How can I confirm I’m calling the correct law firm when online listings are confusing? – North Carolina

Short Answer

In North Carolina, the safest way to confirm the correct law firm is to verify the firm’s name, phone number, and lawyer identity using official sources before sharing sensitive information. Start with the firm’s own website and cross-check the lawyer or firm through the North Carolina State Bar’s public directory. If the listing looks inconsistent (different city, different name, call routing, or “sponsored” placement), treat it as unverified and keep searching for a nearby family law office.

Understanding the Problem

In North Carolina family law, the practical question is: can a caller confirm the correct law firm before discussing a divorce, custody, or support issue when online search results and directory listings show multiple similar names, locations, or phone numbers? The decision point is whether the contact information shown online actually belongs to the intended firm (and not a different office, a marketing directory, or a call-routing service). This matters most at the first call, when a caller may be ready to share private facts and needs a local family law practice rather than an office located far away.

Apply the Law

North Carolina law generally prohibits advertising that is willfully deceptive or misleading, and that principle applies to services offered to the public. Separately, North Carolina lawyers must also follow professional rules that require truthful communications about legal services and accurate identification of the lawyer or firm. Even with those rules, confusing online listings still happen, so the most reliable approach is to confirm identity through official and direct sources before relying on a listing.

Key Requirements

• Confirm the source of the phone number: Prefer the phone number published on the firm’s own website (not only a directory card or “sponsored” result).
• Confirm the lawyer or firm identity: Match the firm name and at least one attorney name across sources, then verify the attorney through the North Carolina State Bar directory.
• Confirm the location and service area: Check the city/county shown on the firm’s website and compare it to the online listing so the call reaches a nearby family law practice.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-117 (Fraudulent and deceptive advertising) – makes willfully deceptive or misleading advertising unlawful when done with intent to mislead.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: The facts describe a potential client in North Carolina who reached the wrong law office because online listings were confusing and the reached firm is far away. The key requirements above point to a simple fix: confirm the phone number using the firm’s own website, confirm the attorney identity through the North Carolina State Bar directory, and confirm the office location before discussing family-law details. If any of those items do not match (for example, the listing shows one city but the firm website shows another), the listing should be treated as unreliable and the search should continue for a local office.

Process & Timing

1. Who checks: The caller. Where: The firm’s official website and the North Carolina State Bar’s public lawyer directory. What: Match the firm name, attorney name, and phone number across sources. When: Before sharing sensitive facts (especially about children, finances, or safety concerns).
2. Confirm the listing type: If the search result is labeled “Ad,” “Sponsored,” or routes through a tracking number, treat it as a marketing placement and verify the number on the firm’s website before calling back.
3. Confirm the local fit: Verify the city/county on the firm website and ask on the call whether the office handles cases in the caller’s county; if not, request a referral to a closer family law practice.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Some legitimate firms use third-party answering services after hours; that can be normal, but the firm name, location, and attorney identity should still match what appears on the firm’s website and in the State Bar directory.
• A common mistake is relying on map pins, “near me” results, or directory profiles that show a local address while the phone number routes elsewhere. Cross-check the phone number and firm name on the firm’s own site.
• Another common mistake is sharing confidential facts before confirming the office. A safer approach is to first ask, “Is this [firm name] located in [city/county]?” and only then discuss the family law issue.

Conclusion

In North Carolina, confusing online listings can lead to calling the wrong law office, so the best way to confirm the correct firm is to verify the firm name, phone number, and attorney identity using direct and official sources. A practical next step is to locate the firm’s official website, match the phone number and attorney name, and then confirm the attorney through the North Carolina State Bar directory before discussing sensitive family-law details.

Talk to a Family Law Attorney

If confusing online listings caused a call to reach the wrong office and the goal is to find a nearby family law practice, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help explain options and timelines and, when appropriate, point the caller toward the right local resources. Call us today at 919-341-7055.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.