Chris Adkins is a native of Charlotte and graduated from Myers Park High School. After college and law school, he moved back to Charlotte and served as a police officer, and as a combat engineer officer in the N.C. Army National Guard. He focuses his law practice, Adkins Law, primarily on family law and estate planning. Chris lives in Mooresville with his wife and their four children. They both have children from previous relationships, and one child together. He thoroughly understand the difficulties that come with divorce, dividing your assets and debts, and child custody, having to blend two child custody schedules himself. Understanding custody from both a legal and practical perspective, he tries to help his clients develop arrangements that truly support their children’s best interests, and that work for the long term. Chris is passionate about helping parents develop schedules that minimize conflict, and support their children’s growth and development. His practice philosophy avoids or minimizes litigation to the extent they are able to come to a reasonable agreement. If they are not, or if they are dealing with the unreasonable, they have no choice but to fight for what is best for your children and your family.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I am married to my wife, Ashley, and we have four children: Tanner 13 y/o, Georgia 11 y/o, Charlie 8 y/o, and Lottie 3 y/o
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I served as a police officer in Charlotte for 6.5 years and as a combat engineer officer in the Army for 8.5 years. After a deployment in 2013, I transitioned into practicing law full time. I love helping families resolve their differences so they are able to raise their children in the best environment possible. I also love ensuring families have sound estate plans so they have peace of mind that everyone is getting taken care of in the event something happens.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Lake Norman?*
Epic Chophouse in Mooresville. They have the best steaks in the Lake Norman area in my opinion!
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Lake Norman?*
I am a native of Charlotte and grew up in the Myers Park area. I moved to Huntersville in 2012 and have since migrated further north to Mooresville.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?*
It’s winter and I love all four seasons so I would probably pick somewhere cold to ski. Probably somewhere in Colorado!
Q: What advice would you give to people?
I recently read a book called Give and Take by Adam Grant. It’s a very interesting book comparing people who give to others and those that take from others. In a nutshell, those that take from others don’t make it very far. Those that give way too much are kind but also generally not very successful. Those that authentically give (time, referrals, help, advice, connections, etc.) smartly tend to be the most successful people in life. My advice would be to read that book and learn to be more of a thoughtful giver.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
To provide for my family and successfully put all four of our children through college.
Q: Do you have any pets? Tell us about them!
Sadly, my longtime yellow lab companion, Morgan, passed away a few years ago and we haven’t replaced her. I love labs!
Q: If someone was visiting Lake Norman for the first time, what’s one thing you would tell them they HAVE to do here on their trip?
Spending time on the lake for one is always fun. But I would also encourage them to visit our breweries, raft at the Whitewater Center, go go-kart racing at The Pit in Mooresville, and go for a hike at Lake Norman State Park!
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?*
That I have travelled to forty five countries and circumnavigated the globe by ship.
Q: What is your favorite pizza topping?
Arugula, it’s a veg-uh-tuh-bul! One of my favorite lines from Steve Martin in My Blue Heaven. But I would say an arugula, mozzarella, and prosciutto pizza is my favorite!
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My parents, Chuck and Melinda, inspire me to be better. They are intelligent, successful, kind, and generous. That’s all I could dream to be.
Q: Finally, what would be your #1 “wish list” feature for your dream house?
To have a finished basement space and a pool! We are trying to finish our basement now and it is quite an experience!