Biography

Fred Morelock received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974 and his law degree from UNC in 1976. He then practiced as a trial attorney for ten years in the areas of criminal defense and family law litigation before being appointed to the bench. He joined Tharrington Smith in 2001.In 1986, Mr. Morelock was appointed by Governor James G. Martin to a Wake County district court judgeship. He was reelected three times and served for fourteen years. In 1990, Mr. Morelock became the first judge in Wake County to become a Certified Juvenile Law Specialist. During the last several years on the bench, he presided almost exclusively in domestic court, most recently in North Carolina’s first designated specialized judgeship in the area of family law.As a district court judge, Mr. Morelock was a frequent speaker and instructor for continuing legal education seminars for attorneys (North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and Bar Association) and for judges (North Carolina Association of District Court Judges and the Institute of Government New Judges School) on various family law issues. He has also been a seminar speaker for the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants and the Wake County public school principals. Mr. Morelock has served on the Board of Directors of the Wake County Bar Association and its Professionalism Committee, the Raleigh Rescue Mission, and Carolina Legal Assistance.Mr. Morelock’s practice includes the representation of clients in all areas of family law, as well as mediation and arbitration. He is admitted to practice in all state courts and the federal district courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina. Mr. Morelock is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and its family law section. Mr. Morelock is married to Jeannie S. Morelock, and they have two teenage sons.

Practice Areas

• Family Law
• Divorce
• Arbitration & Mediation

Education

• University of North Carolina School of Law
  1976
• University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
  1974

Professional Experience

• Tharrington Smith, LLP
  Partner
  2001
• NC Medical Board
  Independent Counsel
  2010
• North Carolina District Court, 10th Judicial District
  District Court Judge
  1986
• Criminal & Family Law
  Trial Attorney
  1976

Awards

• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2020
• Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2020
• Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2019
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2019
• Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2018
• Best Law Firms
  U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
  2018
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2018
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2018
• Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2017
• Best Law Firms
  U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
  2017
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2017
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2017
• Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2016
• Best Law Firms
  U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
  2016
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2016
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2016
• Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2015
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2015
• Best Law Firms
  U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
  2015
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2015
• Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2014
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2014
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2014
• Best Law Firms
  U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
  2014
• Best Lawyers, Family Mediation Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2013
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2013
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2013
• Best Law Firms
  U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
  2013
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2012
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2012
• Best Law Firms
  U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
  2012
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2011
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2011
• Best Law Firms
  U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
  2011
• Appreciation Award
  10th Judicial District Bar
  2010
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2010
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2010
• Best Law Firms
  U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®
  2010
• Legal Elite
  Business North Carolina magazine
  2009
• Award of Excellence
  Wake County Bar Association Presidents
  2009
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2009
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2009
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2008
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2008
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2007
• Super Lawyers
  North Carolina Super Lawyers
  2006
• Best Lawyers, Family Law Section
  Best Lawyers in America
  2006

Associations

• North Carolina Bar Association, Family Law Section
• Wake County Bar Association
• 10th Judicial District Bar, Grievance Committee
• North Carolina State Courts
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
• North Carolina District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
• North Carolina Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section
• State Bar Council, Disciplinary Hearing Commission
• North Carolina State Bar # 7239

Social Media