” said Gurganus, with a smile.
e term “modern” also speaks to using cutting edge technology. “Most of our clients have never been di- vorced and don’t know what technol- ogies they can use to make their lives easier, to parent better or control their money better. We teach them how to use these tools.”
THE PAIN OF A DIVORCE
Mary Gurganus has rst-hand knowledge of the pain children ex- perience in a divorce from her child- hood in Salisbury, Maryland.
She was 15 when her parents di- vorced. “It was very hard on me and my brothers and sister. It made a mark on my life. My parents were always
involved with us. I experi- enced the pain of rarely be- ing able to see my father. I saw the inequity of my father ending up with more assets than my mom,” remembered Gurganus. e experience inspired her to practice fam- ily law.
She earned her Juris Doc- tor from NCCU School of Law and then Gurganus
launched Triangle Divorce Lawyers in 2014. Most of the team has expe- rienced divorce as children or with their own marriages.
e rm with ten sta members, including three attorneys, has o ces in Raleigh, Cary and Wake Forest. It represents clients in 12 counties in the Triangle and across the state.
BRAVE, INTREPID, TOUGH
Mary Gurganus said her oppo- nents have called her ‘a pit bull in a skirt’. I’m determined to get what’s right.” she said with a smile. “I prefer the terms brave, intrepid and tough. I have an air of con dence because of my courtroom experience. I try to forecast what’s going to happen and I already have my game plan in place.”
“I know which client priorities I will push, and I am considerate to the op- posing parties. Sometimes, I actually embody a few of those names I have been called. In negotiations, I o en show the other side how they bene t because of the concessions my client made. And sometimes, I have to push my clients to make those concessions themselves. I traditionally do that by discussing their best case, their worst case and what could happen in court.”
AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com
DOES SHE WIN?
Director of client services Nata- lie Lee said the question most o en asked by potential clients is, “Does she win?”
“I like to win,” said Gurganus. “When I rst meet a client, we iden- tify what their priorities are on time, money, their relationship with their family or reputation in the commu- nity. We then determine which things they really need. Next, we then choose the things they desire, and nally, we pick the things they could or could not do without. In no case is a client going to get 100% of what they want.”
“If I can get them what they need, the main priorities that they want, and it is at least what we expected to be awarded if we went to court; that’s a win. at’s my joy. at’s my job.”
“When that happens, I stroll into my o ce with a happy dance,” said Gurganus.
TRIANGLE DIVORCE LAWYERS
109 North Boylan Avenue Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 303-2020
www. triangledivorcelawyers.com
We’ve been in o ce complexes and now we are in this home se ing. It’s comfortable. Clients feel like they are visiting, not being questioned.”
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