Debra Manduley, Esq.

Position: Attorney

Overview

I practice exclusively family law, striving to settle cases outside of court whenever possible, steering cases to settlement along the way. I negotiate, mediate, collaborate, and litigate (as last resort) to reach lasting separation agreements, consent/stipulated judgments and orders, coparenting plans (child custody and visitation), prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. I am a counselor at law, with the goal of achieving lifelong positive effects for clients. I am a creative problem solver and look at each client’s individual story and legal concerns to assist them to select a resolution method that meets their goals and needs, adjusting as the case moves forward. I am licensed in North Carolina and California. I have many cases that have complex multijurisdictional aspects and consult with attorneys often in both states. I have had a virtual law practice since 2013, saving clients time and money through use of technology, with a very hands on approach. I am just an email, call or zoom conference away.

Education

BS (Math minor), California State University, 1988
JD, California Western School of Law, 2006

Experience

I have been licensed in CA since 2007 and NC since 2013. I worked for a family law attorney as a paralegal while in law school and started my own sole practice in 2010. Before I decided to fulfill my lifelong dream of being an attorney, I was a software engineer and technology products manager, managing teams of software developers in Raleigh and San Diego, for a large electronics company. My project management, financial analysis, and resource management skills I developed in my former profession have translated well to my career as an attorney. I early on determine the client’s goal, assist them in fine tuning, and work with them to formulate a plan for resolution of their matter in a manner that takes into account the economic and emotional costs as well as the future long-term effects of their family law case. I have litigated hundreds of family law cases, involving property division, child custody, date of separation, divorces, spousal and child support, and other interesting issues, including military benefits, paternity determinations, breaches of fiduciary duties, division of complex assets which have grown in value after date of separation, proof of inheritance, and domestic violence. I have resolved far more cases containing these same issues by out of court resolution methods.