Pisgah Forest Probate Lawyers

Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning & Probate Law

I'm an attorney practicing in Western North Carolina and licensed to practice in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, and Arkansas. I primarily focus on transactional law and estate planning. I'm originally from Georgia, but went to Wake Forest for Law School. While at Wake Forest, I was involved in the Moot Court, Public Interest Law Organization, Phi Alpha Delta, and the Federalist Society. My main practice areas are estate planning, business law, trademarks, and family law. I am a guardian ad litem in several of the counties here in Western North Carolina.

The Law Office of Cheryl R. Watkins is a boutique estate law practice serving all 100 counties of North Carolina representing individuals, families, and small businesses in the provision of advice, counsel, and results in the following areas of law:

- Estate Administration (Probate Law)
- Estate Planning (Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, etc.)
- Business Succession Planning
- Wrongful Death

Attorney Cheryl R. Watkins of The Law Office of Cheryl R. Watkins has a practice concentration in Estate Planning and Probate and has worked in those fields for over 20 years as a former CPA, auditor, Assistant Clerk,...

The Adaramola Firm is a progressive law firm that provides a positive alternative to traditional, expensive, and highly adversarial law firms. We are a transactional and litigation firm offering services in the following practice areas: estates and trusts, business law, real estate law, intellectual property, and estate administration. Ile Adaramola is a friendly, down-to-earth, competent attorney dedicated to using innovative legal concepts to resolving legal issues.

Ile (E-lay) earned a Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice and Philosophy with high honors, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.After receiving her degree, she worked as a real estate paralegal for Shapiro...

Family and relationships are so important to me and I know they are for you as well. It’s one of the reasons that, after practicing many types of law, I’ve settled into the areas of law that we all will eventually face: including end-of-life planning and estate administration. I know these are often difficult topics with challenging decisions for individuals and families, especially for adult children of elderly parents, the terminally ill or those who are in domestic partnerships not legally recognized as marriage under North Carolina law. My job is to provide you with clarity on the law and...

Tim joined the Law Office of Nathan Earwood in 2021 and practices immigration, family law, and estate administration. He prides himself on zealously advocating for his clients and not backing down from a scrap. Tim seamlessly weaves through the nuances of immigration law and the complexities of family affairs. Tim lives in Canton with his wife Kelly and their three dogs: Bean, Leela, and Zapp.

Larry J. Ford is an attorney with 47 years of experience whose practice provides legal services to business owners, families, individuals, and retired persons in the following areas: Asset Protection Planning, Business Planning, Corporations, Charitable Trusts, Estate Planning, Federal Tax Planning, Family Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, Living Trusts, Medicaid Planning, Real Estate, and Wills and Estates. Ford first practiced law in the Asheville/Hendersonville area, then was in the corporate business and legal arena in Charlotte, NC, prior to returning to Hayesville in 1991. In Charlotte, Ford served as Vice-President/Legal Counsel with two different title insurance companies, and as a...

I love practicing law. Guiding clients through the stress and upheaval of divorce, a custody battle or the aftermath of a death in the family is position of trust that I take seriously. Drafting an amicable separation agreement, or completing an adoption efficiently with as little drama as possible is equally important. I have been a NC Certified Family Law Specialist since 2009. My law firm handles divorce, custody, child support, alimony, property division, grandparents' rights, domestic violence, tort claims and personal injury, prenuptial and separation agreements, estate planning and administration in Chatham, Orange and Durham counties.

As an expert estate, trust and tax attorney, Greg Herman-Giddens provides comprehensive wealth planning, protection and management services to residents of Florida, North Carolina Tennessee and New York. He also provides consulting adn co-counseling services to attorneys throughout the country. Through careful selection of strategies tailored to clients' individualized goals and objectives, he helps individuals protect their family, preserve assets and save taxes.

At Jesson & Rains, PLLC, we are committed to providing personal and cost effective legal services for individuals and businesses in the greater Charlotte area. Jesson & Rains focuses on three primary areas of the law: estate planning, business, and construction. For our estate planning clients, we offer a thorough consultation to go over all assets and liabilities to provide an individualized plan that is right for you, including will drafting, trust drafting, powers of attorney, healthcare agent designation, and advanced healthcare directives (also known as a "living will"). Our attorneys also represent personal representatives during...

Paul is an experienced Estate Planning Lawyer. His focus on the client-attorney relationship and peace of mind of his clients sets Paul apart from other traditional lawyers. Paul takes his fiduciary role very seriously. His relationship-centered philosophy emphasizes a focus on solutions rather than just documents and deliverables. He believes in focusing on the client’s goals and pain points – not a stereotypical “one-size-fits-all” method. At the initial Strategy Session, Paul sits down with prospective clients, discusses their specific family and financial concerns, educates them on how the law works in North Carolina, and works with the clients to determine how...

With more than 30 years experience in private practice, Mark Costley has helped hundreds of North Carolinians with estate planning, trust and estate administration, planning for children and adults with special needs, business succession planning and business transactions, and family charitable and philanthropic counseling. Mark’s work involves elements of teaching, strategic analysis and planning, negotiation, documentation, and assisting clients in executing their plans. A Duke University Alumnus, Mark has given back to his alma mater in numerous capacities, including serving as a member of the Board of Trustees. He has devoted his considerable energies to the Servant Center, Inc., a...

Charlotte Wills, Trusts, Probate Law, Estate Planning; Guardianships, Elder Law, Special Needs Planning, Asset Protection; Business Succession Planning; Estate, Gift and Income Taxation; Estate Administration; Business Law Mecklenburg County (Member, Tax Section) and North Carolina (Citizen-Lawyer Task Force) Bar Associations; South Carolina Bar (Member, Tax Section); Charlotte Women's Bar Association (Board Member; Secretary; Treasurer; Vice President; President, Past Chair); American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (Member, Taxation Committee); Institute of Management Accountants; Charlotte Christian Chamber; Women's Initiative Network, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western and Central North Carolina; Carolina Foster Kids Foundation Director. Order of the...

John is excited to help you with all your legal needs. From helping you brand your business to helping you plan for the future with an estate plan, John is ready to walk alongside you the whole way. Call in and ask for a free consultation with John!

Zachary D. Jackson graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Prior to attending Law School, Mr. Jackson graduated Magna Cum Laude from Campbell University where he majored in Business Administration with a Specialty in Trust and Investment Management and minored in Financial Planning. Mr. Jackson also received his Masters in Business Administration from Campbell University. Mr. Jackson worked for several years as a Trust Officer with Bank of America prior to attending law school. Prior to opening his own law practice, Mr. Jackson worked with two law firms and held an...

Diane Ford is an Associate Attorney working in King Law’s Winston-Salem, North Carolina office. Diane primarily practices in the area of transactional law. Her practice areas include Elder Law and Estate Planning. Diane loved Campbell University so much she went twice and earned her bachelor’s in economics and her Juris- Doctorate from Campbell Law School. As part of her legal education, Diane was a member of Campbell Law’s distinguished advocacy program. She competed in the National Civil Trial Competition and the Annual Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition. As Campbell Law’s President of the Black Law’s Student Association, her chapter earned Chapter...

Born and raised in Hillsborough NC, at an early age I found that I l loved helping people. By the age of 16 I was working at Duke Medical Center part-time. I graduated from Orange County High School, and began attending Elon University to study Biology. My plan was to go to medical school, but after serving on a murder trial at 19, I became enamored with the legal arena and the challenges of representing others. I graduated Cum Laude from Elon in 1992 and married my high school sweetheart, Roland. While he farmed, I spent my time volunteering with Make-A-Wish foundation....

Growing up on a small farm in Central Iowa, I learned the importance of hard work, respecting my elders, and contributing locally. I graduated from Iowa State University, and eventually attended law school at the University of Wyoming. I have practiced law for several decades, focusing in recent years on estate planning, and I enjoy it. When my grandfather passed away without a will when I was a young man, my family was devastated, as the government took 70% of his estate. That lasting impression drove me to begin helping people avoid such difficult ends, and instead provide a soft...

As a practicing business attorney in Charlotte, NC, I provide guidance for protecting businesses from possible legal exposure, helping businesses grow stronger, and protecting them once a legal issue arises. The son of a Lebanese immigrant with his own small business, I understand the need for competent and affordable business law assistance.

I have experience dealing in entity formation, contract formation and disputes, wage and hour disputes, other employment disputes, preparing employment documents to protect businesses on the front-end, trademark registration/searches, copyright infringement assistance, and several other areas.

I am a local attorney with a focus on real estate, landlord-tenant, and wills and estates. But I can and will take any matter that arises should you need me, if I do not feel comfortable in handling your matter I will do my best to find you a lawyer that is. I live in Yadkin County and am raising my family here. I have served in the Army since 2004 and have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during my time in service. After completing my active service I attended UNC-Greensboro and then Wake Forest School of Law, and have continued...

Mr. Payne is the CEO & Managing Partner of Apple Payne Law, PLLC, which he co-founded with retired attorney Bill Apple after owning his own firm Payne Law, PLLC. Mr. Payne's practice areas are estate planning, probate & business advising, and the firm also has family law and real estate teams to serve the full family's needs. Mr. Payne started the practice of law when he founded Payne Law, PLLC after graduation from the Wake Forest University School of Law in 2011. Before attending Wake Forest University School of Law, Mr. Payne attended Florida Coastal School of Law, where he was...

Evan Lohr is an attorney in Raleigh, NC. He focuses his practice on estate and trust litigation. He has also represented hundreds of clients in estate planning, probate administration, and guardianship matters. Evan graduated with a B.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2006 and received his law degree from the University of Tennessee. He is a past editor of The Administrative Lawyer, a publication of the North Carolina Bar Association. A Raleigh native, Evan is a graduate of Sanderson High School and is past president of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

Kellie Corbett chose the University of South Carolina for her undergraduate degree for two reasons: the pageantry of big-time college football and the fact she hates snow. She got the pageantry but it came with snow – a freak storm, 8” of the stuff, her freshman year.

There’s a lesson there but we’re not exactly sure what it is — yet.

Kellie was accepted at the University of North Carolina School of Law where she became the first law student in the history of American law schools (that dates back to 1793) to fall in love with Trusts and Estates while taking...

Bryan's practice focuses primarily on probate, estate administration and estate planning matters. He guides his clients through the probate process including qualification of personal representatives, estate inventories and accountings, and special proceedings. Bryan's practice also includes representation of individuals and families in guardianship matters.

Stephanie joined the Cary Estate Planning team in May of 2023 as an Estate Planning Lawyer. She spent a combined eight years as a solo estate planning practitioner and then pro bono attorney in Pittsboro, North Carolina. She believes in proactive planning at all stages of our lives and aims to provide client-centered service. Stephanie lived in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Ohio before attending Duke University in North Carolina, where she studied comparative religion. She relocated permanently to Chatham County after returning to Ohio briefly to study at Miami University. During law school at North Carolina Central University, Stephanie served as...

Mike is graduate of Davidson College and the University of North Carolina School of Law, and spent the early years of his legal career at a pair of global law firms representing the nation’s largest banks and corporations, public officials, and government officers and entities. Mike’s commercial litigation experience includes complex contractual disputes, business torts, warranty claims, employment issues, and white-collar investigations and defense. A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer before attending law school, Mike also represents public officers and government agencies in liability defense, employment, and other police issues. In 2015, Mike was inducted into the American Society of Legal Advocates...

Originally from Grand Haven, Michigan, Andrew Bullard attended the University of Michigan, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. He later attended Michigan State University College of Law and obtained his J.D. in 2010. Andrew Bullard primarily practices estate planning, estate administration, special needs law and guardianships at the firm. Andrew’s experience includes assisting individuals and families as they navigate the process of planning and administering estates and trusts. Additionally, he guides fiduciaries through their duties in the probate process and helps families plan for the care of loved ones with long-term special needs. Andrew takes...

Mr. Spain was admitted to the State Bar in 2013 and practiced as an estates and business law attorney prior to joining BHSPA in 2018. Jason focuses on Estate Planning and Probate law, helping clients plan for their family’s future and to assist clients in administering the estate of a loved one. He also is proficient in helping small business owners set up business succession plans that will allow their companies to be passed on to the next generation and help provide financial security for their families in the event of retirement, death, or disability. ...

Keith Stroud is a 25+ year veteran of the practice of law. Keith supports businesses in the Triad, spouses going through a separation and divorce, individuals and couples through estate planning, executors and administrators handling the estate of a loved one, and seniors and their family members in long term care and asset protection matters. He provides a straightforward and comprehensive approach to legal representation, and offers unique solutions designed to meet the goals of his clients.

While Keith’s practice is structured to help his clients avoid litigation, he is first and foremost a trial lawyer. His civil and past criminal...

Community connections run deep for Angie, whose family has lived in the Yadkin Valley region for several generations. As a former prosecutor and founder of the Public Interest Law Foundation during law school, where she attended on a prestigious merit-based scholarship, Angie has a deep passion for protecting the most vulnerable in the community. That abiding sense of commitment, alongside her sharp legal judgment and astute attention to detail, makes her an effective legal advocate for her clients.

David E. Anderson, PLLC is a client-focused legal practice providing legal services in the areas of Estate Planning and Estate Administration.

Trained as a real estate and estate planning attorney initially in my career, my practice areas have expanded to encompass estate administration, special proceedings, and corporate formation, as well as, real estate and estate planning. I am a young, energetic attorney determined to become the best in my field through excellent representation of each and every client. I am constantly learning new aspects of the law and surrounding myself with opportunities for growth. Have you reviewed your estate plan lately? If not, maybe it’s time we take a peek at it!

Jim Snow was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in December of 1956; admitted to bar, 1982, North Carolina; 1984, Virgin Islands and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina. Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 1979, cum laude); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (J.D., 1982). Member: New Hanover County (Member, Executive Committee, 1990-1994) and North Carolina Bar Associations (Member, Business Law and Real Property Law Sections, Business Law Section Council, 2004-2008; Business Law Section Council, Membership Chair, 2007-2008); The North Carolina State Bar (Fifth Judicial District, Secretary-Treasurer, 1989-1990, Chairman, Fifth Judicial District Young Lawyers Division, 1990-1992). ...

After moving from NY to NC, I found new residents in my community needed assistance with estate planning and estate administration. I have since expanded my practice to Northern Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties.

Daniel assists families immediately after the loss of a loved one, assisting with all aspects of probate, estate and trust administration, and tax issues. He served as one of the public administrators in Wake County from 2003 to 2008. During this time, regularly served as the Administrator of a decedent’s estate or as the Guardian of the Estate for an incompetent individual. Serving in this capacity provided him with valuable experience in estate and guardianship administration. Born in Oxford, North Carolina in 1975, he graduated from North Carolina State University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree...