Charles W. Clanton

Attorney

phone icon919.865.2816 wclanton@wyrick.com
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Bio

Whit practices in the areas of family law and appellate litigation. He is a North Carolina Board Certified Family Law Specialist.  He has been with the firm since 1991, and is licensed to practice in all North Carolina state courts and in the federal courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina.  Whit has handled family law cases in many North Carolina counties outside of Wake County, including Orange, Chatham, Durham, Forsyth, Person, Robeson, Wayne, Cumberland, Moore, Dare, Pitt, and New Hanover counties.  Whit is a native of North Carolina.

He attended Yale University and received his B.A from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He received his J.D., with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he served on the North Carolina Journal of International Law & Commercial Regulation and the Moot Court bench.

  • Listed among The Best Lawyers in America: Family Law (2009-2026)
  • Listed among North Carolina Super Lawyers: Family Law (2012-2021); Appellate (2025-2026)
  • Listed among Business North Carolina Magazine Legal Elite: Family Law (2015); Appellate (2024-2025)
  • 2014 Award for Professional Excellence from the Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA), in Programs category, for seminar The War of the Roses in the Digital Age
  • 2014 CLE Volunteer of the Year Award from North Carolina Bar Association (along with Kimberly W. Bryan)
  • American Bar Association, Family Law Section; Litigation Section, 1991 to present
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Family Law Section; Litigation Section, 1991 to present
  • Family Law Specialty Committee, North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, member 2013 – 2020, chair 2016 – 2018 and 2019 – 2020
  • Equitable Distribution Committee, Family Law Section, North Carolina Bar Association, member 2017 to present, chair or co-chair 2017 to present
  • UBE (Uniform Bar Examination) state-specific component Family Law subcommittee of the Board of Law Examinaers of the State of North Carolina, member 2018 (developed state-specific family law component for bar exam)
  • Family Law Section Council, Council member 2020 – 2023
  • Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Committee, Family Law Section, North Carolina Bar Association, member 2008 to present
  • Wake County Bar Association
  • Munn v. Munn, 112 N.C. App. 151, 435 S.E.2d 74 (1993)
  • Rice v. Rice, 159 N.C.App. 487, 584 S.E.2d 317 (2003)
  • Davidson v. Davidson, 283 N.C. App. 115, 871 S.E.2d 161 (2022) (unpublished decision)
  • Logue v. Logue, 285 N.C. App. 461, 877 S.E.2d 887, denied, 881 S.E.2d 304 (N.C.) (2022)
  • Dillree by and Through Tobias v. Dillree, 287 N.C. App. 33, 882 S.E.2d 354 (2022), denied, 891 S.E.2d 291 (N.C. 2023)
  • Smith v. Dressler, 291 N.C. App. 197, 895 S.E.2d 459 (2023), denied, 900 S.E.2d 673 (N.C. 2024)
  • Lawrence v. Lawrence, 294 N.C. App. 355, 903 S.E.2d 374 (2024)
  • North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, 2007 to present
  • “Dissecting a Business Valuation Report: What to Look for in the First Read Through,” Family Advocate (publication of the American Bar Association), Winter 2025
  • Guest lecturer, Campbell Law School Family Law class, Spring semesters 2017 – 2025, topics in equitable distribution
  • “Equitable Distribution Part 2: Pension, Retirement, and Deferred Compensation Benefits (G.S. 50-20.1),” 2022 Family Court Conference, North Carolina Judicial Branch (manuscript and presentation)
  • “Division of Pensions, Retirement Benefits, Deferred Compensation,” North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Intensive Program, November 2023 and January 2024 (manuscript, presentation at November 2023 only)
  • “New Changes to the Equitable Distribution Statute,” North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Intensive Program, November 2019 and January 2020 (manuscript and presentation)
  • “New Legislation and Litigation Pitfalls,” Wake County Bar Association seminar, August 2019 (manuscript and presentation)
  • A Taxing Day for Family Lawyers: Tax Traps, Strategies, Basics and More (program co-planner), North Carolina Bar Foundation 2017 Family Law Fall Program, September 2017
  • The War of the Roses in the Digital Age, Part II: The Roses Go to Court (program co-planner, co-author, panel moderator, and actor in video segments), North Carolina Bar Foundation 2015 Family Law Fall Program, September 2015 (manuscript, video, and presentation)
  • “CPA on the Hot Seat,” CPA/Law Forum, Triangle Chapter, November 2009
  • “The War of the Roses in the Digital Age: A Hypothetical Family Law Case” (course co-planner, co-author, panel moderator, and actor in video segments), North Carolina Bar Association Foundation 2013 Fall Family Law Program, October 2013 (Winner of 2014 Award for Professional Excellence from the Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA), Programs category)
  • “Hidden Money and Hidden Assets,” North Carolina Bar Association Foundation Family Law Intensive Program, October 2011 and February 2012 (manuscript and presentation)
  • “Third Party Issues in Equitable Distribution,” North Carolina Bar Association Foundation Intensive Equitable Distribution Seminar, October 2009 and February 2010
  • “CPA on the Hot Seat,” CPA/Law Forum, Triangle Chapter, November 2008
  • “Determining Income of Self-Employed Persons,” UNC School of Government District Court Judges’ Special Topic Seminar, April 2008
  • “How Taxes Can Transform Property Distribution and Valuation,” North Carolina Bar Association Foundation Family Law Intensive Seminar, October 2007 and February 2008
  • “Determining, Imputing, and Proving Income,” North Carolina Bar Association Foundation Family Law Intensive Program, November 2005 and February 2006
  • “Prosecuting Alienation of Affection and Criminal Conversation,” North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers program Marital Torts: The Dangers of Dalliances, January 2006
  • “CPA on the Hot Seat,” CPA/Law Forum, Triangle Chapter, October 2004
  • “Post-Separation Support, Alimony and Child Support: Income Analysis of Closely-Held Corporations, S-Corps, and Sole Proprietorships, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers program Family Law: Mastering the Experts, August 2004

Practice Areas

Appellate Litigation

With a dedicated team focused on appellate litigation, our Appellate Litigation practice group represents individuals and businesses in all types of appeals, including corporate, family law, estates, torts, healthcare, contracts, and administrative cases. Our approach combines solid research, creative thinking, and strong written and oral advocacy to create compelling arguments to best position our clients for success in the appellate courts.

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