Best Lawyers in North Carolina, United States for Trusts and Estates
Bryan C. Thompson is a highly skilled attorney with extensive experience in elder law, estate planning, guardianship, corporate law, and health care law. A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Bryan joined Robinson & Lawing, LLP in 2023 after more than two decades of distinguished legal practice. His broad expertise spans estate administration, trust management, and representation of clients in state and federal courts, as well as before regulatory bodies. Bryan earned his J.D., cum l...
Jennifer L. Weaver is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Trusts and Estates. Jennifer L. practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Jennifer L. Weaver since 2016. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard...
A shareholder at Young Moore, Sue concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration and wealth transfer. She assists individuals with the preparation, revision and updating of estate planning documents including wills, revocable living trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), charitable trusts (CRATs, CRUTs, CLTs), spousal lifetime access trusts (SLATS), dynasty trusts, trusts for children, grantor retained income trusts (GRATs), qualified personal residen...
Charles L. Steel IV is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Charles L. practices law in Durham, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Charles L. Steel IV since 2010. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Charles L. Steel IV is held by othe...
John leads the firm's Trusts and Estates practice. He is certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. John's practice experience encompasses estate planning, estate administration, estate and gift tax planning, and related services primarily, though not exclusively, to high net worth individuals and families. His practice also involves business succession planning for closely-held business owners, asset protection, and estate pl...
Brad Van Hoy brings more than 20 years of experience in advising high-net worth individuals, closely-held business owners, executives, and family offices with their estate, tax, business, and philanthropic planning needs. Brad builds long-term relationships with his clients, guiding them through their unique opportunities and challenges, and helping them to realize, protect, and leave a legacy with what they have worked so hard to build. Whether crafting an estate or tax plan, advising on est...
Brian G. Morrison is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trusts and Estates. Brian G. practices law in Wilmington, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Brian G. Morrison since 2019. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Brian G. Morrison is held by other lawyers.
Deborah L. Hildebran-Bachofen has been practicing with Manning Fulton since 1988. Debbie has a broad range of experience with closely-held corporations, including corporate mergers, acquisition and structuring issues, planning and tax accounting issues, private debt placement, and tax planning. Debbie becomes an important part of the company’s outside management team, advising business owners on day-to-day operations, drafting and negotiating contracts, and advising on financial matters...
Eldridge is certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. She assists all types of clients in drafting and implementing estate plans, including estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning, and also provides counsel to executors and trustees in administering estates and trusts. Eldridge has also earned a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Southern California . Her years of experience as an a...
A technically skilled, North Carolina State Bar certified specialist in estate planning and probate law and a frequent speaker on tax and estate planning topics, Mark Horn takes a comprehensive, proactive approach to his high net worth clients’ estate and tax planning situations, making recommendations in plain English and implementing the desired planning efficiently and responsively. Also serving many closely-held businesses, Mark often acts as the trusted adviser to multiple generati...
Chris Jones is a nationally recognized specialist in the areas of estate planning and business succession planning. Chris heads the firm’s Wealth & Estate Planning group and has substantial experience advising and counseling clients regarding sophisticated estate planning, business succession, asset protection, charitable planning, life insurance matters, and international estate planning. Understanding that each client has specific, unique objectives, Chris and his team provide cre...
Sandra Martin Clark is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Sandra Martin practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Sandra Martin Clark since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition...
Virginia practices in the area of estate planning and estate administration. She assists in the preparation of all components of estate plans, wills, revocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, and living wills. She also advises individuals, families, and closely-held business owners on estate and business succession planning issues, gift planning to reduce potential estate taxes, and the preparation of gift tax returns, as well as the administration of deced...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
