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A complete estate plan protects your family, honors your wishes, and keeps courts out of your most personal decisions, regardless of the size of your estate.
This is the first step toward securing your confidential consultation with an experienced attorney by phone, virtually, or in-office.
Estate planning is the process of creating legally binding documents that direct what happens to your property, your finances, and your healthcare decisions if you become incapacitated or pass away. Without these documents, courts and state law make those decisions for you; not you, and not your family.
A complete estate plan in North Carolina, South Carolina or Tennessee typically includes four documents: a simple will, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney, and a living will. Together, these cover your financial assets, your medical wishes, and your final instructions.
Whether you're planning for the first time or haven't reviewed your documents in years, our team can make sure your plan reflects where you are today.
We start by understanding your full picture: your assets, your family structure, and what matters most to you. Every plan is built around your specific goals, not a form template.
Your attorney maps out the documents you need, explains your options in plain language, and walks you through decisions around guardianship, asset distribution, and long-term considerations.
All documents are drafted with precision. You review everything before signing, and we revise until the plan reflects exactly what you want.
Your documents are properly signed, witnessed, and notarized. We guide you through funding any trusts and help you organize your records. We recommend reviewing your plan every two to three years or after any major life event.
Your will directs how your property is distributed, names your executor, and — if you have minor children — designates a guardian. Without one, state intestacy laws decide who receives your estate. Your family gets no say.
A living will states whether you want to be kept alive by artificial or extraordinary measures in the event of extreme illness or injury. It removes that burden from your family at the hardest possible moment.
Appoints a trusted agent to handle financial decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. Without one, your family may need to petition a court for guardianship, a costly, time-consuming process that could have been avoided.
Designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated. Works alongside your living will to ensure your care reflects your values, not a default protocol.
A trust is a legally created entity that holds and manages assets. Common uses include avoiding probate, providing for minor children, protecting a family member who cannot manage funds responsibly, preserving government benefit eligibility for a special needs child, charitable giving, and keeping estate details private.
A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement allows couples to define how assets, debts, business interests, inheritances, and other financial matters will be handled in the event of divorce or death. These agreements can protect family wealth, preserve separate property, and provide clarity for both spouses. We help clients create enforceable agreements tailored to their unique circumstances.
When a loved one passes away, the executor or personal representative is responsible for filing the necessary court documents, identifying and valuing assets, addressing creditor claims and outstanding obligations, and distributing assets to beneficiaries according to the will or applicable law. The probate process can be time-consuming and varies significantly depending on the size and complexity of the estate. Our attorneys guide executors and families through each step, helping ensure the estate is administered efficiently and in compliance with state law.
If you have minor children and both parents pass without naming a guardian, a court makes that decision. Your will is the place to make that designation and it matters more than most people realize.
If the deceased owned property in more than one state, the estate may need to go through probate in each state where real property was held. Our team coordinates ancillary administration across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Category
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Probate Court Fee
0.4% of estate value (capped by statute)
Probate filing fees are based on estate value and generally increase as the estate grows.
Filing fees are set by statute and vary by county
Real Property Through Probate
Generally no; title to real property typically passes directly to heirs or devisees, subject to estate administration.
Yes, deed of distribution required
May be required for out-of-state owners of NC property
Intestate (No Will)
State law determines all distributions
State law determines all distributions
State law determines all distributions
Trusts Recognized
Yes, revocable and irrevocable
Yes, revocable and irrevocable
Yes, revocable and irrevocable
Ancillary Probate
Required if the out-of-state decedent holds NC property
May be required for out-of-state owners of SC property
May be required for out-of-state owners of TN property
Your will directs what happens to your estate after your death, who receives your property, who manages the process, and who cares for your children. Without one, state law makes those decisions. It can also place an additional burden on your family at an already difficult time.
A person can technically draft their own will, but if it isn't properly prepared and executed under state law, a court may reject it, leaving your estate in exactly the situation you were trying to avoid. An attorney ensures your will is valid, enforceable, and clearly reflects your wishes.
At a minimum, a complete estate plan ensures you control what happens to your property and who makes decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. If you have minor children, a spouse, real property, or other assets, a plan protects all of it from court interference.
Without a valid durable or healthcare power of attorney, your family may not be legally authorized to manage your finances or make medical decisions for you. They would need to petition a court for guardianship, a process that takes time, costs money, and may not produce the outcome you would have chosen.
We recommend reviewing your plan every 2 to 3 years, or after any major life event: marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a significant change in assets, or the death of a named beneficiary or agent.
Probate typically occurs in the state where the deceased primarily resided. If the deceased also owned real property in another state, that property may need to be probated in that state. Our team handles that coordination across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
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We work as a team with each client to identify the essential information for each case and to develop a strong legal strategy with a continued focus of bringing our clients to a better place.
King Law offers three estate planning packages designed to meet a variety of goals and budgets. Each package includes complimentary spouse documents.
A comprehensive set of core estate planning documents, including a simple will, durable power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney, living will, guardianship provisions, and HIPAA release. Designed to protect your wishes, your family, and your decision-making authority during life and after death.
Designed for individuals and families whose planning needs go beyond the basics. Building on the Essential Plan, it includes enhanced planning tools such as a testamentary trust, life estate (Ladybird deed) options, a personal information organizer, and biennial attorney reviews to help ensure your plan continues to reflect your goals as life changes.
Our most comprehensive estate planning package, the Legacy Plan includes everything in the Essential and Stewardship Plans, plus a Living Trust designed to help avoid probate, maintain privacy, and simplify the transfer of assets. The plan also includes trust funding assistance and annual reviews with a dedicated Case Manager to help keep your plan up to date.
Ready To Take The Next Step?
Whether you're starting from scratch or reviewing a plan that hasn't been updated in years, our team is ready to help. Phones are answered 24/7. Schedule your consultation by phone or online, anytime.
