Legal Articles & Resource Center
Your Hub for Legal Insights & Tools
At The Walls Law Group, we provide in-depth legal knowledge to help individuals, families, and business owners make informed decisions. This resource center serves as a table of contents for our latest blog articles, legal guides, and interactive tools.
Do stepchildren inherit under North Carolina law?
In North Carolina, stepchildren do not inherit through intestate succession unless legally adopted. Learn how NCGS Chapter 29 divides an estate with no will.
Your Wedding Day Estate Planning Checklist
Getting married changes your estate plan whether you update it or not. Here is the North Carolina checklist every newlywed couple should work through together.
The 2026 charitable giving changes high earners in Raleigh need to plan around
Three OBBBA charitable deduction changes take effect in 2026, and they raise the cost of giving for Raleigh high earners. Here is how to plan around them.
Summer Travel? Make Sure Your Family Can Find Your Estate Plan
Where to keep your will, power of attorney, and health care documents in NC, who needs to know, and how to make your plan easy for family to find.
Stepped-Up Basis: What North Carolina High Earners Should Plan For Now
In 2026, most North Carolina high earners owe no federal estate tax. The real issue is stepped-up basis and the income tax your heirs pay. Here is what to plan for.
Estate tax planning: 2026 and beyond
How federal estate tax works in 2026: the $15 million OBBB exemption, portability mechanics, GST exemption, and the planning strategies that actually matter for estates above and below the threshold.
Remarriage after 60: estate planning that protects everyone
Late-life remarriage creates conflicts between a new spouse and adult children. See the prenups, QTIP trusts, and tools that protect everyone in NC.
The document your doctor needs but your lawyer probably didn't give you
A health care power of attorney isn't enough. Learn why your North Carolina estate plan needs a stand-alone HIPAA authorization and what it should include.
Why your parents' Florida condo complicates your North Carolina estate
Own a vacation home in another state? Your North Carolina estate plan may trigger ancillary probate, costing thousands and adding months of delay.
Will vs. trust: a decision guide for every life stage
Should you have a will or a trust? A North Carolina decision guide that walks through cost, probate, privacy, control, and the life stages when each tool earns its keep.
The graduation gift your kids actually need: getting their estate planning started
Once your child turns 18, you lose legal rights to act on their behalf. Learn the four estate planning documents every young adult in NC needs.
The inheritance your kids will actually fight over (it's not the money)
Families fight hardest over furniture, photos, and wedding rings. Learn why personal property causes conflict and how to prevent it in your estate plan.
Estate planning by age: a complete guide for every life stage
A complete estate planning guide for every life stage, from your first job in your 20s through retirement and beyond. Built for North Carolina families and current to 2026 law.
Charitable giving that benefits you now, not just after you're gone
Donor-advised funds, charitable remainder trusts, and qualified charitable distributions can dramatically improve your tax results. See what works in NC.
Estate Planning Before a Liquidity Event: What North Carolina Business Owners Need to Know
Pre-sale estate planning for NC business owners selling to private equity. Gifting, GRATs, SLATs, timing, step transaction risk, and the $15M exemption.
Disney's Asteria Community in Pittsboro, NC - What Homebuyers Should Know About Estate Planning
Disney's Asteria community brings 4,000 homes to Pittsboro, NC. Chatham County estate planning attorney explains HOA, deed, and trust issues buyers should know. Call 919-647-9599.
What "incapacity planning" really means (and why your family needs it)
A will protects your family when you die. Incapacity planning protects them while you're alive. Learn what the three key documents do and what happens without them.
Special needs planning: protecting your child's future and benefits
Leaving money directly to a disabled child can eliminate their SSI and Medicaid. A special needs trust protects the inheritance and the benefits. Here's how it works.
Tax season reminder: your estate plan and your taxes are connected
Tax season is the right time to review your estate plan. Learn how gift tax, estate tax, step-up in basis, and NC's inheritance rules affect your family.
The one document you hope your kids never need (but they will)
A letter of instruction is the practical guide your family will wish you left behind. Learn what it contains, why it matters, and how to write one. From The Walls Law Group.
Stay Informed & Connected
We regularly update our blog and resource center with new legal insights and tools. Bookmark this page for ongoing updates, or follow The Walls Law Group for the latest legal news.