Best estate planning attorneys in Gastonia, NC
These 15 Gastonia firms handle wills, trusts, probate or related estate work, ranked by a composite score built from Google ratings, review volume, recency and sentiment (see our methodology). Scores last updated 2026-10-02.
Picks are ranked by score and relevance to estate planning attorney, so a lower overall score can rank higher here.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neece Law Firm | 81 | 4.6 (78) | — | Responsive, set-fee work |
| 2 | Katzenstein & Lorance | 79 | 4.8 (90) | — | Personal, family-style service |
| 3 | McIlveen Family Law Firm | 79 | 4.8 (92) | — | Family law with estate crossover |
| 4 | Providence Law | 79 | 4.7 (15) | — | Medicaid and special needs planning |
| 5 | Legacy Law Firm | 74 | 5 (10) | — | Estate planning and probate |
| 6 | Caulder & Valentine Law Firm, PLLC | 91 | 5 (189) | — | Highly reviewed family firm |
| 7 | King Law | 71 | 4.5 (31) | — | Estate and custody matters |
| 8 | Mullen Holland & Cooper P.A. | 68 | 4 (20) | — | Estate, probate, special needs trusts |
| 9 | W. Marshall LaFar, Attorney At Law | 63 | 4.7 (14) | — | Quick local closings |
| 10 | David J. Hargett Attorney At Law | 60 | 4.5 (14) | — | Complex wills and trusts |
| 11 | The Law Office of Geoffrey A. Planer | 73 | 4.4 (67) | — | Bankruptcy, custody and estates |
| 12 | Hance & Hance | 71 | 4.3 (44) | — | Real estate and property transfers |
| 13 | Pickard Rachel | 71 | 4.3 (76) | — | Social Security disability |
| 14 | Gray Layton Kersh Solomon Furr | 70 | 4.5 (40) | — | Established local firm |
| 15 | Verna Bash-Flowers, Attorney-at-Law | 55 | 4 (8) | — | Land and judgment matters |
1. Neece Law Firm
4.6 (78 reviews)score 81/100

A 4.6 rating across 78 reviews, with high confidence in the score. Reviewers name attorneys Michael Neece, Robert Wall and Tyler, and credit the admin team for staying in touch. Real estate closings and other practical matters get handled quickly.
- Named attorneys with strong track records
- Set-fee arrangements explained up front
- Responsive admin staff and legal assistant
- Fast, efficient case resolution
Services: wills trusts, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney, estate litigation
2. Katzenstein & Lorance
4.8 (90 reviews)score 79/100

Holds a 4.8 rating from 90 reviews. Clients describe being treated like family and getting clear explanations across several practice areas. The score carries low confidence because sentiment is mixed.
- Staff treat clients personally
- Quick response times
- Clear explanations of legal matters
- Experience across multiple practice areas
Services: wills trusts, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney, estate litigation
3. McIlveen Family Law Firm
4.8 (92 reviews)score 79/100

A 4.8 rating from 92 reviews. Attorneys such as Sean McIlveen and Jennifer Palmer are praised for thorough preparation and calm advocacy, and paralegals Kim and Madison come up often for responsiveness. The firm is also known for taking over cases other firms mishandled.
- Thorough case preparation and fact-gathering
- Responsive paralegal team
- Honest about outcomes and legal realities
- Strong courtroom advocacy
Services: wills trusts, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney, estate litigation
4. Providence Law
4.7 (15 reviews)score 79/100

A 4.7 rating from 15 reviews, a modest sample but consistently positive. Families credit Misti Milburn and Jesse Bone for patient guidance through Medicaid, special needs and guardianship work. Staff answer questions after hours.
- Medicaid planning with documented client savings
- Compassionate support through family transitions
- Clear, patient explanations
- Available beyond standard hours
Services: wills trusts, probate administration, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney
5. Legacy Law Firm
5 (10 reviews)score 74/100

All 10 reviews are five stars, with clients crediting attorney Alyssa for making estate planning and probate feel manageable. Low confidence because the review count is small.
- Clear explanations of complex matters
- Detail-oriented work
- Compassionate and easy to talk to
- Low-stress probate guidance
Services: wills trusts, probate administration, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney
6. Caulder & Valentine Law Firm, PLLC
5 (189 reviews)score 91/100

A 5.0 rating across 189 reviews, the largest and strongest review base here, with high confidence. Blake Caulder, Josh Valentine and the team are noted for quick replies and prepared, calm representation. Most work described is custody and family law.
- Fast communication and case updates
- Named attorneys with courtroom record
- Calm, prepared approach under stress
- Efficient settlements
Services: wills trusts, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney, estate litigation
7. King Law
4.5 (31 reviews)score 71/100

A 4.5 rating from 31 reviews. DaVon Maddox and colleagues are described as patient and knowledgeable in estate planning and family matters, with a wide service range.
- Named attorneys praised for legal knowledge
- Patient, clear explanations
- Wide range of services
- Track record in custody and estate matters
Services: wills trusts, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney, estate litigation
8. Mullen Holland & Cooper P.A.
4 (20 reviews)score 68/100

A 4.0 rating from 20 reviews. Attorneys James Martin, Walt Grayson and John H. Russell Jr. are noted for explaining steps clearly. Estate, probate and special needs trust work are listed strengths. Low confidence given the sample size.
- Attorneys with long track records
- Clear communication on legal steps
- Estate and probate services
- Special needs trust expertise
Services: wills trusts, probate administration, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney
9. W. Marshall LaFar, Attorney At Law
4.7 (14 reviews)score 63/100

A 4.7 rating from 14 reviews. Clients like the quick turnaround, fair rates and personable style, along with his Gaston County knowledge. Recency is weak, so check current availability.
- Local Gaston County knowledge
- Quick turnaround on closings
- Friendly and approachable
- Fair pricing
Services: wills trusts, probate administration, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney
10. David J. Hargett Attorney At Law
4.5 (14 reviews)score 60/100

A 4.5 rating from 14 reviews. David Hargett covers wills, trusts, special needs, business succession and estate disputes, and reviewers note he works across state lines. The listing profile is thin and the score is low confidence.
- Knowledgeable in complex estate matters
- Works across state lines
- Honest and straightforward
- Reasonable fees
Services: wills trusts, estate planning attorney, estate litigation, business succession
11. The Law Office of Geoffrey A. Planer
4.4 (67 reviews)score 73/100

A 4.4 rating from 67 reviews. Geoffrey Planer draws praise for listening and goal-oriented advice, backed by decades in bankruptcy and family law. Many reviewers also describe a warm, responsive team.
- Decades of bankruptcy and family law experience
- Strong knowledge of North Carolina law
- Compassionate, listening approach
- Named support staff
Services: wills trusts, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney, estate litigation
12. Hance & Hance
4.3 (44 reviews)score 71/100

A 4.3 rating from 44 reviews. Reviewers say the firm catches costly issues before closing and communicates step by step. Strongest for real estate transactions.
- Deep real estate transaction experience
- Spots issues before closing
- Clear step-by-step communication
- Competitive rates
Services: wills trusts, probate administration, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney
13. Pickard Rachel
4.3 (76 reviews)score 71/100

A 4.3 rating from 76 reviews. The firm is known for Social Security disability wins, including after earlier rejections, and for a paralegal-led intake. It is a specialist pick rather than a core estate planning firm.
- Social Security disability track record
- Compassionate intake staff
- Fast outcomes reported
- Will decline cases not in a client's interest
Services: wills trusts, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney, estate litigation
14. Gray Layton Kersh Solomon Furr
4.5 (40 reviews)score 70/100

A 4.5 rating from 40 reviews, with 85% five-star. The firm has more than 40 years in practice, a Martindale-Hubbell rating, estate and trust experience and bilingual staff. Low confidence in the score.
- 40+ year track record
- Martindale-Hubbell rated
- Estate and trust experience
- Bilingual staff available
Services: wills trusts, elder law medicaid, estate planning attorney, estate litigation
15. Verna Bash-Flowers, Attorney-at-Law
4 (8 reviews)score 55/100

A 4.0 rating from only 8 reviews, so treat the score as low confidence. Positive reviewers describe a direct, professional attorney who works independently on land deals and judgments, and she serves clients statewide.
- Handles complex matters independently
- Direct, professional communication
Services: wills trusts, estate planning attorney, business succession, special needs planning
What decides who ranks first?
| Signal | Weight |
|---|---|
| Review sentiment | 28% |
| Google rating | 26% |
| Review volume | 20% |
| Profile completeness | 16% |
| Review recency | 10% |
Ranking data checked 2026-10-02 · Full methodology ›