Jones Collaborative Estates
Tailored, practical and affordable estate planning in the piedmont of North Carolina (based out of Chapel Hill-Carrboro).
About Me & This Law Firm
Lawsuits From Within The Family (Not Taxes or Probate Costs) Are Most Estates' Biggest Financial Threat. The average North Carolina estate lawsuit stems from a problematic family dynamic that went undetected or unaddressed in the planning phase. Accordingly, these lawsuits are best avoided (1) by estate planning focused on the practical realities of each family, coupled with (2) a contemporary understanding of North Carolina estate litigation trends.
From Litigator to Collaborator to Planner. I have practiced law about 10 years as of 2024. The first half of my practice was in litigation, particularly fiduciary (trust, estate, powers of attorney) litigation. The second half of my practice was committed to seeking a more peaceful path to resolve the same problems, via "Collaborative Law" which is a non-litigation (outside of court) method for resolving disputes with a direct focus on caring for the relationships of the people involved. I have actively practiced estate planning and trust and estate administration my entire career. In 2024 I pivoted away from the full time practice of law to be more present with both my young and my elderly family. I now restrict this part time practice of law almost exclusively to estate planning, which my decade of practice has taught me is the ultimate "port of entry" or "preventative medicine" for reducing conflict. (I do offer lengthy consultations on trust and estate administration and disputes, but I do not currently undertake long-course representation in those matters.)
Real Life. Outside of this practice I am a busy father, husband, son and brother. I am an avid whitewater canoeist and active member of the Carolina Canoe Club, a non-profit in North Carolina supporting recreation, education and safety around paddle sports. I also do other part time work both in the fitness industry as well as the outdoor guiding industry.
NC Appellate Fiduciary Litigation Blog. My blog (click here to access) is committed to reporting on North Carolina appellate cases with a specific focus towards a readership of licensed estate planners and probate/trust administration attorneys. When possible I interview appellate counsel of record and always look beyond the mere court opinion to consider the appellate briefs and record on appeal (meaning: the will or trust itself being disputed and the accompanying trial court/probate file). I hope to alert practitioners to the common pitfalls and trends of disputes so they may be on the lookout in their own transactional practices and help their clients by steering clear of these issues early on.
Client Reviews
SAMANTHA'S ESTATE PLANNING
-I don't know what we would have done without Jason-
"Jason stepped in to help our family in the most terrible time of our lives and made what could have been a very painful process an easy one. My family was put in a stressful situation when my mother’s health took a sudden turn and we found ourselves at UNC hospital being told that hospice was the only next step. You see, my mom was only 52, a single parent of my 16 year old brother, a tricky custody background and it never even crossed her mind before to have a Will in place. I called Jason and he met us that day (a Sunday none the less) in the hospital room to get her affairs in order. He was calm, compassionate, and willing to take the time to talk with everyone of my family members. Time was of the essence, and Jason worked around the clock that weekend to make sure that we had everything we needed before leaving the hospital. He completely took care of us as if we were his own family. After drafting her will, trust, and the guardianship for a minor he even met me at the Airbnb I was staying at to hand deliver the paperwork and talked me through everything that I needed to know for the next couple of weeks. I don’t know what we would have done without Jason; he went above and beyond for us which speaks to his character as not only a lawyer but a person."
HANK'S PROBATE ADMINISTRATION
-After I hired Jason I literally slept better because I knew Jason was getting the job done-
"After the unexpected death of my spouse, I had the unfortunate experience of first working with an out-of-county attorney who it turned out did not have adequate probate experience ... In desperation and panic, I contacted Jason Jones for help after I had heard a very favorable recommendation about his abilities. To my shock, when Jason reviewed the probate file to get up to speed he discovered that court-ordered deadlines had been missed and practically zero progress had occurred with the estate, which unnecessary delay had nearly brought me to the brink of financial ruin. Jason immediately took the reins of the estate, cleaned everything up, fixed all the problems, and brought the estate to a successful closure. After I hired Jason, I literally slept better because I knew Jason was getting the job done, he had obvious expertise, and he was professional, responsive, ethical and clear. I wish that I would have hired Jason right off the bat. I would hire him again, and I recommend him unreservedly."
JULIE'S DISPUTE RESOLUTION
-You will not be just another number-
"Most often we hear that lawyers are cold and without conscience, so much that we are hesitant to contact one. That may be the case with some but there is always an exception that exists to popular belief or rule. Mr. Jason Jones is that exception. You will not be considered just another number, but as an individual with a unique spirit and cause. Call him and trust him is my advice to anyone seeking legal representation."
*Disclaimer: quality services are provided in all cases, but specific results vary based on each client's circumstances.
