Protecting Your Family's Legacy
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.
Schedule a Discovery CallWhat 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.
Schedule a Discovery Call
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 walk you through the process, and we'll 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.
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!
We’ve all been there. The holiday White Elephant gift exchange starts out fun and lighthearted. But then Uncle Jim steals the massage gun he bought in hopes of winning it for himself. The married couples start tag-teaming to keep the best gifts between them. Cousin Sarah gets stuck with the singing fish. Someone’s definitely holding a grudge about that coffee mug from three swaps ago. Now imagine that same dynamic, except instead of gag gifts, it’s Dad’s classic car, Mom’s jewelry, or the family cabin. And there are no rules, no turns, and no laughing it off afterward.
Read More →As the holidays approach, families gather to share food, laughter, and stories. But amid the joy, there is often an unspoken truth: many families avoid the conversations that matter most.
What will happen when you are gone?
How will your loved ones be cared for?
What legacy will you leave behind?
This season offers a rare opportunity to bring love, not fear, into these important conversations. In this article, you will learn how to shift your mindset about death and money, how to open heartfelt conversations with your family, and how to turn those talks into meaningful action with a Life & Legacy Plan.
Read More →Welcome to my practice and my blog! I am an attorney with over two decades in the legal field. I’ve been successfully representing clients in North Carolina from the mountains to the coast (based in Charlotte), though for years I worked for law firms. I recently chose to work for myself because I wanted to focus on what I found really rewarding as an attorney: working with people to solve real-world problems.
Read More →"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."