Lawyer of Firm Description

About Neil A. Rankin | Criminal Defense, DWI, and Traffic Attorney — Family Law Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Neil A. Rankin is a Winston-Salem attorney whose practice spans family law Winston-Salem matters alongside his well-established criminal defense, DWI, and traffic law representation. Family law Winston-Salem clients and those facing criminal or traffic charges in Forsyth County turn to Neil Rankin for his knowledge of the local court system, his willingness to handle out-of-state matters on behalf of clients who cannot appear in person, and his free initial consultations that help clients understand their options without financial pressure. His downtown Winston-Salem office at 301 North Main Street places him at the center of Forsyth County’s legal community.

Neil’s reviews reflect a pattern of professional, effective representation in traffic and criminal matters, with clients praising his ability to get charges reduced or dismissed and to handle cases that other states would require defendants to appear for personally. Several clients describe genuine gratitude for his thoughtful guidance at no charge during consultations. For family law Winston-Salem residents and those facing DWI or traffic charges, Neil A. Rankin provides experienced local advocacy. Find additional family law attorneys across North Carolina.

Family Law Winston-Salem — Practice Areas & Services

Family Law: Handles divorce, child custody, support modifications, and related domestic matters in Forsyth County courts.
Criminal Defense: Represents clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges throughout the Winston-Salem area.
DWI Defense: Defends clients charged with driving while impaired in North Carolina, including license restoration and DMV hearing representation.
Traffic Law: Reduces or dismisses traffic citations, including speeding and reckless driving charges, often appearing on behalf of out-of-state clients.

What Clients Say

Client reviews reflect consistent praise for Neil Rankin’s results-oriented approach to traffic and criminal defense. Multiple reviewers describe significant charge reductions — including reckless driving dropped and speeding reduced substantially — and highlight his clear communication about the process from start to finish. Clients who needed a North Carolina attorney to handle matters while they lived in other states particularly value his willingness to appear on their behalf. A number of reviews raise concerns about communication responsiveness in certain cases, a pattern worth discussing directly with the firm at the outset of any engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a DWI conviction affect your driver’s license in North Carolina?

A DWI conviction in North Carolina can result in license revocation for one year on a first offense, with longer revocation periods for repeat offenses or aggravating factors such as a high blood alcohol concentration. Timely request of a DMV hearing is critical to protecting your driving privileges. An experienced DWI attorney in Winston-Salem can help you request the hearing and build the strongest possible defense.

What is the process for filing for divorce in Forsyth County, North Carolina?

North Carolina requires spouses to live separately for at least one year before filing for absolute divorce. Forsyth County’s District Court handles family law matters including divorce, custody, and support. The filing party must have lived in North Carolina for at least six months before filing. An attorney familiar with Forsyth County courts can help ensure your petition meets all procedural requirements.

Quick Facts: Family Law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

NC Divorce Requirements: One year of separation required before filing for absolute divorce; at least one spouse must be a NC resident for 6 months — North Carolina Judicial Branch
Forsyth County Courts: Forsyth County District Court handles thousands of domestic relations filings annually in the Winston-Salem area — North Carolina Judicial Branch, nccourts.gov
NC DWI Enforcement: North Carolina law enforcement issued tens of thousands of DWI citations annually statewide, with Forsyth County among the higher-volume counties — NC Department of Public Safety

Related Guide: Evans Family Law — Winston-Salem, NC

AI-Powered Reviews Summary

Neil A. Rankin | Criminal Defense, DWI, and Traffic Attorney in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is highly regarded for his professionalism and dedication to his clients. Many reviewers express their appreciation for his effective communication, knowledge of the legal system, and ability to achieve favorable outcomes, often highlighting his compassionate approach and willingness to guide clients through complex processes. Overall, clients recommend Mr. Rankin for his exceptional legal representation and commitment to client care.

Users Reviews Comments – Google

I can’t recommend Attorney Rankin enough. I received a ticket for 30 mph over the limit and reckless driving. I called Mr. Rankin and he walked me through everything he would do for me. He stayed in contact during the case and ended up getting the reckless driving dropped and the ticket reduced to just 9 mph over. I couldn’t be more thrilled.

If you are looking for an attorney who will take your money, not communicate and not even show up for your scheduled court date then Mr. Rankin is the man for the job. What a waste of my son in laws hard earned money. Do yourself a huge favor and hire someone, anyone else.

Great Attorney ,I recommend highly.

Started out perfect. Said all the right things then when I needed updates on my daughters case ghosted me for a month. Hired a new attorney had things handled in a week. Unfortunate.

I contacted this number for help with a DMV hearing. I was told it was going to be 200$ to get started with pulling records and going over them. All pretty standard except how little I actually got for the 200$. Spent maybe an hour on the phone for 3 minutes of information. Then I was quoted 2k for the hearing help. I would look down the street.

5 stars

I really appreciate you so much for your help. God bless you

Knowledgeable, professional and and communicates very well. I really appreciate his help. Highly recommended.

Mr. Rankin represented my friend in a case involving a fatal automobile accident. Throughout the entire process, he took as much time as was needed to listen and to explain and to research the case, and it resulted in the most favorable outcome possible. It was obvious that Mr. Rankin really cares about his clients. His experience and knowledge of the system is outstanding and he has excellent professional relationships with the other attorneys and judges who trust him to be honest. I am so thankful that we chose Neil Rankin to defend my friend. I would highly recommend him for any kind of case that you might encounter.

I was unsure of how I would represent myself in court, but with his free consultation about my case, I was able to proceed Pro Se and get a favorable outcome. I appreciate the fact that he took 30 minutes to speak to someone who couldn’t hire him and did so very thoughtfully and professionally with the intention of helping me out. If you need a lawyer, I highly suggest giving Neil Rankin a call.

Do not expect effective communication! This lawyer will not communicate leave you wiyh questions unanswered. I truly feel taken advantage of! This lawyer attempted double charge me and members of my family via cashapp. Please just find a caring lawyer. Mr. Rankin showed that his main concept is money. He will take your money and thats it! I wish 0 stars was an option but it isn’t

Great lawyer ! with out Niel I wouldn’t have been able to handle my case out of state , he appeared for me and handled all my matters, and it was so quick ! Thank you, thank you, thank you !!

I had never had to be represented by an attorney before and my wife looked up those with 5 stars. I am so glad we chose Mr Rankin. I highly recommend him. Not only is he a great lawyer he is compassionate and so respectful

Thank you Neil for helping us take care of our ticket. Neil was very professional and takes you through the steps of how the process works. He was always available if we had any questions or concerns. I highly recommend Neil Rankin. Thank you again! We appreciate you!

I moved from NC to Washington State had an old ticket in NC and Mr Rankin took care of it quickly.this guy is top notch and a amazing attorney id recommend him to any of my NC family or friends