
Serving Clients in Charlotte, Ballantyne, Matthews, Monroe, Pineville, Steele Creek, Waxhaw, Weddington, and Surrounding Areas
I craft thoughtful, individualized will & trust-based estate plans, including powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, to protect you and the ones you love.
Let's Talk - Schedule a Free Discovery Call
Estate planning is the ultimate way of caring for your family when you're no longer able to. An estate plan protects your minor children, conveys your values, reduces/prevents conflict, and addresses how you're cared for if you become incapacitated.

There are a lot of ways an estate plan can go wrong, but a carefully thought-out and drafted plan keeps your family out of court, through both alignment with your goals and in the technical means to accomplish them.

You're busy; taking care of your estate shouldn't be a pain. I'll meet with you at your location and at a time and cost that works for you, listen to your unique family situation and dynamics, and design a plan that fits your needs.

Based in Ballantyne, in south Charlotte, with my wife (a second-grade teacher with CMS) and twin high-schoolers, I have represented clients from the mountains to the coast in North Carolina. With over two decades in the legal field, I have provided strategic legal counsel to individuals, professionals, and businesses, and I've represented them in both state and federal trial and appellate courts. I've been recognized as a Rising Star in North Carolina, I've been awarded a commendation for successfully representing veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals, and I volunteer with Wills for Heroes. I have also been trained and served as a mediator, bringing people in strained, conflicted situations together to reach amicable resolutions.
As your personal estate attorney, I offer counsel and planning based upon the dynamics of your unique situation, your hopes and goals for your family, and what works for your budget. I will guide you through estate-planning decisions that ensure your plan will work when your family needs it. Most importantly, you will have the assurance that your loved ones won't be left with a mess, that they'll be cared for, and that they will be able to make aligned decisions for you when needed.
I opened J. Nelson Law, PLLC, to do what brought me the most joy in my legal career: using the law to help make the lives of my clients (and the ones they love) better. I'm here to be your trusted advisor, to help you make the very best personal, financial, and legal decisions for your family throughout your lifetime. I will be there for your loved ones when you can't be, during some of the most impactful moments in their lives.
I look forward to meeting you!
Fathers who’ve truly done right by their families aren’t just the ones who showed up every day.
Read More →The reported story of Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé shows how grief can turn into legal chaos without a plan.
Read More →There are several hints on your tax return that may clue you in to the need to update your estate plan.
Read More →"Joe made the process of creating our family trust and wills seamless. He was thorough and patient explaining complex legal jargon in a way we understood and felt comfortable. He gave us true peace of mind. If you're looking for an honest, knowledgeable, and compassionate estate planner, look no further!"
"I have found [Joe's] representation of us to be of the highest quality. I will be eternally grateful for the way you have handled this problem for us. I could not have asked for a better attorney."
"I enjoyed working with [Joe] and will look for opportunities to do so again in the future."