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Susan L. Goetcheus

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Avvo Rating9.4
  • Raleigh, NC
  • Licensed for 15 years
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About Susan

 Susan L. Goetcheus is a partner at Sandlin Family Law Group in Raleigh. She is a North Carolina Board Certified Family Law Specialist and Certified Parenting Coordinator. Her practice is devoted exclusively to family law, including divorce, child custody, domestic violence, child support, alimony, equitable distribution, adoptions, separation agreements, pre and post-nuptial agreements and termination of parental rights.

Her law firm also has extensive experience handling appeals. She received her J.D., cum laude, from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2006 and her B.A. in Philosophy, with a minor in Religion, from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1989. During law school, Ms. Goetcheus was a constitutional law research assistant and a member of the Law Journal. She also interned at the North Carolina Court of Appeals for the Honorable Martha A. Geer.
Ms. Goetcheus serves the community as a volunteer lawyer for The Child’s Advocate, through which she represents minor children in high conflict custody matters. She supervises law students through the Campbell University Law School’s Domestic Violence Clinic and represents victims of domestic violence through Project Together. Ms. Goetcheus also represents clients on a pro bono basis through the Volunteer Lawyers Program. Ms. Goetcheus represents individuals in Durham, Chatham, Orange, Johnston and Wake. She is an experienced, effective and zealous advocate.


Ms. Goetcheus lives in Raleigh with her husband, their three children and many pets. She and her law partner, Debbie, volunteer with Pawfect Match dog rescue.

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Languages spoken

English

Contact

Sandlin Family Law Group

5617 Departure Dr Ste 109
Raleigh, NC, 27616-1913

      Resume

      License
      StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
      NCActive200610/22/2021
      We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
      Avvo Contributions
      Legal answers0
      Legal guides0
      Awards
      Award nameGrantorDate granted
      Board Certified Specialist - Family LawNorth Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization2018
      Rising StarSuperLawyers2016
      Associations
      Association namePosition nameDuration
      10th Judicial DistrictN/A2006 - Present
      North Carolina Bar AssociationN/A2006 - Present
      Wake County Bar AssociationN/A2006 - Present
      North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Family Law SectionN/A2005 - Present
      Project TogetherVolunteerN/A
      The Child’s AdvocateVolunteerN/A
      Campbell Law School Domestic Violence ClinicSupervising AttorneyN/A
      Publications
      Publication nameTitleDate
      NC Family Law ForumPutative Fathers and the Children They Never Knew They Had2010
      Education
      School nameDegreeGraduated
      North Carolina Central University School of LawJD - Juris Doctor2006
      Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBA - Bachelor of Arts1989

      Reviews

      (9)5.0 stars
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      Review Susan Goetcheus

      Great family law attorney

      5.0 stars

      Posted by

      I've been a client of Susan's for several years now and I have been very happy with the quality of her work as well as the care she has shown. Being an attorney myself (although not in the Family Law area), I know what a good attorney looks like in the how they communicate with their clients and the amount of attention they give to the details of a particular case. Susan excels in these areas as she has fought long and hard on my behalf over the courses of my cases. When I'm asked for recommendations for good family law attorneys, Susan's name is the first one that I always give.
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      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
      Hired attorney

      Compassionate and Knowledgeable

      5.0 stars

      Posted by

      Susan has been my attorney for several years. She is professional knowledgeable and detail oriented. She remembered things about my case that I had even forgotten and was an amazing advocate for my children when they needed one. She was and continues to be an expert at what she does and is so very honest; a quality I genuinely appreciated. If you are looking for someone who will fight for you look no further than Susan Goetcheus; I cannot recommend her enough.
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      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
      Hired attorney

      Raleigh's Best Family Law Attorney

      5.0 stars

      Posted by

      I don't normally write reviews. However, it would be a disservice for many if I didn't write this one. I hired Susan Goetcheus as my attorney and I would do it again without any reservation. Susan is the best family law attorney in the area in my opinion! She truly is an advocate for her clients in the courtroom. She fought for my needs and wants and was helpful in working through a very unpleasant process. She knows her area of expertise inside and out and will provide very sound advice. Her preparation is second to none. Watch her in the courtroom and you will see what I mean. There is a big difference between good attorney and a great attorney. Susan is a great attorney! Meet with her for a consultation and you will quickly realize exactly what I'm saying is spot on. You will not be dissappointed!
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      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
      Hired attorney

      Susan is Great!

      5.0 stars

      Posted by

      Divorce Sucks, but Susan makes it suck a little less. She is smart and tough but most importantly she knows family law and the family court system. She will fight for you, but also educate you and stop you from making a decision that is not well thought out. She was very upfront about cost. If I do X.. it will cost this much. If I do Y.. it will cost me this much. Divorce and custody cases can be expensive, but don't let cost get in the way. Susan is very fairly priced. She helped me negotiate a fair separation agreement that remains intact to this day. She has also been a great resource for family law information since my divorce (for many, the issues never go away). I would highly recommend Susan to any of my friends or family if they are ever in the unfortunate situation of a divorce or custody dispute. I don't wish it on anyone, but if it happens.. go to Susan.
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      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
      Hired attorney

      Very helpful parent coordinator

      5.0 stars

      Posted by

      Susan was hired as the parent coordinator for my custody case. She helped me with some very difficult communication issues during my high conflict custody battle. Susan was very straight forward, knowledgeable and easy to talk to. I would highly recommend her as a parent coordinator and or attorney.
      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
      Hired attorney

      Incredible divorce lawyer who is not just trying to get your money

      5.0 stars

      Posted by

      Susan Goetcheus is a fantastic attorney. She represented me through several years of domestic litigation, including custody, while my ex went through three different attorneys. Susan is a smart and aggressive litigator and a shrewd negotiator. She is honest and straightforward. I can't believe she even said to me "We can do your suggestion or we can do this without you having to pay me a ton of money." She honestly always had my best interest in mind, even while doubling as a part time shrink when I was on the verge of doing something I shouldn't. She always kept me up to date on the progress of my case and she got great results for me. I highly recommend her.
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      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
      Hired attorney

      Exceptional Family Attorney

      5.0 stars

      Posted by

      Susan has represented me in custody and divorce proceedings consistently for over 8 years. Her representation has made an otherwise overwhelming and stressful situation manageable. I would recommend her to anyone who is in need of a family attorney.
      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
      Hired attorney

      Outstanding help with my Family Law issue

      5.0 stars

      Posted by

      I highly recommend Ms. Goetcheus. Susan has consistently delivered the best possible outcomes for our family given the complicated dynamics of family court and custody agreements. She has always been timely and thorough in her communication as well as accurate in her realistic assessments of our possibilities. Susan never overly-inflated my expectations or shied away from giving me sound counsel, and I have a successful joint custody to show for it. Her empathy for the frustrations that come with family law issues and her ability to keep the larger long-term goals at the forefront of our strategy have routinely given me confidence in my decision-making.
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      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
      Hired attorney

      Very Supportive to a Scared Father

      5.0 stars

      Posted by

      Ms. Goetcheus provided excellent care in returning my son to me. She handled both my custody situation and also divorce. In times that were very stressful for me (especially as a father), Ms. Goetcheus calmly kept things moving forward and kept me informed. I owe her a great personal debt. I just dropped my son off at his new school and the fact that I get to pick him up this afternoon and go to golf lessons is a feeling I never thought I would have again.
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      This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
      Hired attorney

      Attorney endorsements

      (8)
      Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer
      Lawyer Daphne D. Edwards

      Daphne Edwards, Family Attorney on Sep 22, 2020
      Relationship: Worked together on matter

      I endorse this attorney. Susan is a smart, experienced compassionate attorney who cares about her clients and strives to achieve the best outcome for each client.

      Lawyer Helen Morgan O'Shaughnessy

      Helen O'Shaughnessy, Family Attorney on Feb 12, 2019
      Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

      I endorse this lawyer. Susan is a strong advocate for her clients and remains professional despite the emotional aspects of family law litigation.

      Lawyer Daphne D. Edwards

      Daphne Edwards, Family Attorney on Sep 22, 2020
      Relationship: Worked together on matter

      I endorse this attorney. Susan is a smart, experienced compassionate attorney who cares about her clients and strives to achieve the best outcome for each client.

      Lawyer Helen Morgan O'Shaughnessy

      Helen O'Shaughnessy, Family Attorney on Feb 12, 2019
      Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

      I endorse this lawyer. Susan is a strong advocate for her clients and remains professional despite the emotional aspects of family law litigation.

      Lawyer Jonathan Stephen Melton

      Jonathan Melton, Family Attorney on Feb 12, 2019
      Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

      I endorse this lawyer. I've had several cases with Susan. She's a great negotiator and litigator.

      No photo

      Elijah Van Kuren, Family Attorney on May 18, 2018
      Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

      Susan is an experienced and effective advocate. She understands the sensitive and complex dynamics of representing clients involved in domestic disputes and works hard to ensure she achieves the best results.

      Lawyer Sydney Jeanene Batch

      Sydney Batch, Family Attorney on May 17, 2018
      Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

      Susan is a zealous advocate for her clients. She is very knowledgeable about family law. She is also professional and I have enjoyed working with her on various family law matters.

      No photo

      Suzanne Chester, Child custody Attorney on Jan 30, 2018
      Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

      I endorse Susan as a terrific family law attorney. Susan is skillful in the courtroom, knowledgeable and compassionate with her clients. She uses her clients' money carefully, and settles cases where appropriate. She generously gives back to her community by doing pro bono work. Susan is very well versed in the law and uses the law to advocate persuasively for her clients' positions. She appreciates that family law clients are in difficult situations when they meet with her. Through a combination of good listening skills, knowledge of the law, and empathy, Susan helps her clients navigate the stresses of family law litigation.

      Lawyer Suzanne Alicia Nelson

      Suzanne Nelson, Child custody Attorney on Sep 12, 2017
      Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

      I endorse this lawyer. Susan is a zealous advocate for her clients.

      Lawyer Shonnese D. Stanback

      Shonnese Stanback, Family Attorney on Aug 1, 2017
      Relationship: Friend

      Susan is one of the smartest, and most compassionate lawyers I know. Anyone hiring her is in great hands!

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