News + Insights

Business Woman Stands on Compass looking through spyglass in stormy Sea

Weathering the Storm: How to Get Your Affairs in Order

Written By Eldridge D. Dodson

November 12, 2024

In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in 2018, I wrote this article to help individuals and families navigate the legal and financial issues that often follow a devastating storm. I remember the incredible outpouring of …

American currency leans against a red apple with a bite taken out of it

Take a Bite Out of the Estate Tax: Estate Planning with Life Insurance

Written By Jennifer V. Boyer

February 8, 2023

In the movie The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Inspector Clouseau asks a hotel clerk standing near a dog whether his dog bites. The clerk says no. Clouseau reaches down to pet the dog. The dog bites his han…

"Generation-Sharing" - Tax Planning That Benefits the Entire Family

Written By Jennifer V. Boyer and John R. Sloan

July 15, 2022

Historically, only the very wealthy engaged in generation-skipping estate planning. Families and individuals who do not think of themselves as "very wealthy," however, also can reap significant benefits from this type of p…

Making a Difference: Charitable Trust Planning

Written By Jennifer V. Boyer

June 8, 2022

The past few years have exposed a lot of needs in our communities, and many of us feel even more compelled to give back what we can. It seems more important now than ever to support worthy charitable organizations that ar…

Preventing Trust and Estate Disputes

Written By Jenna Fruechtenicht Butler

August 13, 2021

The death of a loved one should be a time for a family to come together. As a trust and estate litigator, unfortunately, I often see families fall apart. Every family's situation is different, but certain issu…

Yours, Mine, and Ours: Estate Planning for Blended Families

Written By Virginia S. Carter and Eldridge D. Dodson

April 14, 2021

According to recent statistics, four out of every ten families are blended families. As you might expect, estate planning for blended families is often complicated. Proper planning requires not only careful fi…

One hundred dollar bills behind an hour glass containing white sand

A Farewell to the Current Gift and Estate Tax Exemption?

Written By John R. Sloan

March 29, 2021

We recently wrote about a window of opportunity to take advantage of the rising estate and gift tax exemption before it sets. It is becoming clearer that the window may be shutting fast. The opportunity to take…

A man in a suit tearing up a paper meant to show he is contesting a will

How to Contest a Will: The Basics

Written By E. Bradley Evans

July 10, 2020

We all know that a person can control who will own his or her property after death by signing a will. But when questions arise as to the circumstances surrounding the signing of the will, what can be done to challeng…

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New NC Law Relaxes Requirements for Execution of Estate Planning Documents

Written By Zachary F. Lamb

May 5, 2020

Unusual times call for unusual measures. On May 4, 2020, the North Carolina General Assembly passed Session Law 2020-3 to relax the legal requirements associated with the execution of estate planning and other legal…

Little girl playing brown dog on Christmas morning

Estate Planning Resolutions for 2020

Written By Peter B. von Stein

January 2, 2020

The holiday season has come and gone, and it's hard to believe that we are on the brink of a new year and decade. For many of us, the start of a new year can be a time of empty commitment to self-betterment. …

one hundred dollar bill with Ben Franklin's face erased by a pink eraser

Top 10 Estate Planning Mistakes & How to Avoid Making Them

Written By Virginia S. Carter and Eldridge D. Dodson

June 12, 2019

As estate planners, we have seen it all over the years. What we have learned is that people make some common mistakes. Whether due to procrastination, lack of follow through, or ignoring their own mortality!&n…

Sidewalk view of a brightly lit closely held plant business

Why Do You Need a Buy-Sell Agreement for Your Closely Held Company?

Written By Merrill G. Jones, II

November 18, 2016

Why do you need a Buy-Sell Agreement for your closely held company? In a nutshell, your business partner might die, become disagreeable, or just simply lose his or her mind, and you need a set of rules to resolv…

Being Dismissive: The Realities of Having a Lawsuit Dismissed

Written By Allen N. Trask, III and Jeremy M. Wilson

November 10, 2016

We often hear the phrases "frivolous case" or "thrown out of court," and, as these sayings imply, we make broad assumptions about the procedural and substantive validity of a lawsuit based on our subjective (and …

A pecan pie with a slice missing, as a metaphor for non probate assets

How Non-Probate Assets Can Affect Your Estate Plan: A Few Cautionary Tales

Written By Virginia S. Carter and Peter B. von Stein

June 1, 2016

When you think about the control of your possessions and assets after your death, you probably think of a Will and probate. A Will is a written, legally enforceable declaration that states how you wish your assets to…