What will happen to your family if something happens to you? I'm passionate about planning solutions to protect your family's legacy and provide security for your future generations.
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Estate planning is the ultimate way of caring for your family when you're not able to. It doesn't matter whether you're just getting started or well established; your family wealth goes beyond money and wealth protection. It's your values, your spiritual and intellectual beliefs. It's a way to carry on your legacy, from how your children are raised to providing for future generations. It also addresses how you're cared for if you become incapacitated.
There are a lot of ways an estate plan can go wrong, from unintended misalignment with goals to assets that never make it into the plan. Changes in your family and in the law can also have a significant effect. Just "having a will or trust" may not be enough. The well-done plan keeps your family out of court and out of conflict, both through alignment with your goals and with 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. We'll walk through the process and make sure you aren't leaving a mess behind. We'll plan for how your children are raised if you're not there, for business succession, and for values-based family protection and wealth preservation. Most lawyers are done when the documents are signed, but I'll stay with you through changes in your life as your Personal Family Lawyer. I provide the peace of mind that your plan will work when it matters.
We administer the will- and trust-based estates of our planning clients and others in an efficient, caring, and respectful manner.
Request your FREE copy of Wear Clean Underwear by Ali Katz. It's a realistic way to get your mind around the different elements of estate planning, using a fun "choose-your-own-adventure" format. Also, you can get started on preparing your own Kid's Protection Plan -- an essential element of estate planning for parents -- here.
Based in 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 advice 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, and I've been awarded a commendation for successfully representing veterans with their disability claims. I have also served as a mediator, bringing people in strained, conflicted situations together to reach amicable resolutions.
As a Personal Family Lawyer®, I follow a client-centered counseling methodology. We'll look at the dynamics of your unique situation and what works for your budget. I will help you make 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 that 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, supporting the people you love during what could be one of the most impactful moments in their lives.
As your future Personal Family Lawyer®, I'd love to begin helping you plan for the people you love today.
I look forward to meeting you!
When planning for your death, there’s one issue you may not have thought about, but is so important to your beneficiaries: will your loved ones have to pay taxes on what you leave them?
The answer isn’t straightforward because it depends largely on the types of assets you’re passing down, how much you are passing on, and where you reside at the time of your death. Understanding how different accounts and assets are taxed can help you make informed decisions that minimize the tax burden on your beneficiaries.
Read More →In this article, I’ll explain what Lady Bird Deeds actually are, when they work well, what critical gaps they leave unaddressed, and why you need comprehensive planning and not just a single document.
Let’s start with what a Lady Bird Deed does well, because it genuinely is a valuable estate planning tool when used correctly.
A Lady Bird Deed, also called an Enhanced Life Estate Deed, allows you to transfer your home to your chosen beneficiaries automatically when you die, without going through probate court. This means your home passes to your children or other beneficiaries immediately, without the delays, costs, and public proceedings that probate requires.
Read More →It’s a question I hear often: if I die with debt, will my family be stuck paying it off? The short answer is it depends on several factors, including the type of debt you have, whether its personal or business debt, how your assets are titled, and whether anyone co-signed on your obligations. Understanding how debt works after death can help you make informed decisions today to protect the people you care about most.
Read More →"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."
"Working with Joe was the best decision we made for our family's future. His thoughtful approach and attention to detail gave us complete peace of mind that our children and assets would be protected. He took the time to truly understand our unique situation and created a plan that aligned with our values and goals."