Jon has devoted his practice to family law since graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1994. Since that time, he has become a Board-Certified Specialist in family law so that he could dedicate his practice to only helping families struggling with issues related to separation and divorce. Only approximately 3% of North Carolina’s attorneys are certified by the North Carolina State Bar as Specialists. Jon is also a trained mediator and has handled numerous family law appeals at both the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Jon takes special care to ensure that his clients find someone that truly cares for their needs and who looks after their individual case and circumstances. This personal attention has helped Jon earn a rating of “AV” (Highest Rating) by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory beginning in 2006.
Jon, along with his other original founding partner, Gary Tash (now retired), started Tash & Kurtz, PLLC in 2005 with the goal of establishing a small boutique family law practice that could provide the high-quality services of a large law firm. The firm has continued to grow and is now known as Kurtz Evans Whitley Guy & Simos, PLLC. Our goal has always been to maintain a friendly atmosphere and exemplary attention to clients. Since that time, Kurtz Evans Whitley Guy & Simos, PLLC has grown to become one of Winston-Salem’s largest family law practices, with more Board-Certified Family Law Specialists (as of 2018) than any other firm in Forsyth County.
Jon has an extensive list of accomplishments, including having been listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” (in the field of Family Law), and by Super Lawyers (also in the field of Family Law). The firm has been recognized by U.S. News in it’s annual “Best Law Firms” list since 2010. Jon has also served on numerous community boards and law-related committees, including having served as Chair of the Family Law Specialization Committee for the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.
Jon has served as an adjunct professor teaching Family Law at the Wake Forest University School of Law. He has been a frequent publisher of family law materials and he is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education programs for family lawyers across the state.
In his free time, Jon enjoys woodworking, particularly wood turning, and playing the guitar.
Co-Author and Lecturer, “Preparing & Managing an Equitable Distribution Case.” Basics of Family Law. North Carolina Bar Foundation, Continuing Legal Education, November 2016.
Guest Lecturer, Wake Forest University School of Law, Child Advocacy Clinic, February 2016, “Child Custody, Mediation & the Role of the Guardian ad Litem.”
Author and Lecturer, “Third Party Custody & Visitation.” Child’s Play: An Overview of Custody Issues. North Carolina Bar Foundation, Continuing Legal Education, May 2014.
Co-Course Planner, 2013 North Carolina Family Law Specialists Annual Conference, Continuing Legal Education Program.
Co-Author and Lecturer, “Religious Beliefs and Custody,” The Modern American Family: Representing Non-Traditional Families. North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Continuing Legal Education, February 2013.
Author and Lecturer, “Third-Party Interveners in a Custody Case – Best Interest.” Guardian Ad Litem Training. The Children’s Law Center of Central North Carolina, January 2013.
Author and Lecturer, “Representing the Parents of Special Needs Children,” In Sickness or in Health, 2011 Family Law Fall Meeting. North Carolina Bar Foundation, Continuing Legal Education, September 2011.
Co-Author and Lecturer, “Managing a Child Custody Case,” The Modern Family, 2010 Basics of Family Law. North Carolina Bar Foundation, Continuing Legal Education, November 2010.
Author and Lecturer, “Custody Motions,” Family Law – How To’s. A Practical Guide for Handling Family Law Cases. N.C. Advocates for Justice, Continuing Legal Education, December 2009.
Author and Lecturer, “Relationship Between Equitable Distribution, Alimony and Child Support,” Wake Forest School of Law Continuing Legal Education, October 2007.
Co-Author and Lecturer, “Custody Motions,” Family Law Specialist Conference, July 2007.
Co-Course Planner, Basics of Family Law, North Carolina Bar Foundation, Continuing Legal Education, November 2006.
Guest Lecturer, Wake Forest University School of Law, Clinic Program, January 2006 – “Client Interviewing Techniques.”
Author, “Equitable Distribution of Stock Grants – The Lesson of Ubertaccio,”North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, July 25, 2005, Vol. 18, No. 19.
Co-Course Planner, 2005 North Carolina Family Law Specialists Annual Conference, Continuing Legal Education Program
Author and Lecturer, “Creative Uses for Financial Standing Affidavits and Pretrial Orders,” Alimony & PSS – Ten Years After the Fact (2005 Family Law Annual Meeting), North Carolina Bar Foundation, Continuing Legal Education, May 2005.
Author, “Equitable Distribution of Stock Grants – The Lesson of Ubertaccio,”Family Forum, Vol. 25, No. 5, May 2005.
Guest Lecturer, Wake Forest University School of Law, Clinic Program, January 2005 – “Client Interviewing Techniques.”
Co-Course Planner, Basics of Family Law, North Carolina Bar Foundation, Continuing Legal Education, November 2004.
Author and Lecturer, “Legal Traps in Family Law Cases,” Basics of Family Law, North Carolina Bar Foundation, Continuing Legal Education, November 2004.
Author and Lecturer, “Use and Limits of Protection,” Evidentiary Issues in Child Custody Cases: Hot Topics in Family Law,” North Carolina Bar Foundation, Continuing Legal Education, September 2004.
Author, “North Carolina’s Alimony Statute: Is It Time for Guidelines?” North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Trial Briefs, October 2003.
Author and Lecturer, “How to Avoid Reduction of Your Client’s Marital Share in Equitable Distribution,” Practical Family Law 2002 Seminar, Wake Forest School of Law Continuing Legal Education.
Guest Speaker, Wake Forest University School of Law, April 1999 – “How to Succeed as a New Lawyer.”
Organizer and Lecturer, 1997 – 1999, “What You Didn’t Learn in Law School Seminar,” Sponsored by Forsyth County Young Lawyers Division.
Guest Speaker, Wake Forest University School of Law, 1998 – “Opportunities for Young Lawyers in the Legal Profession.”
Co-Author and Lecturer, “Child Support and Interstate Issues,” Practical Family Law Desk Book 1996 – Wake Forest University School of Law Continuing Legal Education.
Co-Author, “Divorce,” North Carolina General Practice Handbook 1997, Wake Forest University School of Law Continuing Legal Education.
Co-Author, “Alimony,” North Carolina General Practice Handbook 1997, Wake Forest University School of Law Continuing Legal Education.
Co-Author, “Family Law Contracts,” North Carolina General Practice Handbook 1997, Wake Forest University School of Law Continuing Legal Education.
Co-Author, “Setting Aside Separation Agreements,” Family Forum, Vol. 16, No. 3, January 1996.
