Harvell and Collins, PA

04/17/2026

🎙️ Let’s Talk Legal: All About Appeals

Ever wondered what happens after a court decision? This week, attorneys Wesley Collins and Cecil Harvell break down the appeals process—what it is, how it works, and what you need to know if you’re considering one.

Tune in to get clear, practical insight on a complex part of the legal system.

🎧 Listen now: https://www.harvellandcollins.com/radio-show/lets-talk-legal-all-about-appeals

04/10/2026

Planning for tomorrow brings peace of mind today. At Harvell and Collins, PA we're dedicated to correct any wrongs and protect your rights.

We are a highly rated and strategic combination of lawyers committed to providing comprehensive legal advice to clients in Eastern North Carolina.

04/10/2026

Your needs come first. Always. Let's navigate legal challenges together.

Cecil S. Harvell and Wesley A. Collins are AV Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated.

04/03/2026

In this week’s Let’s Talk Legal, we break down elective share—a powerful (and often misunderstood) right that allows a surviving spouse to claim a portion of an estate, even if they were left out of the will.

💡 Did you know?
✔ A surviving spouse typically has just 6 months to file a claim
✔ The percentage they can claim increases based on length of marriage
✔ It can include retirement accounts, life insurance, and other non-probate assets
✔ Separation alone does not eliminate these rights—only divorce does

These rules can lead to major disputes, especially in blended families where intentions and expectations may not align.

The key takeaway: Planning ahead matters. Tools like trusts and postnuptial agreements can help protect your wishes, reduce conflict, and avoid costly litigation.

🎧 Tune in to learn how to safeguard your estate—and your family’s future.

https://www.harvellandcollins.com/radio-show

03/21/2026

Let’s Talk Legal: Litigation of POD and Joint Account Registrations

In this episode, attorneys Cecil Harvell and Wes Collins discuss how payable-on-death (POD) and joint account registrations can override wills and trusts — often leading to unexpected outcomes and family disputes. These designations are common but frequently misunderstood, making proper planning and timely action essential.

⚖️ How POD and joint accounts pass outside of your will or trust
🏦 Why bank and investment account changes often lack formal safeguards
🧠 How capacity, timing, and undue influence impact legal challenges
📄 Common scenarios where account changes create unintended consequences
⏱️ Why acting quickly after death is critical to protect disputed funds
🛡️ How proper estate planning and powers of attorney can prevent litigation

🎧 Listen now: https://www.harvellandcollins.com/radio-show

📞 252-726-9050 | harvellandcollins.com

03/10/2026

Let’s Talk Legal – Continuation of Will Caveat and Fiduciary Law

In this episode, attorneys Cecil Harvell and Wes Collins continue the conversation on will caveats and fiduciary law, focusing on why these cases require experienced counsel, careful factual development, and a realistic understanding of the risks. Estate disputes are often highly technical, emotionally charged, and expensive — making strategy and evidence critical from the start.

⚖️ Why fiduciary litigation requires attorneys with real estate-litigation experience
👥 The difference between representing the estate and challenging it from the outside
💸 How weak or frivolous will challenges can lead to attorney’s fees being awarded
🧾 Why medical records, depositions, handwriting analysis, and other evidence often decide the case
🏦 How beneficiary designations, POD accounts, and joint ownership can trigger major disputes
⏱️ Why early legal advice can help avoid costly, all-or-nothing litigation

🎧 Listen now: https://www.harvellandcollins.com/radio-show
📞 252-726-9050 | harvellandcollins.com

03/04/2026

03/02/2026

03/01/2026

Spring into peace of mind with Harvell and Collins, PA. Plan ahead and protect your legacy this season. Reach out today!

02/26/2026

Let’s Talk Legal – Estate Related Litigation

In this episode, attorneys Cecil Harvell and Wes Collins discuss the critical difference between being “inside looking out” (representing the estate) and “outside looking in” (a beneficiary challenging estate matters) — and how that distinction can dramatically affect cost, strategy, and standing in estate disputes.

⚖️ How estates can use estate funds to defend claims — and when that changes
📜 Why filing a will caveat can freeze estate assets and shift attorney-fee exposure
🧠 The strong presumption that a properly executed will is valid
👥 When beneficiaries lack standing and must first demand action from the executor
📄 Common estate disputes beyond caveats — including deeds and beneficiary designations
🎯 Why experienced estate litigators matter in these fact-specific cases

🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gz5vquNx

📞 252-726-9050 | harvellandcollins.com

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02/18/2026

Let’s Talk Legal – The “In Law” Trust

In this episode, attorney Cecil Harvell explains the purpose of an “in-law” trust — a carefully drafted trust designed to protect a child’s inheritance from being lost in a future divorce. While inherited assets are generally considered separate property under North Carolina law, commingling those funds with marital assets can quickly jeopardize that protection.

⚖️ How an in-law trust helps preserve inherited assets as separate property
📜 Why commingling can turn separate property into marital property
🏠 How trusts can hold titled assets like homes and investment accounts
👨‍👩‍👧 Ways to benefit children and grandchildren while maintaining protection
🧾 Why documentation and proper trustee selection are critical
🔄 How trusts can be amended or restated as family circumstances change

🎧 Listen now: https://www.harvellandcollins.com/radio-show

📞 252-726-9050 | harvellandcollins.com

We are a highly rated and strategic combination of lawyers committed to providing comprehensive legal advice to clients in Eastern North Carolina.