• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Potter Law Firm

North Carolina and Kentucky Estate Planning Attorneys

phone iconNC (704) 944-3245
KY (606) 324-5516
Attend A Free Seminar - KY Attend A Free Webinar - NC/SC THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
  • Practice Areas
    • Asset Protection & Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • Probate
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
  • Elder Law
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Nursing Home Planning
    • Veterans Benefits
  • Communities We Serve
    • Kentucky
      • Boyd County
        • Ashland
        • Florence
      • Kenton County
        • Covington
        • Fort Mitchell
        • Independence
    • North Carolina
      • Mecklenburg County
        • Charlotte
        • Davidson
        • Huntersville
  • Resources
    • Cornelius, North Carolina Probate Resources
    • Definitions
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law
      • Elder Law Links
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Local Elder Law Resources
        • Ashland Elder Resources
        • Covington Senior Resources
        • Huntersville Elder Law Resources
        • Independence Senior Resources
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Emergency Legal Documents
    • Free Estate Planning Seminars
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Estate Planning
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicaid
      • Pet Planning
      • Trust Administration & Probate
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Kentucky Probate Resources
      • Ashland, Kentucky Probate Resources
    • Newsletters
    • North Carolina Probate Resources
      • Huntersville, NC Probate Resources
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Estate Planning for Niches
      • Trust Administration
  • Contact Us
  • BLOG
Home » Estate Planning » Do I Need a Probate Lawyer in Charlotte?

Do I Need a Probate Lawyer in Charlotte?

May 21, 2014 by John Potter

probate lawyer in charlotteYou should understand a bit about the process of probate in North Carolina if you are using a last will to arrange for the transfer of your monetary assets. These assets are not transferred to the heirs immediately. The process of probate must run its course before your loved ones will receive their inheritances.

Probate Process in Charlotte

The executor or personal representative conducts business on behalf of the estate. The probate court supervises the administration of the estate. During probate the court determines the validity of the last will. Challenges to the will could be presented during probate. Final taxes and other debts must be paid. Property must be identified, inventoried, and ultimately prepare for distribution to the heirs.

Legal Counsel

The executor will typically require the services of a probate attorney. Probate is a legal process, and licensed probate attorneys are familiar with the expectations of the court. Your executor may be trustworthy and capable, but he or she may not have any experience dealing with probate matters. Each situation is different, and various different legal scenarios can arise. For example, people in the family may not all see eye to eye. Someone who was disinherited could challenge the will. Short of this, disagreements regarding the true intentions of the testator could arise among those who are named in the will. Family disagreements can and do arise, but probate can present numerous different legal challenges. Because of all of the myriad legal issues that can come into play, a probate lawyer in Charlotte is definitely going to be an asset in most cases.

A Turnkey Estate Plan

When you are drawing up an estate plan, you are probably going to retain the services of an estate planning lawyer. If you choose to use a last will as your vehicle of asset transfer, your attorney will construct the will with the realities of probate in mind. Your lawyer will become familiar with your intentions and your family dynamic. You could provide a turnkey situation for your family by arranging for the same attorney or law firm to assist your family during the probate process. After your passing away, your executor can simply contact your estate planning lawyer and your attorney will be in place to assist every step of the way.

Download Our Report on Probate

This has been a brief look at probate and the role of a probate lawyer in Charlotte. If you would like to learn about probate in-depth, we have a very useful resource that you may want to access. Our firm has compiled a series of free special reports on various different estate planning and elder law topics. One of the reports puts the process of probate under the microscope. To download the complementary report, click this link and follow the simple instructions: Potter Law Firm Probate Report.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
John Potter
John Potter
John Potter is an Estate Planning and Elder Law attorney in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area with offices in Ballantyne and Huntersville. John has been designated as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation and a Board Certified Specialist in Elder Law by the North Carolina State Bar.

John’s practice focuses on the use of Wills and Living Trusts in Estate Planning to help individuals protect their families and preserve their legacies after their deaths, but his practice also focuses on the critical issues of protecting individuals with dementia or other diminished capacity, assisting individuals in qualifying for Medicaid and other government benefits to offset the costs of long-term care, and providing special needs planning.

John is admitted to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio, and he is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
John Potter
Latest posts by John Potter (see all)
  • What You Need to Know about the Medicaid Look-Back Rule - January 3, 2023
  • How to Pass Down Your Legacy in Your Estate Plan - October 3, 2022
  • Practical Steps to Take after Receiving a Terminal Diagnosis - September 30, 2022

Filed Under: Estate Planning, Probate Tagged With: Estate Administration, probate layers

Other Articles You May Find Useful

How to Gift to Your Grandchildren in Your Estate Plan
pour-over will
What Happens If I Leave Property Out of My Living Trust?
estate tax
2022 Estate Tax Exclusion Has Been Set
QTIP trust
How Can You Protect Your Children’s Inheritances If You Get Remarried?
probate
Are There Any Probate Shortcuts in North Carolina?
life estate
What Is the Purpose of a Life Estate?

Subscribe to Our Blog

Sign up to receive our latest estate planning updates!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Testimonials

default image

Overall The Potter Firm was very professional. They took what could of been a very complicated process and were able to break it down so it was a lot easier to understand. We are confident we now have made the right decisions in our estate planning. Good firm to work with.

DKS & KMS Client Review August 28, 2020

default image

John Potter has been a real pleasure to work with. He is very knowledgeable and explains things in a very simplistic manner so the average person can understand how/why the laws are written. He is very attentive and asks questions in such a way that not only helps him understand your goals, but also helps you think about what type of goals and expectations you should be considering. Exemplary client service.

David J. Client Review August 28, 2020

default image

My husband and I selected Ms. Potter to assist with our small business. She responsive and attentive every time I have a question or need assistance, and is extremely knowledgeable and able to answer any legal question I have had. I know I can count on Ms. Potter for all of my business legal needs and I would highly recommend her to anyone needing legal assistance with such.

Jillian Client Review August 28, 2020

<< Prev
Next >>

Where We Are

Ashland

ASHLAND
1620 Carter Avenue
Ashland, KY 41101-7631
Phone: (606) 324-5516
Fax: (606) 324-4766

Charlotte

CHARLOTTE
15720 Brixham Hill Avenue
Suite 300,
Charlotte, NC 28277
Phone: (704) 944-3245

Huntersville

HUNTERSVILLE
11330 Vanstory Drive
Huntersville, NC 28078
Phone: (704) 944-3245

Northern Kentucky

NORTHERN KENTUCKY
7310 Turfway Road
Suite 550,
Florence, KY 41042
Phone: (859) 372-6655

Office Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Map/Location

potter_sidbr_map
potter law logo
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. The information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT