Sean McIlveen
Founding Partner | Certified Family Financial Mediator | Parent Coordinator | Gastonia
Sean McIlveen is the founding partner of McIlveen Family Law Firm, a Certified Family Financial Mediator and a Parent Coordinator. A Gastonia native, he has practiced family law exclusively for more than two decades and has served Gaston County families since 1998. Clients describe him as tenacious in the courtroom and honest at the conference table.
What kinds of cases does Sean McIlveen handle?
Sean's practice is limited to North Carolina family law: child custody, child support, alimony and postseparation support, equitable distribution, and grandparents' rights. He handles contested trials as well as negotiated settlements and separation agreements.
What is a Certified Family Financial Mediator?
A Certified Family Financial Mediator is a neutral who is certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission to mediate equitable distribution, alimony and other financial disputes in family cases. Sean has served as a mediator in family financial matters for more than a decade, in addition to representing his own clients. That experience gives him a clear view of how cases actually settle, and he uses it to help clients decide when to negotiate and when to try a case. Learn more about divorce mediation.
What does a Parent Coordinator do?
In high-conflict custody cases, a North Carolina judge may appoint a parenting coordinator to help parents carry out their custody order and resolve day-to-day disputes without returning to court. Sean is qualified to serve in that role, and the experience informs how he drafts custody orders for his own clients: clear terms are less likely to be fought over later.
How does Sean approach a family law case?
Sean's approach is grounded in honesty and education. He believes clients make better decisions when they understand the law, the likely range of outcomes and every available option, including the ones he would not recommend. He is direct about strengths and weaknesses, prepares every case as if it will be tried, and settles it when settlement serves the client.
Where did Sean McIlveen go to school?
Sean grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina. He earned his B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and his J.D. from the University of Houston.
Has Sean written or spoken about family law?
Yes. Earlier in his career Sean wrote two books on child custody and has spoken at legal and community events on custody and family law topics. He is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the Gaston County Bar Association and the Cabarrus County Bar Association.
What recognition has Sean McIlveen received?
Sean has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for family law, family law mediation, mediation and family law arbitration (2024–2027), and was selected to North Carolina Super Lawyers for family law (2025–2027). Details are listed below.
Where does Sean practice?
Sean is based in the firm's Gastonia office and represents clients in Gaston County and the surrounding counties, including Cabarrus and Mecklenburg.
Outside the Practice of Law
Sean is a craftsman and builder. He works on cars, builds custom furniture and takes on remodeling projects, with the same attention to detail he brings to a case file. He and his wife, Angela McIlveen, the firm's managing partner, spend the rest of their time with their children.
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Awards
- Selected to North Carolina Super Lawyers, Family Law, 2025 - 2027
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of family law, family law mediation, mediation, & family law arbitration, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027
Memberships and Affiliations
- North Carolina State Bar
- Gaston County Bar Association
- Cabarrus County Bar Association