North & South Carolina Estate Law Attorneys
Experienced Guidance for Estate Planning, Care Needs & Aging
Estate law addresses the unique legal needs of older adults, from long-term care planning and asset protection to healthcare decision-making and protection from financial exploitation. It brings together multiple areas of law to create strategies that align with a senior’s health, finances, and family circumstances.
Our attorneys are members of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF). Our legal team includes Kathryn Cook DeAngelo, a NELF Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) who serves as Senior Counsel in an advisory and consulting role, supporting our associate attorneys on complex and extraordinary client matters. NELF is the only national organization accredited by the American Bar Association to certify practitioners of elder and special needs law. Kathryn was among the first 12 North Carolina attorneys certified by the NC State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in elder law, receiving that certification in November 2009.
At Collins Family & Estate Law Group, we represent clients in all aspects of estate law throughout both North Carolina and South Carolina. Founded by Shawna Collins in 1995, our firm has served thousands of families across the Carolinas. With more than 350 years of combined experience, we help clients navigate complex legal challenges, safeguard their rights, and plan for the future of their families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Estate planning provides a clear framework for asset distribution, healthcare directives, and guardianship decisions, and it helps ensure your wishes are honored without placing unnecessary burdens on your family. Our legal team assists with creating comprehensive estate plans tailored to each client’s unique situation in North and South Carolina.
An estate law attorney helps clients understand long-term care options, evaluate costs, and develop a plan that aligns with their financial and healthcare needs. Medicaid is means-tested, meaning individuals with income or assets above certain thresholds may need to spend down before qualifying for long-term care coverage in North Carolina. Our attorneys work closely with clients to navigate Medicaid planning, long-term care insurance, and other strategies.
Our attorneys are members of NAELA and NELF. Our legal team includes Kathryn Cook DeAngelo, a NELF Certified Elder Law Attorney serving as Senior Counsel in an advisory and consulting role, who was among the first 12 attorneys certified as an elder law specialist by the NC State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. NELF is the only ABA-accredited organization authorized to certify practitioners in elder and special needs law.
We offer phone and video consultations to accommodate clients throughout North and South Carolina. You can reach us by calling our office or submitting a request through our website’s contact page. Our team can discuss your needs and explain how we can assist with your estate law matters.
When to Engage a North Carolina Estate Law Attorney
There are generally three stages when estate law planning becomes important. The first is proactive planning, typically undertaken by adults in their 50s, 60s, and 70s while they’re still healthy. The second is crisis planning, when a spouse or parent suddenly needs assisted living or nursing home care and families must act quickly. The third is ongoing planning as life circumstances, assets, and health conditions change over time.
Two documents are among the most important any senior can have in place before a health crisis: a durable power of attorney and a health care power of attorney. A durable power of attorney allows a trusted person to manage financial and legal decisions if you lose capacity. A health care power of attorney designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf under the same circumstances. Without these documents, families may need to pursue guardianship proceedings through the court system to obtain that authority.
Estate law attorneys also help protect seniors from financial exploitation and abuse, which is a growing concern for older adults. A comprehensive plan that includes the right documents and legal structures can make seniors less vulnerable to scams, coercion, and misuse of assets.
Testimonials
“Becky has fought for me and my legal rights. She has repeatedly stood up within the law when faced with prejudicial and unlawful rulings. I never lost faith in her nor her love and knowledge of the law.”
Greg S.
“She was compassionate, having my best interest in mind. She was so organized and was readily available to get this case settled compared to my ex’s attorney.”
Cathleen P.
