Charlene Edwards Law Office - CELO

10/16/2026

💜 Protection Matters. Due Process Matters. So Does the Truth.
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, much of the conversation understandably focuses on those seeking protection. But there is another principle that is just as fundamental to our legal system:
⚖️ Every person who comes before the court is entitled to be heard.
At Charlene Edwards Law Office, Attorney Dylan Davis represents both sides of Domestic Violence Protective Order proceedings.
He represents individuals asking the court for protection.
He also represents individuals who have been accused of domestic violence and are defending against a 50B.
Those roles are not inconsistent.
Someone who has experienced domestic violence deserves an advocate who will listen, help present the evidence, and ask the court for appropriate protection.
Someone accused of domestic violence deserves an advocate who will listen, examine the allegations and evidence, and ensure that person's side of the story is presented to the court.
The attorney doesn't decide what happened. The judge does.
Our job is to advocate for our client, present the evidence, apply the law, and make sure our client's voice is heard.
Dylan's experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants also gives him an important perspective: he understands how these cases are developed, challenged, and presented from both sides of the courtroom.
A 50B can affect far more than contact between two people. It may have consequences involving children, custody, the home, fi****ms, property, and future family-law proceedings.
Whether you are seeking protection or defending against allegations, you do not have to navigate the process alone.
📞 Call 910-893-1128 to schedule a consultation with Attorney Dylan Davis.
Charlene Edwards Law Office
💜 Protecting What Matters.

10/14/2026

10/12/2026

💜 You Are Not Alone.
Domestic violence can make someone feel isolated—sometimes even from the people who care about them most.
Fear, uncertainty about children, financial concerns, housing, or simply not knowing what will happen next can make asking for help feel overwhelming.
But help is available.
Reaching out does not necessarily mean you have decided to leave a relationship, file a court case, or take any particular legal action. Sometimes the first step is simply learning what resources and options are available to you.
A trusted friend or family member, a domestic violence advocate, counselor, law enforcement officer, or attorney may be able to help you better understand those options.
⚖️ In North Carolina, a Domestic Violence Protective Order—often called a 50B—may provide certain protections when the legal requirements are met. Depending upon the circumstances, a court may address contact between the parties, possession of a residence, temporary custody and visitation, fi****ms, personal property, pets, and other issues.
At Charlene Edwards Law Office, Dylan Davis handles domestic violence matters and represents both individuals seeking protective orders and individuals defending against allegations.
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we also want people to know that legal representation is only one part of the network of help that may be available.
💜 Asking questions is not weakness.
💜 Seeking support is not weakness.
💜 Protecting yourself and your children is not weakness.
Help is a sign of strength.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 800-799-SAFE (7233).
Protecting What Matters.

10/09/2026

💜 Domestic Violence Doesn’t Always Leave a Bruise.
When people hear the words domestic violence, they often picture physical injuries. But under North Carolina law, domestic violence is not limited to conduct that leaves a visible mark.
Depending on the facts, domestic violence may include acts that cause bodily injury or attempts to cause injury, placing someone in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, certain forms of continued harassment that cause substantial emotional distress, or sexual assault.
That means the evidence in a domestic violence case may look very different from case to case.
It may include photographs or medical records—but it may also include:
📱 Text messages, emails or voicemails
📞 Records of repeated communications
📍 Evidence of stalking or following
💬 Threatening statements
👥 Witness testimony
📸 Social media posts or other electronic evidence
And an important distinction matters: an unhealthy, controlling, or emotionally difficult relationship is not automatically the same thing as legally proving domestic violence. When a court is asked to enter a Domestic Violence Protective Order (50B), the judge must consider the evidence and determine whether the requirements of North Carolina law have been met.
At Charlene Edwards Law Office, we represent both people seeking protection and people defending against allegations of domestic violence.
Those cases deserve to be taken seriously from both sides of the courtroom.
💜 Protection matters.
⚖️ Due process matters.
📖 Evidence matters.
Protecting What Matters.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 800-799-SAFE (7233).

10/07/2026

💜 What Is a 50B—and What Can It Actually Do?
In North Carolina, a Domestic Violence Protective Order—commonly called a 50B—is a civil court order designed to protect someone from acts of domestic violence.
But a 50B can do much more than simply tell one person not to contact another.
Depending on the circumstances, a court may address issues involving:
🏠 Who remains in—or must leave—the residence
👨‍👩‍👧 Temporary custody and visitation
💰 Child or spousal support
📱 Contact and communication between the parties
🐾 Possession and care of family pets
🔑 Personal property
⚖️ Other conditions the court determines are necessary
🔒 Fi****ms, when required or authorized by law
And some of these decisions can be made initially through an ex parte order, before the other party has had an opportunity to appear in court.
That is one reason these cases should be taken seriously from either side of the courtroom.
If you are seeking protection, it is important to understand what relief you can request and what evidence the court will consider.
If you have been served with a 50B, do not ignore it—even if you believe the allegations are false or exaggerated. Read the order carefully, follow its terms, and understand when you are required to appear in court.
A 50B proceeding can also intersect with an existing or future custody, separation, support or divorce case.
Throughout Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we'll continue looking at these issues from both perspectives.
At Charlene Edwards Law Office, we represent individuals seeking protection as well as those defending against domestic violence allegations.
💜 Protecting What Matters.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

10/06/2026

💜 When Domestic Violence and Child Custody Collide
Domestic violence cases and child custody cases don't always stay in separate lanes.
A North Carolina Domestic Violence Protective Order—commonly called a 50B—may include temporary provisions concerning custody and visitation. And allegations or findings of domestic violence may also become important when the court later considers a family's custody arrangements.
That can make an already emotional situation even more complicated.
A parent seeking protection may be worried about both personal safety and what happens to the children.
A parent accused of domestic violence may suddenly be facing allegations that could affect not only a 50B hearing, but also when and how that parent sees the children.
And sometimes there is already a custody order or pending custody case when the domestic violence proceeding begins.
⚖️ These cases require careful attention to both the immediate issue and the bigger family-law picture.
At Charlene Edwards Law Office, Charlene Edwards represents parents in custody and visitation matters, working toward stable, workable arrangements for children and families.
Dylan Davis handles both Domestic Violence Protective Orders and custody cases, representing individuals seeking protection as well as those defending against domestic violence allegations.
Different cases. Different circumstances. Different sides of the courtroom.
But the goal of effective legal representation remains the same: understand the facts, understand the law, protect your client's rights, and never lose sight of how today's decisions may affect a family tomorrow.
Two attorneys. One commitment.
💜 Protecting What Matters.

10/02/2026

💜 October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Domestic violence cases are among the most serious matters that come before our family courts. They can involve personal safety, children, homes, finances—and allegations that may have significant and lasting consequences.
At Charlene Edwards Law Office, we believe these cases require both compassion and careful attention to the law.
Our office represents both sides of domestic violence proceedings: individuals asking the court for protection and individuals who have been accused of domestic violence and must respond to those allegations.
Those principles are not inconsistent.
💜 People who need protection deserve access to the courts.
⚖️ People accused of wrongdoing are entitled to due process and an opportunity to be heard.
Throughout October, we'll talk about North Carolina Domestic Violence Protective Orders—often called 50B orders—including what they can do, how the court process works, how domestic violence allegations can affect custody and other family-law matters, and why evidence matters on both sides of the courtroom.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 800-799-SAFE (7233).

Charlene Edwards Law Office
Protecting What Matters.
Building Stable Futures for Children.

09/30/2026

📱 Your Divorce Doesn't Need a Social Media Audience.

Divorce can make you angry, hurt, frustrated—and sometimes you want the whole world to know exactly what happened.

Facebook is not the place to tell them.

When you're involved in a divorce or custody case, what you post online can potentially become part of your case. A post written in frustration, a photograph, a comment, a check-in or even something you share can look very different when it's printed and placed in front of a judge.

Before you post, ask yourself:

📱 Would I be comfortable with the judge reading this?
If the answer is no, don't post it.

👧 Does this involve my children?
Children shouldn't become characters in their parents' divorce. Don't post about custody disputes, exchanges, support issues or what the other parent allegedly did.

📸 What does the photo show?
Pictures can reveal locations, activities, purchases, travel and other information you may not have intended to share.

💬 What about private messages?
Texts, direct messages and screenshots have a way of becoming exhibits. Write as though someone other than the recipient may eventually read them.

🔒 But my account is private!
Privacy settings aren't a guarantee. Posts can be saved, screenshotted or shared.

And be careful about the opposite extreme: don't start deleting or destroying potentially relevant information because litigation has begun. Talk with your attorney about what should be preserved.

You don't have to defend yourself online.

You don't have to respond to every accusation.

And you definitely don't have to win your divorce in the court of public opinion.

Sometimes the smartest post during a divorce is the one you never make.

Protect your privacy. Protect your children. Protect your case. Protect your future.

📞 910-893-1128
🌐 lillingtonlawyers.com

09/28/2026

🇺🇸 Military Divorce: The Rules Can Be Different

Military families face many of the same divorce issues as civilian families—but military service adds federal rules and benefits that can have long-term consequences for both spouses.

If you or your spouse serves or served in the military, consider:

🎖️ Military Retirement — Military retired pay earned during the marriage may be subject to division. The often misunderstood 10/10 Rule does NOT determine whether a former spouse is entitled to retirement. It relates to whether DFAS can make direct payments to the former spouse.

🏥 TRICARE — Divorce generally ends a former spouse's TRICARE eligibility unless specific federal requirements are met, including the 20/20/20 or 20/20/15 rules. Know what will happen to health coverage before the divorce is final.

🏠 BAH, BAS & Military Pay — Income isn't always just base pay. Allowances and other compensation may be relevant when calculating child support or spousal support.

❤️ Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) — Being awarded part of military retirement doesn't necessarily mean those payments continue after the service member dies. SBP is a separate issue, and important deadlines may apply.

👨‍👩‍👧 Custody, Deployment & Relocation — PCS orders, deployments and training can complicate parenting schedules. A good custody plan should anticipate the realities of military life.

📄 Federal AND State Law Matter — Military divorce may involve North Carolina law, federal statutes and military regulations. A seemingly simple provision in a separation agreement can have consequences years later.

Military service represents years of commitment and sacrifice. Dividing military benefits deserves careful planning.

Know what you're agreeing to before you sign. Protect what you've earned. Plan for what comes next.

📞 910-893-1128
🌐 lillingtonlawyers.com