Top Best Estate Lawyers | 18140 Available

At Luminary Wills and Trusts, we keep our focus on you and your family. We are a small, client-centered firm that believes estate planning should be clear and straightforward, not confusing or overwhelming. Our role is to guide you through the process with confidence and peace of mind.. Every plan begins with a complimentary two-hour planning session with an attorney. This gives us the time to understand your goals, answer your questions, and begin shaping a plan that reflects your values and priorities.. We offer flat fees for our services, so you will always know what to expect without worrying about hourly charges. Most importantly, we are here to walk with you step by step, helping you put plans in place that shine a light for the people who matter most in your life.

S. Denise Watts received her Juris Doctorate degree from North Carolina Central University in 2002.  After successfully completing the North Carolina Bar exam, Ms. Watts joined a general practice firm in Wake County, North Carolina where she practiced law in five counties:  Wake, Johnston, Nash, Franklin, and Wilson.  This experience gave Ms Watts a wealth of trial experience.  In 2006, Ms. Watts moved to Brunswick County, North Carolina to practice law.  Ms. Watts practiced law and acted as General/In House Corporate Counsel for two years.  In 2007, Ms. Watts returned to general practice.  Currently, Ms. Watts is a partner at the law firm of Watts & Easley PLLC.. Watts & Easley PLLC has offices in Shallotte, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.. Ms. Watts is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court Bar, the North Carolina State Bar, and the South Carolina Bar.. Ms. Watts is an active member of the following professional organizations including the Brunswick County Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, the 13th Judicial District Bar Association, and the South Carolina Bar.. Ms. Watts as an effective and skilled litigator.  Ms. Watts treats every client with respect and integrity.  Each client's case is treated with exceptional care and attention.

Jackie Bedard's estate and long-term care planning practice is focused on guiding clients through the complicated, often confusing, maze of balancing family protection, long-term care planning, wealth preservation, and cherished family values in the planning process.. Jackie determined early on that traditional estate planning has primarily focused on what happens upon death, but a far more pressing concern for many families today is—what happens if you don’t die suddenly, but instead need long term care for several months or years?  A comprehensive estate and long-term care plan should address both of these concerns.. Jackie is a member of WealthCounsel and ElderCounsel (national organizations of attorneys committed to client-centered estate planning and elder care planning). Jackie has served as a board of director member of the North Carolina chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the board of trustees of Hospice of Wake County Foundation, the board of directors of local non-profit the Guiding Lights Caregiver Support Center, and the board of the Raleigh-Durham Chapter of Entrepreneur's Organization. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, and the Wake County Bar Association. Jackie was named one of Cary Magazine's 2015 Movers & Shakers. Selections were based on professionals impacting Wake County, both now and for the future. Jackie has been voted Best Attorney in the Cary Magazine's Maggy Awards for 2016-2021.. Jackie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated law school magna cum laude in the top 7% of her class at the University of Richmond, School of Law.. In addition to being a lawyer, Jackie is also a Certified Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Trainer and a Certified Dementia Practitioner.. Jackie resides in Cary with her husband, Dan, and their two dogs, Nala and Maggie. Jackie also enjoys hiking, traveling, reading, cooking, music, and more.

Attorney at Law. Estate Planning | Guardianship | Wills & Trusts | Power of Attorney | Healthcare Directives. For over 20 years, I have assisted clients with estate planning and guardianship matters. Our firm believes in a comprehensive approach that starts with a vision meeting. We learn what our clients envision for long-term care planning, incapacity planning and distribution of assets after death. We explain various legal strategies and the outcomes they would produce to customize the right plan for each client. I enjoy this process and getting to know my clients. Contact us to schedule a consultation.

As an estate planning attorney, my favorite part of my job is getting to know my clients and their families, talking with them about the type of legacy they want to leave, and then working with my clients to plan for their life, secure their loved ones' futures, and preserve their family story.. I began my legal career as a paralegal for a well-respected family law firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. Through my many years working as a paralegal, I was able to gain valuable insight, not only into the mechanics of working with clients during some of the worst times of their lives, but also the significant impact legal professionals can have on their clients. My compassionate and empathetic nature made me a lifeline for my clients. The skills and traits that I developed and honed over those years now serve me well in my work as an estate planning attorney.. I attended law school at Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach. Although living in Virginia Beach was wonderful, the pull of family back home was too great. My decision to return to home was validated when my father was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia just months after I finished from law school. Building a law practice while being "on call" to help my mother care for my ailing father was not easy, but there were many precious moments with Dad during his 4-year journey with Lewy Body Dementia that I would not trade for anything. My experience with my father makes me even more passionate about helping people plan for whatever life throws their way!

Steven is an Air Force Veteran and experienced Estate Planning Lawyer. Steven is licensed in North Carolina and California. Over the last decade, Steven has primarily practiced in the areas of estate planning and tax planning. In 2013, Steven obtained his Juris Doctorate from Southwestern Law School, graduating with the Latin honors of cum laude for being in the top ten percent of his class. Steven is a Certified Tax Coach through the American Institute for Certified Tax Planners. In 2021, Steven obtained his Masters of Law (LLM) in Taxation from Loyola Law School, graduating with honors.

Carter B. Webb is a Senior Attorney with The Van Winkle Law Firm. His practice includes helping individuals and families with their estate planning and estate administration needs. He is also a North Carolina Bar Certified Mediator in Superior Court and with the Clerk of Court and is licensed in both North Carolina and South Carolina.. Before joining The Van Winkle Law Firm, Carter spent the last eleven years as a member of the Asheville-based estate planning firm Strauss Attorneys focusing on estate planning and probate/trust administration. Carter was born in Asheville. He graduated from Presbyterian College with a BS in Business in 1993. Thirteen years later, he left the workforce to attend law school, graduating from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2009. He then accepted a job with the University of South Carolina of Medicine as the Assistant Director of Legal Affairs and the Privacy Officer, where he worked until moving to Asheville in 2011.. Carter served as the President of the Buncombe County Bar in 2021-2022 and the Immediate Past President for 2022-2023. He is also a Council Member of the Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and is a Board Member of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Plus, he serves on two Boards for the city of Asheville, is an active member of the Rotary Club of Asheville, and has served as the President of his neighborhood’s homeowners association since 2015. Carter lives in Asheville with Leigh (his wife) and their two children, Reagan and Beckett.

Kathleen Rodberg helps clients with traditional estate planning and administration matters, while focusing her practice on the unique and challenging issues facing the elderly and those with disabilities.  The often complex situations of elderly or disabled clients require detailed planning and a specific knowledge base in the area of elder law.  Kathleen regularly helps clients establish and administer guardianships and special needs trusts, develop comprehensive Medicaid and long-term care plans, and prepare traditional estate planning documents.  She will work to support you and your family as you address current concerns and plan for the future.

I am the Principal in the law firm of Patrick D. Newton, P.C., and I am "Of Counsel" with the law firm of Strauss Attorneys, PLLC.  Practice limited with focus on Estate Planning, Probate and Business planning.

As the founder and owner of Sentry Law, Jeff is dedicated to providing his clients with excellence and personalized attention in estate planning and the management and administration of trusts and wills. As an estate planning attorney and certified public accountant in North Carolina, Jeff understands the importance of security and financial stability and helps his clients prepare for not only their own future but also the future and security of their loved ones. His commitment to helping his clients preserve wealth, safeguard their future, and create truly lasting legacies forms the foundation of his law practice. Jeff is married to Natalie M. Cooper, and has two children.. Education. University of North Carolina School of Law. Wofford College. Licenses. Admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 2009. Admitted to practice Public Accounting in North Carolina in 2010

About Blue Mountain Law:. Our firm, located in beautiful Asheville, NC, consciously exists to serve the North Carolina community through supportive legal advice that aids in the furtherance of our clients prosperity, growth, and happiness.  We view our work as being an integrative part of the whole, recognizing that how we show up in relating with our clients is as important as the actual legal service provided.  We choose to nurture wisdom, self awareness, individual integrity, and boundless creativity regarding our presence and contribution for the well-being of our community as a whole and its individual members, our local businesses, our families, our environment, and our world.

I am licensed in North Carolina as well as Florida. Please contact me if I can be of service. Thank you.

As an undergraduate, Mr. Bachara interned for the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., conducting legislative policy research.  While in law school, Mr. Bachara gained experience in commercial negotiation and mediation with the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland in the Consumer Protection Division. After a judicial clerkship in the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City, Mr. Bachara was employed by a regulatory agency in Maryland, drafting policies, administrative orders and appellate briefs.. Also while in law school, Mr. Bachara was trained through the Civil and Appellate Advocacy Clinics by firsthand trial exposure in the District Court of Maryland as well as the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. Mr. Bachara also provided services to the indigent while volunteering for Maryland’s Homeless Persons Representation Project.. Since gaining admission to the North Carolina Bar, Mr. Bachara has served as an Assistant District Attorney in North Carolina as well as a private attorney.  He has trial experience at both the district and superior court levels, as well as within special settings for juvenile and domestic matters. Mr. Bachara focuses his practice in the areas of criminal defense, domestic law and civil litigation.