Expertise.com

Best Probate Lawyers in Wilmington

2023

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Website
9111 Market St, Suite A, Wilmington, NC 28411
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

David E. Anderson, PLLC, is a law firm that dedicates its services to helping individuals and families in estate planning. Based in Wilmington, it assists clients in handling the difficulties involved in probate and trust administration, such as contested guardianships, litigation of documents, and challenges to powers of attorney. Its estate planning services include creating wills, trusts, and other asset protection tools. Founder David Anderson is a member of WealthCounsel, a nationwide network of lawyers that provides planning advice.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.7 / 5 (38)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (8)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1213 Culbreth Drive, Suite 448, Wilmington, NC 28405
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Johnson Legal, PLLC, takes on probate and estate administration matters for clients throughout the Wilmington metro and the surrounding areas. The firm takes care of various aspects of the probate process to effectively handle and distribute assets on behalf of the deceased, working closely with executors and beneficiaries to close out the estate without further delays. Likewise, it assists in the preparation, drafting, and execution of last wills and testaments, durable powers of attorney, and trusts. Shane T. Johnson is a Certified Association Executive.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Shane Johnson - Principal3 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (47)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
5215 Junction Circle, Suite 100, Wilmington, NC 28412
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Kincaid & Associates, PLLC, Attorneys at Law is a Wilmington-based firm that addresses probate-related concerns throughout the local metro. Its lawyers serve as representatives and advisors of families in initial filings, consultations with financial institutions, and court proceedings. They offer comprehensive counsel regarding the creation of special needs trusts and guardianships, as well as estate plans for the domestic needs of same-sex partners. The firm's owner, Mitzi Y. Kincaid, is also the founder of Indie Tree, Inc., which provides supported housing for those with disabilities.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.3
Google
4.2 / 5 (5)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (5)
Yelp
3.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
226 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Brandon C. Pettijohn Attorney at Law, PLLC, is a multi-practice firm serving Wilmington and nearby areas. Pettijohn counsels clients in a wide range of areas such as estate planning and business law. He also represents personal injury victims and handles family and criminal law matters. The legal practitioner, who also serves residents in Tennessee and Indiana, served in the United States Marine Corps before pursuing law. He was also appointed as the Veterans Court Coordinator for the State of Indiana.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (7)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
5039 Main Street, Shallotte, NC 28470
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

B. Joseph Causey, Jr. is a probate lawyer near Wilmington, who is passionate about helping clients navigate the confusing process of resolving probate. Valuing compassion and accuracy in his craft, this lawyer aims to make estate administration after a loved one's passing a quick and easy process. With nearly 30 years of experience, Causey also provides legal counsel for estate plans, specifically for living and last wills, guardianship of minors and adults, and ancillary probate of out-of-town estates.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
B. Causey - Principal32 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Google
4.9 / 5 (17)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
107 East Fremont Street, Burgaw, NC 28425
  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Inheritance Taxes
  • Estate Taxes
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Zachary S. Rivenbark is a law firm located in Wilmington. The firm, headed by Rivenbark, provides services that can help clients come up with a comprehensive estate plan. This entails assistance when coming up with a will that legally states medical preferences, naming an administrator of an estate, or naming an appointee that can help make decisions when a person becomes incapacitated. The Law Office of Zachary S. Rivenbark also offers legal services in other areas such as personal injury, family law, and criminal defense.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Zachary Rivenbark - Principal8 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (18)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (12)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (8)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
516 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
  • Wills

Why choose this provider?

Jones & Sasnett, P.A. offers legal services from its offices in Wilmington and Washington. Its team assists clients with matters concerning wills, estates, and powers of attorney. Its lawyers also represent clients in divorce proceedings and handle family law issues involving child custody, grandparents' rights, and guardianship. Criminal and business law are the firm's other practice areas. Firm partner Amanda Sasnett, who offers estate planning assistance, graduated summa cum laude from law school in 2015.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Brian Jones - Founding Partner21 yrs
Amanda Sasnett - Partner8 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (4)
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
5725-F2 Oleander Dr., Wilmington, NC 28403
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

The Collins Law Firm represents clients in Wilmington and the neighboring communities in multiple practice areas. It helps personal representatives of estates and designated beneficiaries navigate the probate process. Founding attorney David B. Collins Jr. and his team have over 65 years of combined criminal defense and personal injury law experience. Collins has been licensed to practice law in North Carolina and South Carolina since 1993. Telephone consultations are available for less serious criminal charges such as minor traffic violations.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
David Collins - Principal30 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Avvo
4.9 / 5 (51)
Facebook
4.9 / 5 (32)
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
201 N. Front St. Suite 408, Wilmington, NC 28401
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Established in 2017, Cason Crummie Law Firm, PLLC, represents clients and businesses in Wilmington in estate planning and probate administration. The firm assists in administering estates by working with the executors and beneficiaries of the estates to effectively handle and distribute assets on behalf of the deceased. Its legal staff also help prepare legally binding documents such as wills and living trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Ryan G. Cason Crummie has been serving the community for over 10 years.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
215 Racine Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403
  • Estate Planning
  • Real Estate

Why choose this provider?

Collins & Collins Law Offices PLLC has been solely focusing on real estate law representation for clients in Wilmington and neighboring areas since its opening in 2000. The law firm expanded its practice to offer estate planning services in August 2016. Its attorneys assist clients in creating documents like wills, trusts, and powers of attorney that fit their unique family situation. The attorneys and paralegals at Collins & Collins each have at least 10 years of experience in the field.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Andy Collins - Partner21 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Google
4.9 / 5 (42)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (2)
FindLaw
5.0 / 5 (2)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
408 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Carter and Carter Attorneys at Law has been representing clients across the Wilmington community and the neighboring cities for over 39 years. It provides legal guidance to personal representatives wishing to manage the estates of deceased individuals. It also handles clients' guardianship and trust matters. The law firm's team uses their experience in debtor-creditor law to help reject invalid claims and maximizes available assets for beneficiaries. One of its attorneys, Oliver Carter III, is a creditor's rights specialist certified by the American Board of Certification.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
209 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Terry B. Richardson Attorneys at Law serves clients in Wilmington and the nearby areas. The firm handles estate administration cases and assists with analyzing a client's estate, drafting wills, changing wills, appointing guardians for minors, and transferring assets. It represents clients in probate disputes arising from lack of capacity, undue influence, and breach of fiduciary duty. The firm assists clients with choosing an appropriate executor to ensure their will is administered according to their wishes.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Terry Richardson - Principal42 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (12)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.5
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
4317 Ramsey St.1121 Military Cutoff Rd, Suite P, Wilmington, NC 28405
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Hutchens Law Firm has been serving individuals and businesses in various litigation and legal issues since 1980. The firm's attorneys cater to Wilmington families looking for legal professionals to navigate them through the probate administration process and form a will or trust. They listen to the client's demands regarding the distribution of their assets and design an estate plan that protects their legacy. Its lawyers also provide services for matters involving business successions, guardianship, and charitable giving.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.1
Facebook
4.3 / 5 (43)
Google
3.8 / 5 (20)
Yelp
2.5 / 5 (3)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.5
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
Oleander Oaks, 5725 Oleander Drive, Suite F1, Wilmington, NC 28403
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Baker Law Firm has been providing services to clients in Wilmington for more than 45 years. It represents individuals in probate litigation cases, providing legal counsel to heirs and beneficiaries in estate disputes, including claims against the estate, unclear modifications of the will, and mismanagement of assets. It also guides clients in estate administration, helping personal representatives distribute the assets as directed by the will or state laws. Principal attorney Mitch Baker serves on the board of governors of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
701 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Craige & Fox PLLC is a general practice law firm that has been serving clients in Wilmington since 2004. It provides probate-related counsel and representation, which include asset consolidation, debt payment, and asset distribution in accordance with the wills of decedents. The firm also drafts estate planning documents, such as powers of attorney, living wills, and living trusts. Lawrence S. Craig and Charlotte Noel Fox have more than 35 years of combined legal experience. They keep clients' objectives at the center of every stage of representation.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Lawrence Craige - Partner25 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Google
4.0 / 5 (11)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
2419 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28403
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

For over a century, the multi-practice law firm Rountree Losee LLP has been representing clients in Wilmington. It provides legal assistance to individuals facing probate proceedings and counsels on creditor management and asset liquidation issues. The firm also offers estate planning solutions and drafts documents like living wills. Its other practice areas include real estate and corporate law. One of its partners, Geoffrey Losee, is certified in superior court mediation by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission. He is a US Navy veteran.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Geoffrey Losee - Partner29 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (6)
Google
5.0 / 5 (5)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
519 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Seay Law Firm, PLLC offers complete estate administration and probate services in and around Wilmington. The probate attorneys from the firm help estate administrators and representatives get admitted to probate, understand will provision, and consolidate assets into the estate. They also settle any issues that arise during the probate execution like petitions for the elective shares of disinherited spouses, changing personal representatives, and reclaiming estate property. Seay Law Firm, PLLC is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
James Seay - Partner / Senior Attorney41 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (20)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
5700 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Graves May PLLC is a full-service law firm that provides tax and legal services to clients in Wilmington. Its areas of practice include probate and estate administration, estate planning, advanced estate planning, asset protection, and business and corporate law. It also offers legal services in implementing and defending tax reduction, defending criminal tax cases, and federal and state taxation. Co-founder Rick E. Graves has been a board-certified specialist in estate planning and probate law since 2003.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.6
Google
4.6 / 5 (9)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
5725 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403
  • Wills

Why choose this provider?

Price & Williams, P.A., is a Wilmington law office that offers legal assistance to the city's residents in matters concerning estates, trusts, and wills. The firm's probate attorney, James Price, has years of experience in helping surviving family members navigate probate proceeding as well as the estate administration process. Co-attorney D. Robert Williams, Jr., meanwhile, works to resolve real estate law matters. Price & Williams, P.A., also assists people with bankruptcy law cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
James Price - Partner19 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.7 / 5 (25)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
2.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
––
Detail
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Website
310 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP is a law office that serves clients in and around Wilmington. The office's estate planning and probate attorneys provide legal services in matters concerning wills, trusts, and estate plans. These services include revocable and irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, business succession planning, Medicaid and social security planning, and tax planning. The lawyers of Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP also handle family law and business law cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Auley Crouch - Partner47 yrs
Christopher Behm - Partner25 yrs
Linda Sayed - Partner25 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.3
Google
4.5 / 5 (11)
Yelp
3.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.5
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Wilmington, North Carolina?

    910-452-6120 is the non-emergency police dispatch hotline in Wilmington.

  • What happens if a person in Wilmington passes away with a valid will?

    If a person in Wilmington passes away with a valid will, the interested parties may retain a local probate lawyer as a guide and advisor. To make sure the will wasn't created under duress or any other influence, a probate lawyer may evaluate it. This is especially important if the deceased person was elderly and afflicted with dementia.

  • When should you contact a Wilmington probate attorney?

    When estate preparation and probate are exceedingly intricate, particularly when a blended family is involved, you should seek the counsel of a Wilmington probate lawyer. If you learn that a deceased loved one left behind a sizable debt or believe the will ought to be challenged, you should also seek legal assistance.

  • What are the most frequent justifications for probate proceedings in Wilmington?

    Validating a will is one of the most frequent reasons to go through the probate procedure in Wilmington. Other justifications for probate include conflicts about the unfair distribution of a decedent's inheritance, errors in trust creation, and disputes regarding the choice of a guardian for a dependent with a disability.

  • What should be covered in your Wilmington estate plan?

    No matter the extent of your estate or the dynamics of your family in Wilmington, there are a few things that your estate plan must contain. These include an advanced medical care directive, a durable power of attorney for someone to create decisions on your behalf, and a personal representative who will see to it that your estate plan will be followed.

  • How is Wilmington's elective share for spouses determined?

    In Wilmington, the amount of the elective share for spouses is determined based on the length of the marriage. A spouse is eligible to get 15% if they have been together for less than five years, 25% if they've been together for five to 10 years, 33% if they have been together for ten to fifteen years, and 50% if they've been together for more than fifteen years.