Finding the right estate planning lawyer in North Carolina can be difficult, especially when you are unsure who has the right experience, credentials, and services for your needs. With so many attorneys available, comparing your options can take time.
To make your search easier, we have reviewed and verified attorneys based on their professional credentials, estate planning experience, practice areas, and location.
In this guide, you will find a complete list of 10 verified estate planning lawyers in North Carolina, along with their key services and areas of experience to help you make an informed choice.
How We Verified the Estate Planning Lawyers on This List
We reviewed publicly available professional sources, including the North Carolina State Bar, law firm websites, attorney profiles, and established legal directories.
Our verification focused on:
- Estate planning and probate credentials
- Professional experience
- Current practice areas
- North Carolina licensing and location
- Services offered to estate planning clients
The list is designed to give you a reliable starting point when researching an estate planning attorney. You should still discuss your specific needs, fees, and legal options directly with the lawyer before making a decision.
List of 10 Verified Estate Planning Attorneys in North Carolina
Here are 10 verified estate planning attorneys across North Carolina, selected based on their credentials, experience, and relevant legal services.
- C.W. Lachey – Mint Hill, NC
- Michael Batts – Rocky Mount, NC
- R. D. Brady – Raleigh, NC
- Gwendolyn Brooks – Durham, NC
- Howard Broughton – Southern Pines, NC
- Erin Bailey – Greensboro, NC
- Mary Hervig – Asheville, NC
- John Kelso – Asheville, NC
- Richard Kort – Asheville, NC
- Andrew Strauss – Asheville, NC
See the sections below for details about each attorney’s credentials, experience, services, and areas served.
1. C.W. Lachey – Mint Hill, NC
C.W. Lachey is an experienced estate planning attorney in North Carolina and the founding attorney of C.W. Lachey Law, PLLC.
Based in Mint Hill, he advises individuals and families throughout North Carolina on estate planning, trusts, probate, guardianship, and related legal matters.
His practice combines proactive estate planning with practical guidance for managing legal issues that may arise after a loved one’s death.
His areas of legal practice include:
- Estate and trust drafting: Preparing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives tailored to individual circumstances.
- Partition actions: Handling legal matters involving jointly owned real estate and property interests.
- Adult guardianship: Providing legal guidance for guardianship proceedings involving personal and financial affairs.
- Probate administration: Assisting executors and families with the administration and settlement of estates.
- Trust administration: Advising trustees and beneficiaries on the proper management and administration of trusts.
Through this broad estate law practice, C.W. Lachey provides experienced legal guidance across the full estate planning and administration process, serving clients throughout North Carolina.
2. Michael Batts – Rocky Mount, NC
Michael S. Batts is a Board Certified estate planning and probate attorney in North Carolina, based in Rocky Mount and serving clients throughout the state.
He practices with Batts, Batts & Bell, LLP, a firm that has served North Carolina clients since 1980. His work includes estate planning, probate, trusts, and tax-related matters.
His key credentials and services include:
- Estate planning and probate credentials: Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the North Carolina State Bar, with admission to practice in North Carolina and the U.S. Tax Court.
- Professional experience: Holds a J.D. from Wake Forest University and an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida, with decades of experience in estate planning and administration.
- Estate planning services: Wills, trusts, estate and trust administration, fiduciary matters, and tax planning.
- Areas served: Rocky Mount, eastern North Carolina, and clients throughout the state.
His background in estate, trust, probate, and tax law provides clients with a broad range of legal services for both straightforward and more complex estate planning needs.
3. R. D. Brady – Raleigh, NC
R. D. Brady is a Board Certified specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law in North Carolina, with a legal practice based in Raleigh.
His certification through the North Carolina State Bar dates back to 1994, reflecting a long-standing focus on estate-related legal matters.
His professional background includes:
- Estate planning and probate credentials: Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the North Carolina State Bar.
- Professional experience: Holds specialist certification dating to 1994.
- Estate planning services: Assistance with wills, trusts, probate, estate administration, and related planning documents.
- Areas served: Raleigh, the Research Triangle, and surrounding North Carolina communities.
His long-standing specialist designation makes his practice relevant to individuals and families seeking assistance with estate planning and probate matters.
4. Gwendolyn Brooks – Durham, NC
Gwendolyn C. Brooks brings a strong academic and professional background to estate planning and probate law in North Carolina.
She practices with Kennon Craver, PLLC, in Durham and has been licensed to practice law in the state since 1999.
Her qualifications and practice include:
- Estate planning and probate credentials: Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the North Carolina State Bar.
- Professional experience: Earned her J.D. from Duke University School of Law and has practiced law in North Carolina since 1999.
- Estate planning services: Estate planning, probate, and related matters involving the administration of an estate.
- Areas served: Durham, the Triangle, and surrounding North Carolina communities.
Her combination of estate planning and probate knowledge allows clients to seek legal assistance with planning matters as well as estate administration.
5. Howard Broughton – Southern Pines, NC
Howard C. Broughton is a North Carolina estate planning and probate specialist based in Southern Pines. His professional background includes a long-standing focus on estate planning, probate, and living trust matters.
His qualifications and services include:
- Estate planning and probate credentials: Listed by the North Carolina State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law.
- Professional experience: His specialist certification dates to 1994.
- Estate planning services: Estate planning, probate, and living trust matters.
- Areas served: Southern Pines, Moore County, and communities throughout North Carolina.
His practice provides legal support for individuals and families handling estate planning and related probate needs.
6. Erin Bailey – Greensboro, NC
Erin C. V. Bailey focuses her legal practice on estate planning, trusts, taxation, and charitable planning.
She is a Director at Tuggle Duggins P.A. in Greensboro and serves clients throughout the Triad and beyond.
Her professional credentials include:
- Estate planning and probate credentials: Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law, along with the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation.
- Professional experience: Earned her J.D. with honors from Emory University School of Law and is licensed in North Carolina and other states.
- Estate planning services: Estate and trust administration, charitable gift planning, and estate, trust, and gift tax planning.
- Areas served: Greensboro, the Triad, and clients across North Carolina.
Her combination of estate, trust, tax, and charitable planning experience supports clients with a range of personal and financial planning needs.
7. Mary Hervig – Asheville, NC
Mary R. Hervig is a partner at Roberts & Stevens, P.A., with a practice centered on trusts, estates, elder law, and tax matters. Based in Asheville, she works with individuals and families on both estate planning and related legal issues.
Her background includes:
- Estate planning and probate credentials: North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law.
- Professional experience: Graduate of Harvard University and the University of Virginia School of Law; she returned to Asheville to practice law in 2011.
- Estate planning services: Estate planning, trusts, elder law, tax matters, and related estate administration.
- Areas served: Asheville, Western North Carolina, and surrounding communities.
Her broad practice provides clients with access to estate and trust planning alongside elder law and tax-related legal services.
8. John Kelso – Asheville, NC
John G. Kelso is a principal at The Van Winkle Law Firm and focuses on estate and trust planning and administration.
His practice combines estate planning with tax and business succession considerations for individuals, families, and business owners.
His professional background includes:
- Estate planning and probate credentials: Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law and Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
- Professional experience: Practicing in North Carolina since 1996, with a J.D. from UNC and an LL.M. in Taxation from NYU.
- Estate planning services: Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, charitable and insurance trusts, business succession planning, and trust administration.
- Areas served: Asheville, Western North Carolina, and clients throughout the state.
His practice is particularly relevant for clients whose estate plans involve trusts, taxation, charitable planning, or business succession.
9. Richard Kort – Asheville, NC
Richard A. Kort is an Asheville attorney with a long-standing legal practice involving estate planning, trusts, and business matters. His professional background includes more than three decades of legal experience.
Key areas of his practice include:
- Estate planning and probate credentials: Listed in professional legal directories for estate planning and probate services.
- Professional experience: Approximately 35 years of legal experience according to directory records.
- Estate planning services: Estate planning, trusts, business matters, and related legal planning.
- Areas served: Asheville, Western North Carolina, and nearby communities.
His broad legal background makes his practice relevant to clients seeking assistance with estate, trust, and business planning matters.
10. Andrew Strauss – Asheville, NC
Andrew A. Strauss leads Strauss Attorneys PLLC in Asheville and has practiced law in North Carolina since 1993.
His work encompasses estate planning, tax planning, asset protection, and business succession for individuals and families.
His credentials and services include:
- Estate planning and probate credentials: North Carolina State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law, with multiple Super Lawyers selections.
- Professional experience: Earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and has extensive experience in estate and tax planning.
- Estate planning services: Simple and complex estate plans, charitable trusts, estate tax planning, asset protection, and business succession planning.
- Areas served: Asheville, Western North Carolina, and clients throughout North Carolina.
His practice covers both traditional estate planning and more complex asset, tax, and business succession considerations.
Comparison of the Best Estate Planning Lawyers
Choosing an estate planning attorney often comes down to finding the right combination of credentials, location, experience, and legal services.
The table below provides a quick side-by-side overview of the 10 attorneys featured in this guide.
| Attorney | Location | Estate Planning Credential | Key Practice Areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| C.W. Lachey | Mint Hill | Estate planning practice | Wills, trusts, probate, guardianship |
| Michael Batts | Rocky Mount | Board Certified Specialist | Estate planning, trusts, taxation |
| R. D. Brady | Raleigh | Board Certified Specialist | Estate planning and probate |
| Gwendolyn Brooks | Durham | Board Certified Specialist | Estate planning and probate |
| Howard Broughton | Southern Pines | Board Certified Specialist | Estate planning and probate |
| Erin Bailey | Greensboro | Board Certified Specialist | Trusts, estates, tax planning |
| Mary Hervig | Asheville | Board Certified Specialist | Estates, trusts, elder law |
| John Kelso | Asheville | Board Certified Specialist | Estate planning, trusts, tax |
| Richard Kort | Asheville | Estate planning practice | Trusts, estates, business |
| Andrew Strauss | Asheville | Board Certified Specialist | Estate, tax, asset protection |
Estate Planning Services Offered by North Carolina Lawyers
Estate planning attorneys may help with much more than wills. Common services include:
- Wills and testamentary planning
- Revocable and irrevocable trusts
- Powers of attorney
- Advance healthcare directives
- Probate administration
- Trust administration
- Estate and gift tax planning
- Business succession planning
- Charitable giving
- Guardianship matters
- Asset protection planning
The right combination depends on your assets, family situation, business interests, and long-term goals.
How to Verify a Qualified Estate Attorney in North Carolina
Start with the North Carolina State Bar. Its Board of Legal Specialization provides information about attorneys who have earned specialist certification in areas such as Estate Planning and Probate Law.
You should also check:
- Whether the attorney is currently licensed in North Carolina.
- Whether estate planning is a significant part of the practice.
- Whether the attorney has experience with trusts and probate.
- Where the attorney’s office is located.
- Whether the lawyer handles cases similar to yours.
- What services and fees are included in the engagement.
Board certification can be a useful credential, but it should be considered alongside your specific legal needs.
How to Choose the Right Estate Planning Lawyer in North Carolina
Start by identifying what you actually need.
If you only need a basic will, your requirements may be different from those of someone who owns multiple properties, operates a business, or needs trust and tax planning.
During an initial consultation, ask:
- What estate planning services do you provide?
- How much experience do you have with cases like mine?
- Do you handle probate and trust administration?
- Are you Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law?
- Will you personally prepare my documents?
- What happens if I need to update my estate plan?
- How are your legal fees calculated?
A good consultation should leave you with a clearer understanding of your options and the next steps.
Final Thoughts
Choosing an estate planning lawyer is an important decision because your estate plan can affect your property, finances, healthcare wishes, and family for years to come.
The 10 attorneys highlighted here represent established estate planning and probate practices across North Carolina, from Mint Hill and Raleigh to Greensboro and Asheville. Several hold North Carolina State Bar Board Certification in Estate Planning and Probate Law, while others have documented experience in wills, trusts, probate, taxation, and related services.
Before making a decision, compare credentials, services, location, experience, communication style, and fees. Most importantly, choose an attorney whose experience matches the complexity of your estate and the type of planning you need.
