Raleigh, N.C. (January 9, 2025) — Smith Debnam is proud to announce that Rose H. Stout, a partner and board certified family law specialist, has been named to Business North Carolina’s 2025 Legal Elite in the Family Law category. This honor, now in its 24th year, recognizes lawyers chosen by their peers as the state’s top attorneys in their respective fields.
Stout has devoted her career to helping clients navigate all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody, equitable distribution, child support, and alimony. Certified as a family law specialist by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization since 1991, she brings extensive trial experience to the district court level and has shared her knowledge by speaking at family law seminars across the state.
In addition to her inclusion in the 2025 Legal Elite, Stout was recently named the 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law by Best Lawyers in America. She has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2007 and has been recognized among North Carolina Super Lawyers every year since 2006. Stout is also a recipient of the Sarah H. Davis Excellence Award from the North Carolina Board of Legal Specialization.
The Business North Carolina Legal Elite list is based on a rigorous peer-voting process facilitated by DataJoe Research, a software and research company specializing in data collection and verification. For the 2025 list, about 1,300 attorneys across the state submitted votes.
About Smith Debnam For over five decades, Smith Debnam has been at the forefront of legal excellence, serving as a trusted advisor to institutions and individuals across a wide range of industries. Their team of accomplished legal professionals combines experience, compassion, and a commitment to responsible representation. With headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, and a regional office in Charleston, South Carolina, Smith Debnam is strategically positioned to provide comprehensive legal services throughout the region. Their extensive experience in state and federal courts allows the firm to navigate diverse practice areas, including Litigation, Creditors’ Rights, Transactional and Advisory Services, Divorce and Family Law, and Personal Representation.
