How is the 0-100 score calculated?

It's a weighted composite of five measured signals: sentiment (28%), rating (26%), volume (20%), completeness (16%), and recency (10%). Each signal is calculated from public listing and review data, then combined using those fixed weights. No signal is adjusted by hand.

Why does sentiment matter more than the star rating?

Because a star average can hide patterns that matter. Two firms can share the same rating while one has recent reviews describing the same complaint over and over. Reading what reviews actually say catches that gap; the average alone doesn't.

Can a firm pay to improve its score or ranking?

No. Scores come only from this rubric and the underlying data, and are never edited. Where paid placement exists anywhere on this site, it is clearly labeled and does not change any score.

How often is the data updated?

Listing data is refreshed monthly across the directory. Each individual listing also shows a "last verified" date so you can see when it was last checked, and firms can request corrections to their listing at any time.

How we score Charlotte estate planning attorneys

Great Work Research scores 225 estate planning attorney businesses in Charlotte on a 0-100 scale. The score is built entirely from measured signals pulled from public listing and review data. Nothing here is a subjective house opinion, and nothing here is for sale. Below is exactly how the number is built, why each piece is weighted the way it is, and where the method runs into honest limits.

The five signals and their weights

Signal	Weight	What it measures
Sentiment	28%	A synthesis of what recent reviews actually say: praise versus recurring complaints
Rating	26%	The firm's aggregate star rating on Google
Volume	20%	How many reviews exist, log-scaled so a firm with hundreds of reviews isn't drowned out by one with a handful
Recency	10%	How recently clients have actually left reviews
Completeness	16%	Whether phone, website, hours, and address are all listed and accurate

Why sentiment carries the most weight

A star average is a single number that hides patterns. Two estate planning firms can both sit at 4.5 stars while one has a string of recent reviews about missed deadlines on a will or trust, and the other has none. Averages don't surface that. Reading what recent reviews actually describe, drafting delays, communication gaps, billing surprises, versus consistent praise for responsiveness and clear guidance, is the only way to catch the difference. That's why sentiment is weighted higher than the raw star rating itself.

Why the other signals matter

Rating still counts for a lot: it's the most visible summary a family sees, and it reflects the broad shape of client experience over time. Volume matters because estate planning is a decision people make rarely, so a firm with 8 reviews and a firm with 400 shouldn't be treated as equally proven; the log scale keeps a small handful of reviews from swinging a score too far. Recency matters because a firm's staff, responsiveness, and quality can change: reviews from three years ago tell you less than reviews from three months ago. Completeness matters for a practical reason, when you're choosing someone to handle a will, power of attorney, or trust, a missing phone number or address is a real friction point, not a minor detail.

The honest limits

This method has real boundaries, and we'd rather state them than paper over them. Firms with few recent reviews produce a low-confidence score, and those listings are labeled as such so readers don't mistake thin data for a settled verdict. We synthesize themes from reviews rather than republishing them word for word, and every listing links back to the source on Google so readers can read the original reviews themselves. Scores are earned from this rubric and this data alone, and they are never edited by hand. Where paid placement exists on this site, it is always labeled clearly and it never changes a score. If any list on this site has picks or ordering that were editor-reviewed rather than purely rubric-driven, that is disclosed on the page itself.

Who publishes this and who to contact

This directory is published by Great Work Research, an independent publisher of estate planning firm directories built on published review data and a transparent, published method rather than paid placement. Rankings are maintained by Rod Burnett, Managing editor, who oversees how the rubric is applied across listings. Listing data is refreshed monthly, and the "last verified" stamp on each individual listing reflects that ongoing maintenance rather than a one-time snapshot. Firms can request corrections to their listing at any time. To reach the publisher, email info@reallygreatwork.com. You can browse the full directory from the home page.

FAQ

How is the 0-100 score calculated?: It's a weighted composite of five measured signals: sentiment (28%), rating (26%), volume (20%), completeness (16%), and recency (10%). Each signal is calculated from public listing and review data, then combined using those fixed weights. No signal is adjusted by hand.
Why does sentiment matter more than the star rating?: Because a star average can hide patterns that matter. Two firms can share the same rating while one has recent reviews describing the same complaint over and over. Reading what reviews actually say catches that gap; the average alone doesn't.
Can a firm pay to improve its score or ranking?: No. Scores come only from this rubric and the underlying data, and are never edited. Where paid placement exists anywhere on this site, it is clearly labeled and does not change any score.
How often is the data updated?: Listing data is refreshed monthly across the directory. Each individual listing also shows a "last verified" date so you can see when it was last checked, and firms can request corrections to their listing at any time.