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Estate Planning And Probate Lawyers in Jacksonville, NC: 2026 rankings

9 estate planning and probate lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Highest LFR Score in Jacksonville: Kellum Law Firm [Jacksonville, NC], LFR Score 59/100; 4.7★ from 157 Google reviews.

  2. 2

    Most-reviewed: Lanier Fountain & Ceruzzi, 107 Google reviews at 4.2★, the most of 9 ranked after Kellum Law Firm [Jacksonville, NC]; ranked #2.

Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank

9 Jacksonville estate planning and probate lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 1 open Saturdays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.4★ across 9 rated law firms.

Top 9 estate planning and probate lawyers in Jacksonville 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.

Top 9 estate planning and probate lawyers in Jacksonville at a glance
RankBusinessLFR ScoreGoogle ratingBased inHoursNotable for
1Kellum Law Firm [Jacksonville, NC]594.7★ (157)Jacksonville—Top score
2Lanier Fountain & Ceruzzi554.2★ (107)Jacksonville—Most reviews
3Fickey Martinez Law Firm, P.L.L.C.544.5★ (45)Jacksonville——
4Tisdale McConnell & Bardill LLP Attorneys At Law544.4★ (36)Jacksonville——
5Cook Legal, PLLC534.6★ (25)Jacksonville——
6Henson Fuerst, Attorneys at Law524.4★ (7)JacksonvilleSat · Evenings—
7Andrew M. Snow, Attorney at Law, PLLC523.5★ (83)Jacksonville——
8Gaylor Edwards & Vatcher513.4★ (15)Jacksonville——
9Capital to Coast NC Law Group454.4★ (7)Piney Green, 23 mi away——

All 9 estate planning and probate lawyers in Jacksonville, 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.

Scores below: based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.

  5. Based in Jacksonville

    53/100LFR Score

    Ranked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.6★ from 25 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Real estate attorney”.

    • 4.6★ from 25 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Thu 9 AM–5 PM · Fri 9 AM–1 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    Use PO Box 837 for U.S. mail, 1455 W Corbett Ave, Swansboro, NC 28584
    View profile for Cook Legal, PLLC(910) 326-5555

How we ranked Jacksonville estate planning and probate lawyers

We scored 9 Jacksonville 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.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

LFR Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed fromIn Jacksonville data
Reputation25%Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back itMeasured
Bar status10%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 volume10%Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the listMeasured
Recency10%Share of reviews from the last 12 monthsNot yet collected
Availability5%Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7Measured
Practice focus15%How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name)Measured
Proximity5%An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it isMeasured
Claimed profile10%The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same)Measured
Law Firms Ranked reviews10%Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there areMeasured

How to choose an estate planning lawyer

  1. Check the lawyer’s status and any public discipline in the state bar or law society directory.
  2. Ask how many estate planning and probate matters the lawyer handles each year, and who at the firm will do the work.
  3. Get the fee arrangement in writing: hourly, flat or contingency, and which costs are charged on top.
  4. Ask how and how often the firm will update you, and how fast it answers calls and emails.
  5. Read recent reviews for how the firm communicated and billed, not only for outcomes.
  6. Ask what the flat fee includes: funding a trust, updates after life changes, and signing with witnesses.
  7. 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 Jacksonville: frequently asked questions

Which estate planning lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Jacksonville?

By LFR Score, the highest-ranked estate planning lawyer in Jacksonville, NC is Kellum Law Firm [Jacksonville, NC] with an LFR Score of 59/100. It has 4.7★ from 157 Google reviews. Lanier Fountain & Ceruzzi (#2) and Fickey Martinez Law Firm, P.L.L.C. (#3) follow. We ranked 9 estate planning and probate lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many estate planning and probate lawyers are there in Jacksonville?

LawFirmsRanked ranks 9 estate planning and probate lawyers serving Jacksonville, NC. 8 of them are based in Jacksonville; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Counts are as of November 2026.

Which estate planning and probate lawyers in Jacksonville work on weekends?

1 of 9 ranked estate planning and probate lawyers post Saturday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays is Henson Fuerst, Attorneys at Law (#6). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.

What Google rating do Jacksonville estate planning and probate lawyers have?

The median Google rating among 9 rated estate planning and probate lawyers in Jacksonville is 4.4★, with a median of 36 reviews. Kellum Law Firm [Jacksonville, NC] has the most, 157 reviews, and ranks #1. 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 Jacksonville count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville?

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 Jacksonville

  1. November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 9 estate planning and probate lawyers serving Jacksonville.

More estate planning and probate lawyers and Jacksonville pages