Wills & Trusts in Raleigh, NC
Estate Planning with an Attorney Who Understands Your Full Legal Picture
Nicole LaDuca Quinn leads estate planning at Marzella Law Group, bringing more than a decade of legal experience to clients across Wake, Johnston, and Durham Counties. Nicole is admitted to practice in North Carolina and New Jersey, and her practice spans estate and trust planning alongside business law, real estate, and commercial transactions. That breadth matters: when your assets include a business interest, titled real estate, or a complex ownership structure, your estate plan needs an attorney who understands all of it.
Marzella Law Group has served the Raleigh area since 1995. When you work with us, you work directly with Nicole from your first consultation through the signing of your final documents. No handoffs. Virtual consultations are available for clients who prefer them.
Ready to build or update your estate plan? Call Nicole at (919) 283-5350 or reach out online to schedule a consultation.Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Documents We Prepare
A sound estate plan rarely rests on a single document. Most clients need a coordinated set of instruments tailored to their family, assets, and goals. Here’s what we handle:
Last Wills & Testaments
We draft wills that direct how your probate assets are distributed, name an executor to manage your estate, and designate a guardian for minor children. A will is the foundation of most plans.
Revocable Living Trusts
A revocable living trust allows assets to pass to beneficiaries outside of probate when the trust is properly funded. Nicole works with clients to structure the trust and guides them through the funding process, because an unfunded trust doesn’t accomplish your probate-avoidance goals.
Tailored Trust Structures
When a revocable living trust isn’t the right fit, we draft more tailored arrangements based on your circumstances.
Financial Powers of Attorney
We prepare durable financial powers of attorney, granting a trusted person authority to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated.
Healthcare Powers of Attorney & Advance Directives
We prepare healthcare powers of attorney, designating someone to make medical decisions on your behalf, and advance directives that document your preferences for end-of-life treatment when you can’t communicate them yourself.
NFA Gun Trusts
For clients who own National Firearms Act-regulated items, a gun trust allows multiple trustees to lawfully possess and use those items and supports compliant transfer at death in ways a standard will cannot.
We offer hourly, fixed, and project-based billing arrangements so the cost structure fits your situation.
One Attorney for Your Estate Plan & Your Business
Nicole also handles business law, real estate, and commercial transactions, so she can identify estate planning implications that arise from how your business is structured, how property is titled, and what succession looks like for your enterprise.
If you want to hold LLC membership interests in a trust, for example, the operating agreement and business documents should be reviewed before that transfer is made. Nicole’s background makes that review part of the same engagement rather than a separate project with a separate firm. Business owners and commercial property holders in Raleigh can coordinate their full legal picture through one attorney at Marzella Law Group.
Our Clayton, NC location extends that same coordinated approach to Johnston County estate planning clients.
Why Clients Choose Marzella Law Group
Marzella Law Group is a boutique firm built on direct attorney access, flexibility, and practical counsel on complex matters. Client reviews describe our team as responsive, professional, and skilled at translating legal concepts into plain language. We’ve operated in the Raleigh area since 1995, and many clients return to us as their circumstances change over the years. Virtual consultations are available.
Whether you need a straightforward will and powers of attorney or a comprehensive plan that coordinates with your business interests, Nicole can help you build a plan that fits your needs. Call Marzella Law Group at (919) 283-5350 or contact us online to schedule your consultation.
Hear From Our Happy Clients Reviews & Testimonials
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"Carmen and Tayler are a wonderful and professional team."
Recently, Marzella Law Group helped us with a business closing for a business we were purchasing. Carmen and Tayler are a ...
- Yusuf M. -
"Thank you!"
Carmen and Tayler are two of the best professionals out there. I am always beyond satisfied with the services I receive.
- Evan H. -
"Forever Grateful"
Carmen quickly responded to questions, reviewed and responded to contract negotiations speedily, and provided insight that helped us as new business owners.
- Kelly F. -
"The Ultimate Professional"
Carmen is one of the finest attorneys in North Carolina. The ultimate professional, he goes the extra mile for his clients.
- Charles K. -
"Totally Impressed"
We were totally impressed with his knowledge, guidance, and professionalism throughout the process.
- Rex P. -
"Above Board Professional"
Here's something you don't get to say too often: "I wish more people were like my attorney." True, above-board professional, through and through.
- Michael P. -
"Excellent Work"
Carmen and his team do great work at a very fair cost. They've always been excellent!
- David F. -
"Extremely Responsive"
Highly professional and competent with the unique ability to communicate complicated concepts in easy-to-understand terms. Great to work with.
- Judith S.
How Wills Work in North Carolina
A will directs how your probate assets are distributed after death, names an executor to manage your estate, and can designate a guardian for minor children. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 31-1, you must be at least 18 years old and of sound mind to make a valid will. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 31-3.3, a written will must be signed by you and attested by at least two competent witnesses. Witness selection matters: a witness who is also a beneficiary under the will risks forfeiting their bequest unless at least two other disinterested witnesses also signed.
Without a valid will, North Carolina’s intestacy statutes control how your assets are distributed, and that distribution may not match your intentions. Probate is handled through the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where you lived; for Raleigh residents, that is the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court. A will has no legal effect until it is probated after your death, though you may deposit a signed will with the Clerk for safekeeping under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 31-11.
How Trusts Work in North Carolina
A trust is a legal arrangement where a trustee holds and manages property for the benefit of named beneficiaries according to terms you set. Trust creation, trustee duties, and administration in North Carolina are governed by the North Carolina Uniform Trust Code at Chapter 36C of the General Statutes.
The most common choice for probate avoidance is a revocable living trust, which you can change or revoke during your lifetime. It avoids probate only for assets properly transferred into the trust or aligned with your plan through beneficiary designations. An irrevocable trust generally can’t be changed once established and may serve purposes such as asset protection, Medicaid planning, or legacy planning. Keep in mind that a revocable living trust is not typically an asset-protection tool for the person who created it; under North Carolina law, trust assets may still be reachable by the settlor’s creditors.
Most plans that include a trust also include a pour-over will, which acts as a safety net by directing any remaining probate assets into the trust after death. Trust funding, meaning the retitling of real estate, bank accounts, investment accounts, and business interests into the trust’s name, is what makes a trust effective for probate avoidance. Most trust instruments are not filed with a court.
When to Create or Review Your Estate Plan
Certain life events signal that it’s time to put a plan in place or revisit the one you have. Business owners should pay particular attention when ownership structures change or succession decisions are made. Even without a triggering event, reviewing your plan every three to five years helps ensure your documents still reflect your wishes and comply with current law.
Common triggers for creating or updating an estate plan:
- Marriage or divorce
- Death of a spouse
- Birth or adoption of a child or grandchild
- A move to another state
- A significant change in assets
- A business sale or formation
- A change in tax law
Estate planning isn’t limited to large or complex estates. Adults at any wealth level benefit from having at least a will and basic powers of attorney in place before a health event or family change forces the issue.
Schedule a Wills & Trusts Consultation in Raleigh
Nicole LaDuca Quinn at Marzella Law Group works with individuals, families, and business owners throughout Wake, Johnston, and Durham Counties. Call (919) 283-5350 or reach out online to schedule your consultation and start building a plan that reflects your wishes.
