Kathryn Tart

Kathryn Johnston Tart is licensed and practices law in North Carolina, having become licensed in August 2004 after graduating from Campbell Law School in May 2004. Her law practice has included family law, business formations, estate planning, real estate transactions, adoptions and juvenile law, with the majority of her practice in family law. She owned and managed a law firm for more than ten years while she practiced law but decided the business of law interrupted her enjoyment of practicing law so she closed her law firm and has joined Marshall Taylor.

Kathryn values communication with her clients and brings a unique and creative approach to resolution for her family law clients. Her approach has evolved over many years as she has practiced in complementary legal areas alongside family law. She has trained herself to listen carefully to each client and filter each case through the nuggets she learned from other practice areas to help her clients determine the best possible outcomes for their cases as well as the variations that may also be good results for them. Kathryn enjoys both helping clients through that process and the satisfaction they get from their outcomes. She is well versed in residential and commercial real property and has developed unique methods to resolve cases involving the real estate market of the day. She has experienced the realities of custodial schedules and co-parenting and speaks from real life experience with her clients about the effects of custody outcomes on the family. She knows the various business formations North Carolina law allows, has discovered multiple small businesses opposing parties were hoping wouldn’t be found during litigation and has developed effective methods to fairly resolving family law legal issues related to a business. Additionally, she encourages clients to make an estate plan and often gives them points to discuss with an estate planner if they request her input. Given the application of Kathryn’s legal knowledge and experiences into her cases, each of her clients walks away with more than a mere family law outcome; each steps into a new life with working knowledge that leads to their next best move.

Outside the law office, Kathryn enjoys life with her two sons, friends, family, axolotl, doodle dog and husky grand dog. She stays busy reading, cooking, exercising, getting outdoors and traveling. Prior to becoming a lawyer, she taught school for eight years in North Carolina and Mexico, wrote textbooks for Heineman McMillan and was a certified strength training coach. She currently serves the community as a board member of the Harnett County Community Foundation and is a member of the Fuquay-Varina Board of Adjustments.

Community Involvement

Cape Fear Christian Academy, Board Member: November 2011–Present; Academics Affairs Committee, Chair: Fall 2012 – Present; Discipline Committee, Chair: Fall 2014 – Present
Friends of Cancer, Board Member: 2014–2016
North Carolina Community Foundation, Harnett County Affiliate, President and Executive Board Member: January 2017-December 2018; Board Member: Summer 2012–Present
Dunn Chamber, Board Member: 2010–2012; Vice-President of Community Development and Executive Board Member: January 2012 – December 2012
First Presbyterian Church, Elder – January 2010 – December 2013; Mission Study Committee: March 2015 – September 2015; Stewardship Council January 2016 – December 2016; Active Member: 2010-2024
Kirk of Kildaire: Active Member: 2024
12th Judicial Bar: President: January 2017 – December 2017; Vice-President: January 2016 – December 2016; and Secretary/Treasurer: January 2015 – December 2015