Terry Duncan
Partner — 30+ Years of Bankruptcy Law Experience
“I didn’t come to bankruptcy law in a straight line — I was a police officer, a bodyguard, a teacher before I ever set foot in a law school. What I found when I finally got here is that all of it prepared me. Thirty years and thousands of cases later, I still mean that.”
Co-founding partner of Duncan Law, LLP — over three decades of bankruptcy practice and over 5,000 cases filed, serving individuals and families across North Carolina.
WHAT DRIVES ME
Thirty Years In — and I Still Find This Work Meaningful
When people ask me how I’ve stayed in bankruptcy law for over three decades, my honest answer is: because it matters every single time. The circumstances change. The faces change. But the moment a client realizes there’s a real path out of the financial situation they’re in — that doesn’t get routine.
I’ve filed over 5,000 bankruptcy cases over the course of my career. That’s a lot of people who came to me carrying something heavy and left with a real chance to start over. That number keeps me grounded. Each one represents a person or a family who trusted us at one of the hardest moments of their lives.
I also teach other bankruptcy attorneys at advanced continuing legal education seminars. Staying sharp enough to teach the law means I’m always at the current edge of it — and it’s one of the ways I give back to a profession that has given me a great deal.
IN TERRY’S OWN WORDS
My Path to Law Was Anything But Straight
Most attorney bios read the same way: top of the class, law review, associate, partner track. That’s not my story. My story starts in Northeast Texas and takes some turns before it arrives at a law degree.
I was a police officer. I worked patrol and handled traffic accidents. I spent time as a bodyguard for celebrities — which is as interesting as it sounds, and also considerably less glamorous than you’d imagine. I taught school: economics, history, U.S. government. I operated a convenience store for a stretch after college. During law school at Texas Wesleyan, I worked with Gary Dobbs and Phil McGraw at Courtroom Sciences, Inc.
Every one of those experiences taught me something I use in this work every day. The police work taught me to stay calm in difficult situations and read people quickly. Teaching taught me that if you can’t explain something clearly, you don’t understand it well enough. Running a business taught me that financial pressure is real, it affects everything, and there’s no shame in needing help getting through it.
When I finally got to law school, I already knew how to handle pressure. I already knew how to talk to people who were scared or frustrated. I already knew what it meant to be responsible for something that mattered. The law degree was the last piece — not the first.
THE JOURNEY
How a Texas Police Officer Became an NC Bankruptcy Attorney
The short version of a long and unusual career path.
BY THE NUMBERS
What 30 Years in Bankruptcy Law Looks Like
Terry is one of a small number of attorneys in North Carolina certified by the NC State Bar as a specialist in both consumer and business bankruptcy. That dual certification requires demonstrated competence, a written examination, peer references, and ongoing continuing education in both areas.
WHAT MATTERS MOST
Family, the Garden, and Getting the Simple Things Right
Rose is Terry’s wife — his high school sweetheart, and a Certified Public Accountant. Having a spouse who understands both the demands of professional work and the importance of getting the numbers right has been a genuine partnership, professionally and personally.
His son Damon is his partner at Duncan Law. His daughter is a licensed attorney practicing in Charlotte. Having two children in the law was never a plan — it just turned out that way. Watching Damon build his own reputation as an attorney has been one of the most satisfying parts of his career. He’ll tell you that, and he means it.
He’s a grandfather now, and he’ll mention that before almost anything else.
Outside the office, you’ll find Terry in the garden. He grows onions, lettuce, tomatoes, blueberries, cucumbers, squash, and peaches — and takes considerable pride in doing it well. He says gardening and law have more in common than people think: both require patience, attention to what’s actually growing, and a long-term view of what you’re trying to produce.
LET’S TALK
Thirty Years of Experience — Available on a Free Call
You now know a bit about who Terry is, where he came from, and how he’s spent the last three decades. If you’re dealing with debt, foreclosure, wage garnishment, or creditor calls, a free consultation is the fastest way to find out what your options actually are.
The consultation is completely free and there’s no obligation. You’ll speak with an actual attorney from the very first call — not a paralegal or intake coordinator.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
4.8★ Score on Google Reviews
“I was worried and stressed beyond words when I first spoke to them. After just the first consultation I felt all that weight rolling off my shoulders. They went above and beyond to help my family and I.”
“If you have to navigate the frightening experience of bankruptcy, this is the team to trust! As a doctor, I know what quality effort looks like, and the team at Duncan Law delivered that from start to finish.”
“They gave me my life back, and I could not be more grateful. Every step of the process is explained to you as you go, so you never feel lost or overwhelmed.”
COMMON QUESTIONS
A Few Things People Usually Ask
More than 30 years. I founded Duncan Law over 25 years ago after graduating from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, and I’ve been practicing bankruptcy exclusively ever since. I’ve filed over 5,000 cases. I’m also certified by the NC State Bar as a specialist in both consumer and business bankruptcy — a relatively uncommon dual certification.
At Duncan Law I focus on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy for individuals and families. Chapter 7 eliminates most unsecured debt in a matter of months. Chapter 13 is a structured repayment plan that lets you keep your property — especially your home — while catching up on what you owe. I’m also certified in business bankruptcy, though consumer situations are the core of our practice.
Before law school I was a police officer working patrol and traffic accidents, spent time as a bodyguard for celebrities, and taught economics, history, and U.S. government. I worked with Gary Dobbs and Phil McGraw at Courtroom Sciences, Inc. during law school. That variety of experience — reading situations quickly, explaining complex things clearly, staying calm under pressure — has made me a better attorney than I would have been coming straight from a classroom.
It’s one of the best parts of this work. Damon grew up inside bankruptcy law — working in my Charlotte firm at 12 years old. He’s become an exceptional attorney, and having him as my partner means our clients benefit from both of our experience. He’s built his own reputation entirely on his own merits, and I’m proud of what he’s accomplished.
Call us or schedule a free consultation online. The call is free, there’s no obligation, and by the end of it you’ll know exactly where you stand — whether bankruptcy is the right path, which chapter applies, and what the process looks like from here.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Your free consultation is one call away.
A free telephone consultation typically runs 25–45 minutes. You speak with an actual attorney from the very first call — not a paralegal or intake coordinator.