Wills and estate plans
A complete plan: will, durable power of attorney, healthcare directive and, where it fits, a revocable trust. Drafted, reviewed together, and executed properly witnessed and notarised.
Flat fee quoted at the first meeting
Estate Planning & Probate
The plan your family will be grateful for.
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney and probate for North Carolina families. Flat fees agreed before we start, explained in language you can actually act on.
No hourly surprises. No jargon you have to look up afterwards.
22 YearsPractising in North Carolina
NC Bar #24188Licensed and in good standing
Flat FeesAgreed before we begin
600+ FamiliesEstates planned and settled
01 — Practice Areas
Estates, and nothing else.
We don't take criminal work, personal injury or business litigation. We do estate planning and probate, which means we do them thoroughly.
Trusts and asset protection
Revocable living trusts to keep your family out of probate, special-needs trusts, and planning that accounts for property held in more than one state.
Probate avoided, not merely deferred
Probate and estate administration
When someone has died, we handle the court filings, creditor notices, inventories and final accounting — and we keep the family informed at every step rather than only at the end.
We deal with the court, so you don't
02 — Who We Serve
Families at the moment
it starts to matter.
New parents
Guardianship is the reason most young families finally call. It's the one decision no one else can make for you.
Recently retired
Assets are settled and it's time to make sure they pass the way you intend, with the tax position understood.
Blended families
Children from more than one marriage. Careful drafting here prevents the disputes that otherwise arrive later.
After a death
Probate, deadlines and paperwork arriving during the worst month of your life. We take that part.
"Most people put this off because they think it will be complicated and expensive. It is usually neither. It is one meeting, a flat fee, and then it is done."Ruth Hartwell, Partner
03 — How It Works
Four steps. One flat fee.
You will know the cost before any work begins, and you will never receive a bill for a phone call.
First consultation
Free, an hour, in person or by video. We map what you have and what you want to happen to it.
Flat fee agreed
A written engagement letter with one number on it. No hourly billing, no charge for questions.
Drafting and review
Documents drafted within two weeks. We read through them together and revise until they are right.
Signing and safekeeping
Properly witnessed and notarised at our office. Originals stored, copies to you and your executor.
04 — Questions
What families ask first.
How much does an estate plan cost?
Most complete plans for a couple fall between $1,800 and $3,500 depending on whether a trust is involved. You get one flat number in writing after the first meeting, and it does not change unless the scope does.
Do I actually need a trust, or just a will?
Many families need only a well-drafted will. A trust earns its cost when you own property in more than one state, want to keep matters private, or have a beneficiary who should not receive assets outright. We will tell you honestly which applies.
What happens if I die without a will in North Carolina?
State intestacy law decides, and it rarely matches what people expect — a surviving spouse does not automatically inherit everything, and the court appoints the administrator. A will replaces that default with your own instructions.
How long does probate take?
A straightforward North Carolina estate typically takes nine to fifteen months, largely because of the creditor claim period. Disputes or out-of-state property extend it. We give you a realistic schedule at the outset.
Is the first consultation really free?
Yes, and it is a real consultation rather than a sales meeting. If your situation does not need us, we will say so and point you to what does.
05 — Book a Consultation
One hour. No charge.
No obligation.
Tell us a little about your situation and we will reply within one business day with times. Nothing is decided in the first meeting except whether we are the right fit.