71/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 144 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Estate Planning And Probate Lawyers in Durham, NC: 2026 rankings
144 estate planning and probate lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Highest LFR Score in Durham: DSR Legal, LFR Score 71/100; 4.8★ from 144 Google reviews; open 24/7.
- 2
Open 24 hours (per Google): Cary Estate Planning, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #2 of 144.
- 2
Most-reviewed: Cary Estate Planning, 647 Google reviews at 4.9★, the most of 144 ranked; ranked #2.
Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
144 Durham estate planning and probate lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 15 are open 24/7, 17 open Saturdays and 16 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.8★ across 144 rated law firms.
Top 10 estate planning and probate lawyers in Durham at a glance
Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.
| Rank | Business | LFR Score | Google rating | Based in | Hours | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DSR Legal | 71 | 4.8★ (144) | Durham | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Top score |
| 2 | Cary Estate Planning | 70 | 4.9★ (647) | Cary, 19 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Open 24 hours, Most reviews |
| 3 | Cary Estate Planning - Raleigh Office | 68 | 5.0★ (180) | Raleigh, 16 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 4 | Cary Estate Planning - Chapel Hill Office | 68 | 5.0★ (100) | Chapel Hill, 12 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 5 | Compass Estate and Tax Planning | 68 | 5.0★ (157) | Cary, 17 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 6 | Law Offices of Amy Whinery Osborne, P.C. | 67 | 4.8★ (220) | Cary, 17 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 7 | Bill Ramos Law | Ramos Law, PA | 67 | 5.0★ (231) | Holly Springs, 24 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 8 | NC Planning | 65 | 4.9★ (62) | Raleigh, 16 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
| 9 | Vail Gardner Law, PLLC | 65 | 5.0★ (22) | Durham | — | — |
| 10 | Pierce Law Group | 64 | 4.9★ (150) | Raleigh, 16 mi away | Open 24 hrs (Google) | — |
All 144 estate planning and probate lawyers in Durham, in rank order
Ordered by LFR Score, a 0–100 score from nine published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.
Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.
Based in Cary, 19 mi away
70/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 647 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Raleigh, 16 mi away
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 180 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Chapel Hill, 12 mi away
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 100 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Cary, 17 mi away
68/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 157 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Cary, 17 mi away
67/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 220 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Holly Springs, 24 mi away
67/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 231 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#8 NC Planning
Based in Raleigh, 16 mi away
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 62 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Durham
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 22 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 6 of 9 factors; bar status, recency and availability not yet collected.
#10 Pierce Law Group
Based in Raleigh, 16 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 150 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Probate attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Chapel Hill, 9 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 154 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#12 PlanWell Legal
Based in Cary, 19 mi away
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 39 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Cary, 17 mi away
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 319 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Raleigh, 16 mi away
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #14 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 189 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Raleigh, 18 mi away
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #15 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 194 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Wake Forest, 25 mi away
63/100LFR ScoreRanked #16 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 98 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Durham
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #17 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 26 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Law firm”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Raleigh, 16 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #18 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 67 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
#19 NC Planning
Based in Cary, 19 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #19 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 213 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Raleigh, 16 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #20 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 162 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Cary, 17 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #21 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 116 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Raleigh, 15 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #22 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 91 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Cary, 17 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #23 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 106 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Raleigh, 17 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #24 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 134 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Based in Wake Forest, 25 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #25 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 159 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.
Estate planning and probate lawyers ranked #26 to #50
#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #50, in LFR Score order; each links to its profile. We publish the top 50 of 144 ranked estate planning and probate lawyers here; the rest are on their profiles.
Also serving Durham
20 more estate planning and probate lawyers within 25 mi that we can't rank yet: too few reviews, or a practice area we couldn't confirm. Listed A to Z.
How we ranked Durham estate planning and probate lawyers
We scored 144 Durham estate planning and probate lawyers on nine factors, weighted as shown. A law firm is ranked when its practice area is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.
Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Attorney advertising businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.
| Factor | Weight | Computed from | In Durham data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reputation | 25% | Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back it | Measured |
| Bar status | 10% | An active bar or law society record matched to a lawyer at the firm (not measured until a record source is loaded) | Not yet collected |
| Review volume | 10% | Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the list | Measured |
| Recency | 10% | Share of reviews from the last 12 months | Not yet collected |
| Availability | 5% | Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7 | Measured |
| Practice focus | 15% | How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name) | Measured |
| Proximity | 5% | An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it is | Measured |
| Claimed profile | 10% | The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same) | Measured |
| Law Firms Ranked reviews | 10% | Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there are | Measured |
How to choose an estate planning lawyer
- Check the lawyer’s status and any public discipline in the state bar or law society directory.
- Ask how many estate planning and probate matters the lawyer handles each year, and who at the firm will do the work.
- Get the fee arrangement in writing: hourly, flat or contingency, and which costs are charged on top.
- Ask how and how often the firm will update you, and how fast it answers calls and emails.
- Read recent reviews for how the firm communicated and billed, not only for outcomes.
- Ask what the flat fee includes: funding a trust, updates after life changes, and signing with witnesses.
- Meet more than one firm; many offer a short first consultation, sometimes free.
Questions to ask an estate planning lawyer
- How would you approach a matter like mine, and what are the realistic options?
- How do you charge, and what will the total likely cost?
- Who will be my main contact, and how quickly do you reply?
- Do I need a trust, or is a will enough for me?
- What does probate usually cost here, and how long does it take?
- Is there any conflict of interest that would stop you representing me?
Terms explained
- Contingency fee
- A fee that is a share of the money recovered, paid only if there is a recovery. Common in injury cases; not allowed for criminal defense or for securing a divorce.
- Retainer
- Money paid up front and held in a trust account, which the lawyer draws on as fees are earned.
- Flat fee
- One set price for a defined piece of work, such as a will or an uncontested matter.
- Limited-scope representation
- Paying a lawyer for part of a matter only, such as reviewing documents or coaching for one hearing (also called unbundled services).
- Statute of limitations
- The deadline to file a lawsuit or charge. It differs by state or province and by type of claim.
- Good standing
- A lawyer’s status as active and eligible to practise with a state bar or law society.
- Law society
- The body that licenses and disciplines lawyers in a Canadian province or territory.
- Board certification
- Recognition in a field of law by a state program or an organisation accredited for that purpose. Lawyers may only claim it when they hold it, naming the certifying body.
- Attorney–client privilege
- The rule that keeps confidential communications between a client and lawyer, made for legal advice, out of court.
- Conflict check
- The search a firm runs before taking a matter to make sure it does not represent someone on the other side.
- Pro bono
- Legal work done for free, usually for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
- Legal aid
- Publicly funded legal help for people with low incomes, through legal aid offices, public defenders or provincial legal aid plans.
Estate planning and probate lawyers in Durham: frequently asked questions
Which estate planning lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Durham?
By LFR Score, the highest-ranked estate planning lawyer in Durham, NC is DSR Legal with an LFR Score of 71/100. It has 4.8★ from 144 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. Cary Estate Planning (#2) and Cary Estate Planning - Raleigh Office (#3) follow. We ranked 144 estate planning and probate lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.
How many estate planning and probate lawyers are there in Durham?
LawFirmsRanked ranks 144 estate planning and probate lawyers serving Durham, NC. 5 of them are based in Durham; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Another 20 within 25 mi are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.
Which estate planning and probate lawyers in Durham are open 24/7?
15 ranked estate planning and probate lawyers in Durham post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are DSR Legal (#1), Cary Estate Planning (#2) and Cary Estate Planning - Raleigh Office (#3). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which estate planning and probate lawyers in Durham work on weekends?
17 of 144 ranked estate planning and probate lawyers post Saturday hours and 16 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are DSR Legal (#1), Cary Estate Planning (#2) and Cary Estate Planning - Raleigh Office (#3). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.
What Google rating do Durham estate planning and probate lawyers have?
The median Google rating among 144 rated estate planning and probate lawyers in Durham is 4.8★, with a median of 26 reviews. Cary Estate Planning has the most, 647 reviews, and ranks #2. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.
How does LawFirmsRanked rank estate planning and probate lawyers?
Each estate planning lawyer gets a 0–100 LFR Score from nine published factors, led by reputation (25%), practice focus (15%), review volume (10%) and recency (10%). A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only law firms with a confirmed practice area and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.
Do estate planning and probate lawyers outside Durham count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the Durham city center, our service radius for estate planning and probate lawyers. Each listing shows where the law firm is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 5% of the LFR Score, so a nearby law firm gets a small edge.
Can estate planning and probate lawyers pay to rank higher on LawFirmsRanked?
No. The LFR Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured law firms may appear above the list, labelled Attorney advertising and showing their honest rank.
How do estate planning and probate lawyers in Durham, NC charge?
Many estate planning lawyers charge a flat fee for wills, trusts and powers of attorney. Probate is billed hourly or, in some states, by a fee set by statute (California Probate Code §10810, for example). Lawyers using Clio billed an average of $391 an hour in this area (Clio Legal Trends data, October 2026; all areas $362). Ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you agree.
What happens if someone dies without a will?
State law decides who inherits (intestate succession), usually the spouse and children in set shares, and a court appoints someone to manage the estate. A will or trust lets you decide instead. This is general information, not legal advice.
How is this list of estate planning and probate lawyers in Durham, NC ranked?
By LFR Score only, from public data on reviews, practice focus, office location and hours. Firms labelled “Attorney advertising” paid for that placement; payment never changes a rank, and a rank is not an endorsement.
Does a lawyer need an office in Durham?
No, but the lawyer must be licensed in your state (or, for federal matters such as immigration, in some state). A local office makes meetings and court appearances easier, so proximity is one of our factors.
Update log for Durham
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 144 estate planning and probate lawyers serving Durham.
More estate planning and probate lawyers and Durham pages
Estate planning and probate lawyers near Durham
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Chapel Hill, NC121 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Carrboro, NC110 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Morrisville, NC157 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Cary, NC158 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Apex, NC154 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in West Raleigh, NC157 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Raleigh, NC160 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Mebane, NC42 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Wake Forest, NC133 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Holly Springs, NC147 ranked
Other practice areas in Durham
- Personal injury lawyers in Durham215 ranked
- Social Security disability lawyers in Durham37 ranked
- Criminal defense lawyers in Durham152 ranked
- Divorce and family lawyers in Durham193 ranked
- Bankruptcy lawyers in Durham35 ranked
- Immigration lawyers in Durham74 ranked
- Employment lawyers in Durham67 ranked
- Business lawyers in Durham34 ranked
- Real estate lawyers in Durham94 ranked
- Tax lawyers in Durham32 ranked
- Intellectual property lawyers in Durham15 ranked
- Insurance lawyers in Durham35 ranked
- Mediators in Durham38 ranked
- General practice lawyers in Durham368 ranked
- All lawyers in Durham