North Carolina Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law

10/14/2026

A well-designed estate plan should reflect more than your assets.

It should reflect your family, goals, business interests, and the legacy you want to leave behind.

Led by Board Certified Specialist Jim Hickmon, North Carolina Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law brings more than 20 years of experience to creating personalized estate plans for individuals, families, and business owners in Charlotte. Contact the firm today at 704-248-6325 to start planning for your future.

10/07/2026

Your will may not determine who receives some of your most valuable assets.

Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other accounts with beneficiary designations generally pass directly to the person named on the account.

Reviewing those designations as part of your estate plan can help ensure your assets pass according to your wishes. Learn more in our article:https://d11o58it1bhut6.cloudfront.net/production/2804/originals/the-forms-that-outrank-your-will-v1-jeh-10-6-26-2-2c3c75d4.pdf

09/30/2026

Trust beneficiaries in North Carolina may have important rights to information about how a trust is being managed.

Depending on the circumstances, qualified beneficiaries may be entitled to information about trust property and access to certain records.

Even when a trust limits reporting requirements, trustees still have fiduciary duties they must follow. If you believe you’re being kept in the dark, North Carolina Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law can help you understand your rights and available options.

charlotteestatelawyer.com

09/23/2026

In North Carolina, your will may not be the final word when it comes to what your spouse inherits.

The spousal elective share can allow a surviving spouse to claim a portion of an estate, even when the will provides otherwise.

For second marriages, blended families, and those with significant separate assets, thoughtful planning can help protect your intentions and the people you want to provide for. Contact North Carolina Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law at 704-248-6325 to review your estate plan and understand your options.

09/15/2026

Named executor of a North Carolina estate but live in another state? You can still serve, but additional requirements may apply.

Nonresident executors may need to appoint a North Carolina resident process agent, address bond requirements, and manage probate filings, creditor deadlines, asset valuations, and other responsibilities from afar.

North Carolina Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law helps out-of-state executors navigate the probate process efficiently and fulfill their fiduciary duties with confidence. Contact our team at 704-248-6325 to learn more.

09/10/2026

A power of attorney is meant to protect your loved one, not allow someone to benefit from their assets.

Unexplained transfers, changed beneficiary designations, missing funds, or a refusal to provide financial records may be warning signs of agent self-dealing. North Carolina law imposes fiduciary duties on power of attorney agents and provides legal remedies when those duties are breached.

If you suspect a loved one’s power of attorney is being misused, acting promptly can be critical. Learn more on our blog: charlotteestatelawyer.com/firm-news-articles/articles/is-a-sibling-misusing-your-parents-power-of-attorney-signs-of-agent-self-dealing-under-north-carolina-law

08/24/2026

Attorney James Hickmon is being recognized in the 33rd edition of The Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Trusts and Estates!

Congratulations!

08/21/2026

08/18/2026

🏛️ APPELLATE WIN: We're proud to share that James Hickmon and Jeremy Canipe secured a unanimous victory for our client before the North Carolina Court of Appeals in In re Russo, No. COA25-321 (Jan. 7, 2026).

Our client, Devin R. Russo, stood to inherit his late grandfather's home through a trust — but the law firm that drafted the will had named itself as trustee and successor executor, and for over five years no one administered the estate at all. When our client asked a court to sort it out, the other side tried to use the will's no-contest clause to shut him out entirely.

The Court of Appeals agreed with us on every point:

✅ Asking a court to enforce a will isn't “contesting” it — the no-contest clause didn't apply, and our client had standing.

✅ A law firm organized as a PLLC cannot legally serve as trustee under North Carolina's trust institution laws.

✅ That same law firm cannot serve as executor either — corporate entities need specific statutory authority that PLLCs don't have.

✅ The five-year delay in qualifying an executor deserved a real hearing, not a paper dismissal.

The trial court's dismissal was reversed, the denial of our client's costs and fees was vacated, and the case is headed back for further proceedings.

This decision is a big deal for estate planning: naming your own law firm as trustee or executor of a client's estate simply isn't legally effective in North Carolina. Only individual attorneys — not the firms they practice through — can serve in that fiduciary role.

Proud of this result for our client and grateful for the trust he placed in our firm.

📖 Read the opinion: https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/appellate-court-opinions/in-re-russo

08/18/2026

💼 Mergers and acquisitions involve more than reaching an agreement.

Financing, valuation, tax considerations, due diligence, and post-merger integration can all play an important role in a successful transaction.

North Carolina Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law helps business owners navigate the complexities of M&A with experienced legal guidance from start to finish. Call us at 704-248-6325.