About the Firm
Family law practiced with precision and patience.
Founded in Charlotte in 2011, Hartwell Family Law focuses exclusively on the legal matters that affect families. Three attorneys, one practice area, and a consistent standard of care.
A firm built on
a single commitment.
Family law is not a revenue-padding add-on at Hartwell — it is the only work we do. That focus means our attorneys appear in Mecklenburg County family court every week, know the local case management timeline, and have built professional relationships that help cases move efficiently.
We take a limited number of new clients each month to maintain attorney availability. If your matter is time-sensitive, tell us when you call.
Our Attorneys
The attorneys you will work with.
Margaret Hartwell
Margaret founded Hartwell Family Law in 2011 after six years at a regional litigation firm, where she handled complex marital estates, contested custody trials, and multi-jurisdictional enforcement matters.
She concentrates her practice on high-asset divorce, business-owner representation, and prenuptial agreements. Opposing counsel know her cases arrive with thorough financial analysis — she does not bluff at the mediation table.
Margaret serves on the Mecklenburg Bar Association's Family Law Section executive committee and is a trained collaborative divorce attorney.
High-asset divorce · Business valuation · Prenuptial agreements
NC Bar No. 32841 · Licensed 2006
UNC School of Law, J.D. 2005 · Wake Forest University, B.A. 2002
- Mecklenburg Bar Assoc., Family Law Section
- Collaborative Practice NC
- NC State Bar Family Law Specialist (Board Certified)
David Okafor
David joined Hartwell Family Law in 2014 and became partner in 2019. His practice centers on custody litigation, parenting plan drafting, and post-decree enforcement — the cases where children's stability is on the line.
He has tried more than 80 custody matters in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties, and his parenting plan templates have been adopted by several Charlotte mediation practices as a drafting baseline.
David is a frequent presenter at NC Bar continuing-education programs on relocation disputes and guardian ad litem procedures.
Child custody · Parenting plans · Post-decree modifications
NC Bar No. 47392 · Licensed 2012
Campbell University School of Law, J.D. 2011 · NC A&T, B.S. 2008
- NC Bar CLE Faculty — Custody Relocation
- Trained Guardian ad Litem Volunteer
- Mecklenburg Bar Family Law Section
Priya Anand
Priya joined the firm in 2020 after clerking for a Mecklenburg County District Court judge, where she reviewed hundreds of family law orders and gained firsthand understanding of how judges evaluate evidence and credibility.
She handles divorce, child support calculations, and domestic violence protective orders. Her judicial clerkship background means she drafts motions and agreements with the court's perspective in mind — not just the client's.
Priya is a member of the NC Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division and volunteers quarterly at the Mecklenburg County Legal Aid family law clinic.
Divorce · Child support · Protective orders
NC Bar No. 58714 · Licensed 2019
Duke University School of Law, J.D. 2018 · Davidson College, B.A. 2015
- Former Judicial Law Clerk — Mecklenburg County District Court
- NC Bar Young Lawyers Division
- Mecklenburg Legal Aid Volunteer
How We Work
What you can hold us to.
Exclusive focus on family law
We do not handle criminal defense, real estate closings, or estate planning. Every attorney at Hartwell knows family law deeply — the statutes, the local judges, and the procedural nuances that affect outcomes.
Direct attorney contact
Your attorney responds to your emails. If they are in court, you will hear back the same day. We do not use paralegals as a communication buffer.
Transparent fee agreements
Every engagement begins with a written fee agreement. You know the scope, the rate, and any flat-fee packages before we file anything.
Strategy before filings
We spend consultation time understanding your specific facts — not rushing to file. A case positioned well from the start settles faster and costs less.
Ready to speak with an attorney?
Flat-fee consultations are $350 for one hour — no obligation to retain. Available Monday through Friday.
Schedule a confidential consultation