Estate planning helps you protect your assets and make important decisions about your finances, property, and healthcare. It may include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.
Choosing an estate planning lawyer in Cary, NC, depends on your needs, the attorney’s experience, and the services they provide, such as probate, elder law, or estate administration.
Below, we highlight 10 estate planning lawyers serving Cary and the surrounding area to help you explore your options.
How We Selected These Estate Planning Lawyers in Cary, NC
We reviewed attorney directories, law firm websites, practice areas, experience, and Cary-area availability to create this list. We focused on lawyers who offer estate planning and related legal services.
What We Considered
- Estate planning experience
- Wills and trusts
- Probate and estate administration
- Healthcare directives
- Elder law and Medicaid planning
- Business, tax, or family law services
- Cary office or local service area
The list is designed to help you compare relevant attorneys and explore which services may fit your needs. Always confirm current services and office details directly with the attorney.
List of 10 Estate Planning Attorneys in Cary, NC
Here are 10 attorneys offering estate planning and related legal services in Cary and the surrounding area.
- C.W. Lachey
- Paul Yokabitus
- Scott C. Moesta
- Holly Greeson Morris
- Ann-Margaret Alexander
- Brett Andrew Thompson
- William Thomas McCuiston Jr.
- Thomas A. Earls
- Walter Samuel Weathers
- Andrea Nyren Doyle
See the profiles below for details about each attorney’s services and practice areas.
1. C.W. Lachey
C.W. Lachey is one of the renowned estate planning attorneys in Cary, NC, with experience in estate and trust planning, probate, estate administration, and guardianship matters.
The practice helps clients prepare legal documents and manage important estate-related issues.
Key Services
- Estate and Trust Drafting
- Partition Actions
- Adult Guardianship
- Probate Administration
- Trust Administration
C.W. Lachey’s broad experience across estate planning and related legal matters makes the practice relevant for individuals and families handling both future planning and estate administration.
For clients looking for an experienced attorney in this area, C.W. Lachey is recognized among the best estate planning lawyers serving Cary, NC.
2. Paul Yokabitus
Paul Yokabitus is an experienced estate planning attorney serving Cary, NC. His practice covers estate planning, probate, wills, trusts, healthcare directives, and estate administration, with services tailored to different family and financial needs.
Key Services
- Estate Planning and Probate
- Trusts and Wills
- Special Needs Planning
- Estate Administration
- Cary, NC Office
His experience across estate planning and related legal matters makes him a practical option for individuals and families looking to organize their assets and prepare for future needs.
His background in wills, trusts, probate, and special needs planning makes his practice particularly relevant to clients seeking comprehensive estate planning support in the Cary area.
3. Scott C. Moesta
Scott C. Moesta is an established attorney providing estate planning services in Cary, NC. His practice covers essential areas such as wills, trusts, healthcare directives, guardianship, conservatorship, and estate administration.
Key Services
- Estate Planning
- Wills and Trusts
- Healthcare Directives
- Estate Administration
- Cary, NC Office
His broad practice allows clients to address both planning and the legal steps involved in managing an estate. His experience with wills, trusts, and estate administration can be particularly useful for families planning for the future.
With experience across several core estate planning matters, Scott C. Moesta provides legal support for clients seeking to organize their affairs and protect their long-term interests.
4. Holly Greeson Morris
Holly Greeson Morris provides legal services in estate planning and family law in Cary, NC. Her practice addresses important planning documents as well as legal matters that can affect families and their estates.
Key Services
- Estate Planning
- Wills and Living Wills
- Family and Estate Matters
- Probate
- Cary, NC Office
Her combination of estate and family law experience can be useful for clients dealing with planning decisions that involve both financial assets and family circumstances.
For Cary residents seeking assistance with wills, probate, and broader estate matters, her practice offers several related legal services in one place.
5. Ann-Margaret Alexander
Ann-Margaret Alexander is a founding attorney of Alexander & Doyle, P.A., with legal experience dating back to 1995. Her practice includes wills, estates, probate, and family law, giving her experience with a range of matters that may affect individuals and families.
Key Services
- Wills and Estate Planning
- Estate Administration
- Probate
- Healthcare Directives
- Cary, NC Office
Her work includes helping clients address estate documents and legal matters that arise during estate administration. The firm’s Cary practice also handles wills and living wills.
Clients looking for guidance with estate planning, probate, and related family matters can consider her experience when comparing local legal services.
6. Brett Andrew Thompson
Brett Andrew Thompson focuses on estate planning, elder law, probate, and Medicaid planning. His practice brings together several areas that can become important when individuals are preparing for aging, long-term care, or the future management of their assets.
Key Services
- Estate Planning
- Elder Law
- Probate
- Medicaid Planning
- Cary, NC Office
His elder law and Medicaid planning experience can be particularly relevant for families preparing for potential long-term care costs and other aging-related legal concerns.
For individuals who need estate planning alongside elder law or Medicaid guidance, Thompson’s range of services provides a broader approach to future planning.
7. William Thomas McCuiston Jr.
William Thomas McCuiston Jr. practices through McCuiston Law Offices, PLLC, in Cary, NC. His legal work includes estate planning, business law, and tax planning, creating a useful combination for clients whose personal estate plans involve business or financial interests.
Key Services
- Estate Planning
- Business Planning
- Tax Planning
- Estate Administration
- Cary, NC Office
His background in business and tax matters can be relevant when estate planning involves business ownership, financial assets, or longer-term wealth planning.
This combination of estate, business, and tax-related services makes his practice worth considering for Cary clients with more complex financial or business planning needs.
8. Thomas A. Earls
Thomas A. Earls is a Cary attorney whose practice includes estate planning, business law, and real estate law. His experience across these areas can be useful when an estate includes real property, business interests, or other significant assets.
Key Services
- Estate Planning
- Business Law
- Real Estate Law
- Estate-Related Planning
- Cary, NC Office
His combination of legal services allows clients to consider estate planning alongside property and business matters that may form part of their overall estate.
For clients with real estate or business interests, Earls offers a practice that connects these areas with broader estate planning needs.
9. Walter Samuel Weathers
Walter Samuel Weathers is a Cary attorney with experience in estate planning, business law, and real estate law. These practice areas can be relevant for individuals who need to consider property ownership or business assets as part of their estate plans.
Key Services
- Estate Planning
- Business Law
- Real Estate Law
- Asset-Related Planning
- Cary, NC Office
His work across business and real estate law provides an added perspective for clients whose estates include commercial interests, property, or other assets requiring careful planning.
Weathers’ combination of practice areas makes his services relevant to Cary clients looking for legal guidance involving estates, property, and business interests.
10. Andrea Nyren Doyle
Andrea Nyren Doyle is a founding attorney of Alexander & Doyle, P.A., with legal experience in North Carolina dating back to 1995. Her practice includes estate planning, wills, trusts, healthcare directives, estate administration, and family law.
Key Services
- Wills and Estate Planning
- Estate Administration
- Family Law
- Healthcare Directives
- Cary, NC Office
Her experience covers both planning and the legal work involved in administering an estate. Her family law background can also be relevant when estate planning involves family circumstances or related legal concerns.
With decades of legal experience and a broad practice covering wills, estates, and family matters, Doyle provides a range of services for clients planning and managing their estates.
Comparison of These Top Estate Planning Lawyers
Each attorney brings a different combination of estate planning and related legal experience.
This comparison highlights their primary focus, supporting services, and the types of estate matters they may assist with.
| Attorney | Main Focus | Related Areas | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| C.W. Lachey | Estates & Trusts | Probate, Guardianship | Trust Planning |
| Paul Yokabitus | Wills & Trusts | Probate, Special Needs | Family Planning |
| Scott C. Moesta | Estate Planning | Wills, Directives | Estate Planning |
| Holly Greeson Morris | Estate Planning | Wills, Family Law | Family Matters |
| Ann-Margaret Alexander | Wills & Estates | Probate, Directives | Estate Administration |
| Brett Andrew Thompson | Estate Planning | Elder Law, Medicaid | Long-Term Care |
| William T. McCuiston Jr. | Estate Planning | Business, Tax | Business Owners |
| Thomas A. Earls | Estate Planning | Business, Real Estate | Property Owners |
| Walter S. Weathers | Estate Planning | Business, Real Estate | Asset Planning |
| Andrea Nyren Doyle | Wills & Estates | Family Law, Directives | Families |
Estate Planning Services Offered by Cary, NC Lawyers
Estate planning attorneys can help with much more than a basic will. Depending on the attorney and your circumstances, services may include:
- Wills: Establish how assets should be distributed after death.
- Trusts: Structure and manage assets according to specific estate-planning goals.
- Powers of attorney: Appoint someone to handle financial or legal matters if needed.
- Healthcare directives: Document preferences and appoint someone to make healthcare decisions.
- Probate: Assist with the legal process of administering an estate.
- Estate administration: Help executors and beneficiaries manage the estate after death.
- Elder law: Address planning issues involving aging, long-term care, and Medicaid.
- Business and tax planning: Coordinate estate planning with business ownership and tax considerations.
How to Choose the Right Estate Planning Lawyer in Cary, NC
Choosing an estate planning lawyer starts with understanding what you need. Your priorities may differ if you need a simple will, a trust, probate help, or long-term care planning.
What to Check Before Hiring
- Practice areas: Make sure the attorney handles your type of estate matter.
- Experience: Look for relevant experience with wills, trusts, or probate.
- Fees: Ask about consultation costs and how legal fees are charged.
- Credentials: Confirm the attorney is licensed in North Carolina.
- Current details: Verify the office location and available services.
A short consultation can help you understand whether the lawyer’s services and approach match your estate planning needs.
When Should You Hire an Estate Planning Attorney?
You do not have to wait until retirement or old age to create an estate plan. Major life events can be good reasons to review your legal documents.
Consider speaking with an estate planning lawyer when you:
- Get married or divorced
- Have a child or grandchild
- Purchase significant property
- Start or sell a business
- Receive an inheritance
- Experience a major financial change
- Need long-term care or Medicaid planning
- Want to create or update a trust
- Need a new will or power of attorney
- Have experienced a death in the family
Reviewing an estate plan after major life changes can help keep your documents aligned with your current circumstances.
Cost of Hiring an Estate Planning Lawyer in Cary, NC
Estate planning fees in Cary vary based on the complexity of your plan.
As a general guide, basic will packages may cost around 350–1,350, while more comprehensive trust-based plans can range from about 1,700–4,500.
Many attorneys use flat fees for standard estate plans, while more complex matters may be billed hourly.
Before hiring a lawyer, ask what the fee includes, including document preparation, revisions, trust funding, and future updates.
Final Thoughts
Finding an estate planning lawyer in Cary, NC starts with understanding your own planning needs. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, probate, elder law, and estate administration can all require different types of legal assistance.
The attorneys featured here represent a range of practice areas and professional backgrounds. Before making a decision, compare their current services, experience, office information, consultation process, and fees.
A direct conversation with an attorney can help you determine whether their approach fits your particular family, financial, and estate-planning needs.
