Ward and Smith PA

56 Best Lawyers awards

Ward and Smith PA logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Trusts and Estates

Biography

Peter advises clients on a wide array of issues in the context of estate and trust planning and administration. He assists in the preparation of Wills, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney to achieve each unique client's objectives in planning for death, incapacity, and asset transfers. Peter has extensive experience formulating estate plans, and his experience brings significant value to clients with varying types of planning needs and levels of complexity—ranging from simple estates, where efficiency is the primary objective, to sophisticated estates requiring strategic business succession and transfer tax planning. He also devotes a significant portion of his practice to representing executors and trustees as they settle and administer estates and trusts.

Ward and Smith PA

56 Best Lawyers awards

Ward and Smith PA logo

Overview

  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., graduated 2012
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., graduated 2015

  • North Carolina Bar Association - Member- Sections: Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law; Elder & Special Needs Law
  • Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce - Board of Directors Chair
  • 3rd Judicial District Bar - President

  • All state courts in North Carolina
  • North Carolina, 2015
  • North Carolina Bar Association - Member- Sections: Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law; Elder & Special Needs Law
  • Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce - Board of Directors Chair
  • 3rd Judicial District Bar - President
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., graduated 2012
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., graduated 2015
  • All state courts in North Carolina
  • North Carolina, 2015

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2026 for work in:
  • Trusts and Estates
Awards:
  • 2022 Trailblazer, Business North Carolina, 2022
  • The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers®, 2024
  • "Rising Star," Super Lawyers, 2024

Case History

Transactions
  • Preparation of gift and estate tax returns.
Preparation of gift and estate tax returns.
  • Advising families, individuals, professionals, and business owners in estate planning, tax reduction, and business succession issues
Advising families, individuals, professionals, and business owners in estate planning, tax reduction, and business succession issues
  • Facilitating all aspects of probate and estate and trust administration
Facilitating all aspects of probate and estate and trust administration, including advising executors, trustees, and beneficiaries.
  • Drafting
Drafting estate planning documents, including Wills, Revocable Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, and Irrevocable Trusts;

Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.

Please use the print button to print this profile page.

Spinning circle Big letter B