Attorneys in Family Law

Meet Caldwell Barefoot & Mariana Godwin

Experienced Professionals with Deep Roots in the Raleigh Community

By its nature, family law is a practice that depends on the human element. Understanding the relationship dynamics of the people involved plays a large role in working toward a desired outcome. That idea extends to the family law attorney hired to represent you during divorce proceedings or other legal issues within a family unit.

Clients should have a firm sense of who their attorney is. Knowing their background, their experiences, and their credentials is key for making an informed decision about your representation. The attorneys at Barefoot Family Law are proud to share their stories and value the process of building a rapport with potential clients.

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Caldwell Barefoot

Since the start of his legal career in 1994, Caldwell has dedicated his working life to the practice of family law in North Carolina. He developed his skills as a former partner with of one of the largest firms in North Carolina before founding Barefoot Family Law in 2010. As the divorced father of three children, he personally understands the challenges that spouses, parents, and children face during family law matters. Now that his children are fully grown, Caldwell enjoys spending his free time on his farm in Granville County with his family and friends. Read more about Caldwell here.

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Mariana Godwin

Mariana learned to appreciate the value of family and community by being born and raised in the small town of Dunn, North Carolina. She earned her law degree from Campbell University and joined Barefoot Family Law after working for one of the largest firms in North Carolina. Mariana has devoted her entire career to litigating family law matters of divorce, child custody, and property distribution for her clients. When not advocating for the clients of Barefoot Family Law, Mariana volunteers with “Lawyer on the Line” to help members of the Raleigh community most in need.

Recognition & Awards

Years of commitment to providing excellent family law services to the people of North Carolina have led to Caldwell and Mariana receiving numerous recognitions. Caldwell and Mariana are grateful for the people who entrust Barefoot Family Law to represent them through difficult periods of their lives and know that all honors reflect that trust.

  • U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers named Barefoot Family Law as one of the Best Law Firms in America and individually named its attorneys as Best Lawyers in America.
  • Caldwell was named the Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in the Raleigh-Durham region in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America.
  • Mariana and Caldwell are each North Carolina Board Certified Family Law Specialists.
  • Both attorneys are members of the Business North Carolina Magazine’s Legal Elite Hall of Fame, an honor shared with less than 20 other family law attorneys in North Carolina.
  • Caldwell has belonged to the Super Lawyer’s Top 100 lawyers across all practice areas for the entire State of North Carolina for the last three years and for 9 of the last 11 years. Mariana is a member of the North Carolina Super Lawyer’s Rising Stars.
  • Caldwell received the highest rating (AV-rated) from Martindale-Hubbell.
  • In 2008, Mariana received the honor of induction into the Order of Barristers, a recognition for attorneys who exhibit excellence through the art of courtroom advocacy.
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Schedule a Consultation with Barefoot Family Law’s Award-Winning Attorneys

Being a family attorney requires a high level of warmth and objectivity in the most emotional of situations. The attorneys of Barefoot Family Law developed those important traits through their professional experiences. As a result, Caldwell and Mariana have earned the respect of their legal peers and members of the North Carolina community for their efforts in family law. They hope to bring the value of that reputation to every client representation, mediation and courtroom appearance.