Bankruptcy, Business, Criminal, and Family Law Firm in North Carolina

Stone & Witt, P.A.

Cameron-Brown Building
301 South McDowell Street, Suite 1000
Charlotte, North Carolina 28204
USA

(704) 333-5184

(704) 333-5185

www.swlawnc.com/

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Law Firm Overview

Stone & Witt, P.A. is a general practice law firm with offices in Charlotte and Monroe, North Carolina. We offer a broad range of legal services and practices extensively in both state and federal courts. Our skilled attorneys believe you deserve quality legal representation regardless of your circumstances. We provide both individual and business clients with professional and courteous service.

Stone & Witt, P.A. believes that personal service and close client contact builds a strong attorney-client relationship. Our mission is to provide exemplary representation in all your legal matters. Our years of experience enable us to provide comprehensive legal representation ranging from criminal defense and family law matters to a civil lawsuit in Charlotte & Monroe, NC. Our attorneys, Bryan W. Stone and Jason D. Witt are experienced in both litigation and transactional matters and represent clients in state and federal courts.

We understand that evaluating a general practice in Charlotte & Monroe can be frustrating and finding the perfect fit, difficult. However, like the family doctor who sees to your overall health, Stone & Witt, P.A. sees to your legal health—handling all your legal needs in a compassionate and respectful manner.

Languages: English

Areas of Law

Additional Areas of Law: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy; Chapter 13 Bankruptcy; Chapter 11 Bankruptcy; Incorporation; Misdemeanor; Annulment; Property Division; Commercial Lease; Creditor Collections; Debt Settlement; Small Claims; Living Wills; Power of Attorney; Health Care Power of Attorney.

Areas of Law Description

Stone & Witt, P.A. is a Charlotte and Monroe legal practice that strongly advocates for clients both in and out of court. Our skilled lawyers in Charlotte & Monroe can provide valuable legal guidance in a wide array of legal matters, including:

- Bankruptcy Law

Both individuals and businesses need help when facing insurmountable debt. Our skilled attorney in Charlotte & Monroe is knowledgeable in personal and business bankruptcy law and can help you resolve your financial difficulties. For a person struggling with credit card bills, medical bills, and never-ending telephone calls from creditors, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be the only salvation left if he or she is unable to afford the financial demands made of them. While Chapter 13 bankruptcies are becoming less common due to the decreased equity in homes, many Debtors find Chapter 13 bankruptcy the only option to stop a foreclosure while seeking alternatives. Chapter 11 bankruptcies are often referred to as 'business reorganizations'. A reorganization attempts to save the business while providing 'breathing room' from creditor pressures.

- Business Law

If you are about to start a new business, you can do a lot to protect yourself and your family by forming a corporate entity. This corporate shield does just that: it shields your personal livelihood from creditors of your business should your business fall on tough times. And small businesses need affordable alternatives when seeking legal assistance. Often times, those businesses find themselves in disputes with other businesses, vendors, and non-paying customers; when that occurs, litigation may be the only way to resolve those disputes. Whether you need advice on a new start-up or business litigation services, we can help. Our experienced business attorneys understand business law and protect your interests at every stage of the process.

- Criminal Law

Criminal charges whether a felony or misdemeanor can be intimidating. At this vulnerable time, you need strong advocates who can protect your rights whether during negotiations or at trial. At Stone & Witt, P.A. we understand that many people charged with misdemeanors have never been charged with a crime before and are terrified of the potential impact a criminal record will have on their job and standing in the community. There are often programs available for first time offenders to keep your record clean and to later have your record expunged.

- Family Law

From divorce to the family will—the Charlotte and Monroe general practice of Stone & Witt, P.A. understands the emotional nature of family matters. Our compassionate attorneys handle your situation with care and respect, while aggressively protecting your rights. Our family law practice includes:

* Child Custody

Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of your children. The law in North Carolina employs the "best interest" standard in deciding child custody. This means that the Court may consider any and all factors in deciding how to award custody.

* Child Support

Child Support in North Carolina is set according to the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines. The guideline factors include the number of children from the relationship, obligations for other children, health care expenses, day care expenses, and of course the income of the parents. In most cases it is fairly easy to compute the recommended child support amount.

* Divorce

A simple uncontested divorce can often be accomplished without either party having to attend court. Other possibilities include annulment, divorce from bed and board, and divorce based on incurable insanity. One should always consult an attorney before filing for divorce or ignoring a divorce complaint. A divorce can end your right to sue for equitable distribution (property division) and/or spousal support (post-separation support and alimony).

* Property Division

The division of marital assets and debts in Court is done pursuant to Equitable Distribution. The presumption in North Carolina is that marital assets and debts are to be divided equally to the extent possible. If you and your spouse are separating and cannot reach an agreement as to how to divide marital property, then a lawsuit for Equitable Distribution may be necessary.

* Alimony and Post-Separation Support

Alimony and Post-Separation Support are two of the more difficult areas to give advice on because of the broad discretion Judges have in deciding whether and how much to award. Factors include, but are not limited to the length or marriage, the age of the parties, and the ability of the supporting spouse to pay the dependent spouse. The lawyers at Stone & Witt, P.A. will fully explain the law and answer your questions in either seeking or defending against both alimony and post-separation support.

* Separation Agreements.

A Separation Agreement is often the easiest and most civil way to resolve outstanding issues before divorce. The benefit of a Separation Agreement is that it can usually address all outstanding issues without ever having to appear in front of Judge. This keeps attorney costs to a minimum and often tempers the anger and hostility often present in a divorce. The attorneys at Stone & Witt, P.A. can draft or review an agreement to make sure that all your concerns are addressed.

- Traffic Law

Traffic tickets often have costs far beyond the printed court costs and fine on the ticket. Those costs may include potential insurance increases for years as well as the possibility of revocation of driving privileges. Traffic violations are often simple though some can greatly affect your future, like DWI. Penalties for DWI are becoming harsher almost every year. If you find yourself charged with Driving while Intoxicated in North Carolina you should seek legal counsel immediately. Stone & Witt, P.A. can effectively handle your traffic law matter, whether in court or during negotiations.

- Personal injury

When the negligent actions of another leave you injured, you need attorneys who can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. The attorneys at Stone & Witt, P.A. understand that an injury can change your entire life and we are here to stand by you during your recovery. Whether you were seriously injured or not we are more than happy to sit down with you and discuss you legal options.

- Commercial Lease

Prospective tenants ready to sign a lease to start their new business are often taken aback when the Commercial Landlord delivers a proposed lease with up to 50 pages of legal jargon. While it may be an issue that the common commercial tenant may gloss over, those pages are fraught with provisions that cause default mechanisms for events you may be completely unaware. Often times, you may be unaware that you and your spouse may be personally liable for the debt or that you could lose property, including your house.

- Contracts

It remains prudent to rely on more than a handshake these days. Contrary to popular belief, contracts may indeed be formed in such a way. The cautious business person knows, however, that there is significant risk when relying on such a contract. Thus, if you’re poised to enter into business negotiations, seek out an attorney to draft or review any contract that you are about to sign. Most contracts are not written in your favor. Similarly, any contract that you want someone else to sign should benefit you more so than the signer.

- Creditor Collections

Many times when creditors speak to me about suing an individual or business that owes them money, I paint a picture of the end of the lawsuit. Filing suit, service, and even obtaining a judgment against the debtor are the easy parts- collecting money from that debtor is the tough part. North Carolina is traditionally a ‘debtor-friendly’ state in that there is generally no wage-garnishment allowed and state exemptions are quite generous. Accordingly, it takes a little skill and a lot of patience to collect on your judgment. Stone & Witt, P.A. has extensive experience representing creditors in lawsuits, as well as collecting on the judgment.

- Debt Settlement

Many clients ask what options are available besides filing bankruptcy to deal with debt. One option often overlooked is debt negotiation. This can mean many things from payment in full after a set monthly payment plan, lump sum settlement, or some combination of both. The most important thing to remember is not to over-commit to a monthly payment plan that you cannot afford. That is one of the main reasons I encourage clients to consider a lump sum settlement of something less than the full balance. If you would like to discuss debt settlement as a possible path to freedom from growing debt please talk to our attorneys to discuss how we can help.

- Small Claims

Small claims offer an avenue for individuals and businesses to seek justice without the price tag of an expensive law firm. Sometimes, however, those small claims can turn complicated. If that is the case, Stone & Witt, P.A. is happy to offer you an affordable way to either bring or defend against a small claims action.

- Wills

The attorneys at Stone & Witt, P.A. have experience in drafting Wills, Living Wills, Power of Attorney, and Health Care Power of Attorney. If you are considering any or all the above, talk to a lawyer at Stone & Witt, P.A. to discuss which may be right for you.