Estate planning helps you protect your assets, plan for the future, and make important financial and healthcare decisions. Common documents include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.
Choosing the right estate planning lawyer in Charlotte, NC can make the process simpler. An experienced attorney can explain your options and create a plan based on your family, assets, and goals.
This guide highlights 10 estate planning lawyers in Charlotte, NC, along with their key services and areas of experience to help you compare your options.
How We Selected These Charlotte Estate Planning Lawyers
We selected these attorneys using public records and publicly available information about their estate planning expertise, legal experience, professional credentials, and Charlotte-area presence.
What We Considered
We looked at:
- Estate planning expertise
- Legal experience and background
- Professional credentials
- North Carolina legal experience
- Charlotte-area presence
This list is a starting point. Your choice should depend on your estate planning goals, family situation, and specific legal needs.
List of 10 Verified Estate Planning Attorneys in Charlotte, NC
Here are 10 estate planning attorneys selected from public records and available professional information about their experience and expertise:
- C.W. Lachey
- Kelly Jesson
- Ryan D. Stump
- Holly Simpson
- Cheryl R. Watkins
- Stephen M. Bennett
- Sabrina Winters
- Jonathan M. Beigle
- Craig Miller Jr.
- Thomas Falish
Detailed profiles of each attorney are provided below.
1. C.W. Lachey
C.W. Lachey is a highly experienced estate planning attorney serving Charlotte, NC, and surrounding Mecklenburg County communities through C.W. Lachey Law PLLC.
His practice focuses on estate planning and related legal matters, with experience addressing the needs of individuals and families as they organize their assets and plan for the future.
His areas of legal expertise include:
- Estate and trust drafting
- Partition actions
- Adult guardianship
- Probate administration
- Trust administration
Through this experience, C.W. Lachey helps clients create clearer estate plans, handle estate-related legal responsibilities, and protect their interests during important family and property matters.
His Mint Hill office is located at 7540 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227.
2. Kelly Jesson
Kelly Jesson brings a focused background in estate planning and probate law to the Charlotte area.
Her work involves helping individuals and families prepare for the future, organize their affairs, and address important financial and healthcare decisions through appropriate legal planning.
Her areas of legal expertise include:
- Estate planning
- Wills and trusts
- Powers of attorney
- Healthcare directives
- Probate and estate administration
Kelly Jesson helps clients turn their wishes into clear legal plans, prepare for possible incapacity, and manage the legal responsibilities that can arise after a loved one’s death.
Her Charlotte office is located at 5821 Fairview Road, Suite 218, Charlotte, NC 28209.
3. Ryan D. Stump
Ryan D. Stump has a broad legal background that includes estate planning and related financial matters in Charlotte.
His work is relevant to individuals and families who need to structure their assets, establish decision-making arrangements, and consider the long-term legal and financial impact of their estate.
His areas of legal expertise include:
- Wills and trusts
- Powers of attorney
- Estate tax planning
- Probate services
- Estate planning
His combination of estate planning and tax-related knowledge can help clients address asset distribution, future financial decisions, and estate administration in a more organized way.
His Charlotte office is located at 7300 Carmel Executive Park Drive, Suite 110, Charlotte, NC 28226.
4. Holly Simpson
Holly Simpson has built her legal practice around estate planning and probate matters, giving her a focused background in helping families prepare for and manage significant estate-related decisions.
She serves clients in North and South Carolina and handles planning needs that can arise both during a person’s lifetime and after their death.
Her areas of legal expertise include:
- Estate planning and probate
- Wills and trusts
- Powers of attorney
- Estate administration
Holly Simpson helps clients put their wishes into legally structured documents, prepare for future incapacity, and address the responsibilities involved in administering an estate.
Her Charlotte office is located at 17250 Lancaster Hwy., Suite 601, Charlotte, NC 28277.
5. Cheryl R. Watkins
Cheryl R. Watkins has more than two decades of experience in estate planning and probate law, with a practice that serves individuals, families, and business owners in Charlotte and across North Carolina.
Her background covers both planning and the legal work required when an estate needs to be administered.
Her areas of legal expertise include:
- Estate planning and probate
- Wills and trusts
- Powers of attorney
- Living wills
- Business succession planning
- Estate administration
Watkins helps clients prepare for future changes, document their wishes, plan for business continuity, and address estate matters with greater legal clarity when a loved one passes away.
6. Stephen M. Bennett
Stephen M. Bennett combines estate planning knowledge with a broader background in business law, real estate, and civil litigation.
As a partner at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, his varied legal experience can be particularly relevant for clients whose estate plans involve business interests, property, or more complex legal considerations.
His professional background includes:
- Estate planning
- Business and estate planning
- Civil litigation
- Real estate law
- Estate administration and guardianship matters
Bennett has been licensed to practice law in North Carolina since 2008 and earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
His Charlotte office is located at 200 N McDowell St, Charlotte, NC 28204. His broad legal background helps clients address estate planning alongside related business, property, and legal concerns.
7. Sabrina Winters
Sabrina Winters has a concentrated practice in estate planning and probate, giving her a strong focus on the legal needs that arise when individuals prepare for the future or families manage an estate.
Her Charlotte practice works with clients on both basic and more comprehensive estate plans.
Her areas of legal expertise include:
- Estate planning
- Wills and trusts
- Financial powers of attorney
- Healthcare powers of attorney
- Living wills
- Probate and estate administration
Winters helps clients organize their legal affairs, establish who can make important financial or healthcare decisions, and understand the steps involved in settling an estate.
Her Charlotte office is located at 6406 Carmel Road, Suite 301, Charlotte, NC 28226.
8. Jonathan M. Beigle
Jonathan M. Beigle brings together estate planning, probate, estate administration, and business law experience.
His legal background allows him to work with individuals, families, and business owners who need to organize assets and make long-term plans for their estates.
His areas of legal expertise include:
- Estate planning
- Wills and trusts
- Probate
- Estate administration
- Business law
Beigle helps clients structure their estate plans around their personal circumstances, manage probate responsibilities, and address the legal transfer of assets.
His Charlotte office is located at 1520 West Sugar Creek Rd, Charlotte, NC 28262.
9. Craig Miller Jr.
R. Craig Miller Jr. has a diverse legal background that includes estate planning and business law, with particular attention to wills, trusts, and long-term estate considerations.
His practice also addresses healthcare decision-making and matters that can become important when planning for incapacity.
His areas of legal expertise include:
- Wills and trusts
- Estate tax counseling
- Estate administration
- Healthcare powers of attorney
- Advance healthcare directives
Miller helps clients organize their estates, consider potential tax issues, document healthcare preferences, and establish appropriate decision-making arrangements.
His Charlotte office at Dozier Miller Law Group is located at 525 N. Tryon St., Suite 210, Charlotte, NC 28202.
10. Thomas Falish
Thomas J. Falish has a broad legal practice that includes estate planning, estate administration, and business and corporate matters.
His background is relevant to clients who want to organize their affairs, plan for the transfer of assets, and establish clear instructions for future financial and healthcare decisions.
His areas of legal expertise include:
- Estate planning
- Wills and trusts
- Powers of attorney
- Estate administration
- Healthcare planning
Falish helps clients prepare essential estate documents, establish decision-making arrangements, and work through the legal and administrative requirements involved in settling an estate.
His Charlotte office at Dozier Miller Law Group is located at 525 N. Tryon St., Suite 210, Charlotte, NC 28202.
Comparison of the Best Estate Planning Attorneys
Each estate attorneys in North Carolina has a different professional background and area of focus.
This quick comparison highlights their key expertise, experience, and planning focus so you can review the options more easily.
| Attorney | Expertise | Planning Focus | Related Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| C.W. Lachey | Estate Law | Wills & Trusts | Probate |
| Kelly Jesson | Estate Planning | Wills & Trusts | Healthcare |
| Ryan D. Stump | Estate Planning | Wills & Trusts | Tax Planning |
| Holly Simpson | Estate & Probate | Wills & Trusts | Administration |
| Cheryl R. Watkins | Estate & Probate | Wills & Trusts | Succession |
| Stephen M. Bennett | Estate & Business | Estate Planning | Litigation |
| Sabrina Winters | Estate Planning | Wills & Trusts | Probate |
| Jonathan M. Beigle | Estate & Business | Wills & Trusts | Probate |
| Craig Miller Jr. | Estate & Business | Wills & Trusts | Tax Planning |
| Thomas Falish | Estate & Corporate | Wills & Trusts | Administration |
How to Evaluate a Qualified Estate Planning Attorney
The right attorney depends on your specific situation. Before hiring someone, consider:
- Relevant experience: Look for experience with the type of plan you need.
- Knowledge of North Carolina law: Estate planning rules differ between states.
- Range of services: Check whether the attorney handles wills, trusts, probate, healthcare directives, or business succession as needed.
- Communication: Your lawyer should explain complicated legal concepts in language you understand.
- Fees: Ask whether the attorney charges a flat fee, hourly rate, or another structure.
- Ongoing updates: Find out how the firm handles future changes to your estate plan.
Common Estate Planning Services in Charlotte
Estate planning is more than simply writing a will. Depending on your circumstances, an attorney may help with:
- Last wills and testaments
- Revocable living trusts
- Irrevocable trusts
- Financial powers of attorney
- Healthcare powers of attorney
- Living wills and advance directives
- Guardianship planning
- Probate administration
- Trust administration
- Estate tax planning
- Business succession planning
- Beneficiary and asset coordination
A complete plan should work together rather than treating each document as a separate piece.
How Much Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Cost in Charlotte, NC?
Estate planning costs in Charlotte can vary based on your needs. A simple will usually costs less than a plan involving trusts, business assets, or tax planning.
The main factors include:
- Type of plan
- Number of documents
- Trusts or tax planning
- Business interests
- Estate complexity
Publicly listed prices in North Carolina range from about $1,500–$2,500 for will-based plans and $3,000–$5,500 for trust-based plans. These are only examples, so ask for a written fee estimate before hiring an attorney.
How to Choose the Right Estate Planning Lawyer in Charlotte
Choosing an estate planning lawyer starts with understanding your own needs. Your situation may require a simple will or a more detailed plan involving trusts, business assets, or healthcare decisions.
When comparing attorneys, consider:
- Relevant experience
- Legal expertise
- Professional credentials
- Communication style
- Fee structure
During your consultation, ask what documents you need, whether a trust is appropriate, and how your estate may be affected by probate. Choose an attorney who understands your goals and explains your options clearly.
Final Thoughts
A good estate plan helps you control how your assets, finances, and healthcare decisions are handled. It can also make things easier for your family in the future.
The attorneys listed above have different backgrounds in wills, trusts, probate, estate administration, and related planning. Compare their expertise with your specific needs before choosing one.
Review your estate plan after major life changes, such as marriage, divorce, a new child, or significant changes to your assets.
