My name is Jennifer Payne and I am a family law attorney who has been practicing in Winston-Salem and the surrounding communities since 2010.
Although I have litigated family law cases for thirteen years, my passion lies in helping people find the “off-ramp” to litigation as a way to resolve their family issues. I have seen litigation devastate families financially and emotionally, and I believe that for families who want a better option, collaborative law is the best way to retain control over your life and preserve your relationships even as they are transforming from a marriage or partnership to a co-parenting relationship. I would welcome the opportunity to guide you through a different kind of separation that puts you and your needs first.
In addition to being a collaboratively trained attorney, I am also a certified family financial mediator through the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Committee and I love advocating for other forms of alternative dispute resolution including arbitration and the use of Parenting Coordinators in high-conflict custody cases.
In addition to the North Carolina Collaborative Attorney Network, I am also a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Civil Collaborative Law Association, the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and the National Association of Certified Mediators and I have also served on the Board of Directors of Phoenix Rising of Winston-Salem, Inc., which is the fundraising arm of Drug Treatment Court in Forsyth County; and Lawndale Swim and Tennis Club in Greensboro.
I graduated in 2010 from the Wake Forest University School of Law after completing my Masters’ coursework in public history at UNC-Charlotte. I graduated summa cum laude with a major in history and a minor in political science from North Carolina Central University.
When I am not helping my clients, I am spending time with my husband, Chris, and our dogs, and probably thinking about cooking food, reading cookbooks, or gardening.