James Lovett
Raleigh, NC
Licensed for 31 years
Law Degree
Awards
Primary Practice Area
Child custody
Language
English
About
James F. (Rik) Lovett, Jr. has been practicing law for roughly 27 years in Raleigh (Wake County, N.C. and the surrounding counties). Shortly after beginning his legal career as a bankruptcy attorney, Rik gravitated toward the more scintillating, personal arena of divorce / family law and began practicing exclusively in that field and has continued doing so for the last 25 years.Today Rik is a N.C. State Board Certified Specialist in family law and a Martindale Hubbel AV Preeminent attorney. He has also been named Legal Elite by N.C. Business Magazine (nominated by peers) for the last five years. In 2014, Rik was named a National Advocate Top 100 Matrimonial and Family Lawyer. In 2015, Rik was named Ten Best in N.C. – client satisfaction – by the American Institute of Family Lawyers. Mr. Lovett has earned a current 10 out of 10 ranking from AVVO, a national rating system to give clients guidance in finding the best domestic / family lawyer for them.A former N.C. state high school tennis champion, nationally ranked junior, and college scholarship athlete, Rik initially learned to fight on a tennis court. Those skills were readily transferable to the courtroom and negotiation / mediation playing fields.Rik obtained his B.A. degree from Furman University (Greenville, S.C.) and his law degree from Wake Forest University (Winston – Salem, N.C.). He is a member of the American Bar Association (family law section), the N.C. Bar Association (family law section), the N.C. State Bar and the Wake County Bar Association. His practice is limited to Divorce and Family Law. He is available to lecture on domestic / family law topics to legal, church, and civic groups and is a member of the Christian Legal Society.Rik teaches Continuing Legal Education seminars to other North Carolina family law attorneys. Rik has lectured at these family law seminars over the years:2016 – Divorce Law Boot Camp2013 – Child Custody Procedures: Form by Form2012 – Dividing Debt During Divorce: A Step-By-Step Guide To Properly Handling The Latest Bankruptcy, Foreclosure And Debt Issues During Divorce Proceedings2011 – Advanced Issues in Divorce: Solutions to Real Life Family Law Problems2011 – Child Custody from A to Z: In The Best Interests of the Child2010 – Divorce Litigation: From Start to Finish2008 – Preventing Critical Financial Mistakes During Divorce2007 – Equitable Divorce Settlements2006 – Successful Financial Settlements For Your Divorce Clients2005 – Crucial Discovery Techniques in North Carolina Dissolution Cases: Finding The Money2004 – Complex Issues in Divorce for the North Carolina Practitioner – Forensic Accounting and Valuation in Divorce and Tax Aspects of Divorce2003 – Family Law in North Carolina – Analysis of Financial Information, Consideration in Child Custody, and Preparation and Trial of a Divorce Case2003 – Exploring Essential Issues in Domestic Law for North Carolina Paralegals – When and Why Marital Agreements are Needed, and Gathering and Analyzing Financial Information2002 – Marital Agreements Made Easy in North Carolina – Recent Developments Impacting Premarital Agreements – Court Decisions and Emerging Trends, and Drafting Marital AgreementsRik is married, has four children, and when not feeding his workaholic addiction, enjoys attending sporting events, tennis, jogging, perusing Wall Street Journal editorials and reading books that make people think.
Practices Areas
Child custody
Divorce and separation
Family
Language
English
Contact
4048 Barrett DrRaleigh, NC, 27609-66044048 Barrett DrRaleigh, NC, 27609-6604
Office: N/A
Website: N/AReviews
Hard to believe Rik does not have prior reviews. Rik, hands down, was the best lawyer I had during my 2 year hellish divorce. He far surpassed my three prior lawyers in just sear will and effort. By the time I met Rik I was so jaded and fatigued by the process: no results yet high fees. Rik was different. Receiving emails and texts at night or during the weekend was the norm. I appreciated his hard work and burning the midnight oil for my cause. In contrast one of my prior lawyers would never return emails and I could only contact her by scheduling a phone appointment with her during her regular business hours. What a difference. Rik may not have the fancy downtown Raleigh office address or marble floors but he has what's most important: Compassion, empathy and personal drive. I highly recommend you at least consult with him prior to hiring any other lawyer.
Single father paid 9k cash for joint custody of my children. It took well over 6 months to file ANY PAPERWORK. Rik whom I paid has Never worked on my case. He has his interns doing everything. He has zero knowledge of my case when I call. Yet no wants another 6k. Yes 6k to finish. That's 15 THOUSAND dollars and I have yet been to court. AMAZING. I feel as a Black Male in not respected and being taken advantage of. I would not recommend them to my worst enemy and advise ANY AFRICAN AMERICAN to say clear of this guys. I pulled this money out of my 401k was told it would cost maybe 7k... and again took them 6 months to file any paperwork. Pray for my children
Hard to believe Rik does not have prior reviews. Rik, hands down, was the best lawyer I had during my 2 year hellish divorce. He far surpassed my three prior lawyers in just sear will and effort. By the time I met Rik I was so jaded and fatigued by the process: no results yet high fees. Rik was different. Receiving emails and texts at night or during the weekend was the norm. I appreciated his hard work and burning the midnight oil for my cause. In contrast one of my prior lawyers would never return emails and I could only contact her by scheduling a phone appointment with her during her regular business hours. What a difference. Rik may not have the fancy downtown Raleigh office address or marble floors but he has what's most important: Compassion, empathy and personal drive. I highly recommend you at least consult with him prior to hiring any other lawyer.
Single father paid 9k cash for joint custody of my children. It took well over 6 months to file ANY PAPERWORK. Rik whom I paid has Never worked on my case. He has his interns doing everything. He has zero knowledge of my case when I call. Yet no wants another 6k. Yes 6k to finish. That's 15 THOUSAND dollars and I have yet been to court. AMAZING. I feel as a Black Male in not respected and being taken advantage of. I would not recommend them to my worst enemy and advise ANY AFRICAN AMERICAN to say clear of this guys. I pulled this money out of my 401k was told it would cost maybe 7k... and again took them 6 months to file any paperwork. Pray for my children
Hard to believe Rik does not have prior reviews. Rik, hands down, was the best lawyer I had during my 2 year hellish divorce. He far surpassed my three prior lawyers in just sear will and effort. By the time I met Rik I was so jaded and fatigued by the process: no results yet high fees. Rik was different. Receiving emails and texts at night or during the weekend was the norm. I appreciated his hard work and burning the midnight oil for my cause. In contrast one of my prior lawyers would never return emails and I could only contact her by scheduling a phone appointment with her during her regular business hours. What a difference. Rik may not have the fancy downtown Raleigh office address or marble floors but he has what's most important: Compassion, empathy and personal drive. I highly recommend you at least consult with him prior to hiring any other lawyer.
Single father paid 9k cash for joint custody of my children. It took well over 6 months to file ANY PAPERWORK. Rik whom I paid has Never worked on my case. He has his interns doing everything. He has zero knowledge of my case when I call. Yet no wants another 6k. Yes 6k to finish. That's 15 THOUSAND dollars and I have yet been to court. AMAZING. I feel as a Black Male in not respected and being taken advantage of. I would not recommend them to my worst enemy and advise ANY AFRICAN AMERICAN to say clear of this guys. I pulled this money out of my 401k was told it would cost maybe 7k... and again took them 6 months to file any paperwork. Pray for my children