About Summit Estate and Tax Law — Estate Planning Fuquay-Varina North Carolina

Estate planning Fuquay-Varina families and small business owners rely on Summit Estate and Tax Law for focused, reliable counsel on wills, trusts, and tax-aware asset protection. The firm — led by Kevin May and associate attorney Jenna Parkolap — operates from 300 Judd Place Drive in Fuquay-Varina, serving clients throughout southern Wake County and the broader Triangle region. Summit Estate and Tax Law emerged in November 2024 when the founding partnership of Graves May, PLLC divided into two focused practices. Kevin May’s new firm concentrates specifically on estate planning and tax law, allowing the team to bring deep expertise to each client matter rather than spreading attention across unrelated practice areas.

Wake County’s estate planning market reflects the region’s rapid growth. The county recorded 3,622 deed of trust transactions in October 2024 alone, and the median home value exceeded $460,000 — making thoughtful estate planning essential for families with meaningful assets. Additionally, North Carolina probate is administered through the Clerk of Superior Court in each county, with Wake County’s Clerk handling will validations, estate filings, and executor appointments at the Wake County Justice Center. Summit Estate and Tax Law guides clients through every stage — from drafting a first will to establishing complex trusts — with attention to both North Carolina law and federal tax implications. For more estate planning attorneys across the country, ReachAttorneys maintains a full directory.

What Clients Say

Clients of Summit Estate and Tax Law appreciate the firm’s focused approach — rather than treating estate planning as an afterthought alongside unrelated legal work, the team dedicates its full attention to protecting client assets and minimizing tax exposure. Families in Fuquay-Varina and southern Wake County value the approachable, step-by-step guidance that makes complex planning documents feel manageable and purposeful.

Estate Planning Fuquay-Varina — Practice Areas & Services

• Wills & Testamentary Planning: North Carolina recognizes attested and holographic wills. Summit Estate and Tax Law drafts properly executed wills that clearly express client intent and withstand challenge at the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court.
• Revocable Living Trusts: Trusts allow Wake County families to transfer assets outside of probate, providing privacy and faster distribution to beneficiaries — particularly valuable given the county’s rising property values.
• Powers of Attorney & Healthcare Directives: Financial and healthcare powers of attorney are foundational documents for any estate plan, ensuring that a trusted person can act if the client becomes incapacitated.
• Estate Tax Planning: Kevin May’s tax law background allows the firm to integrate federal estate tax strategy into planning documents — important for clients with estates approaching or exceeding the federal exemption threshold.
• Business Succession: Small business owners in Fuquay-Varina and southern Wake County need succession plans that protect both the business and the owner’s family across generational transitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does probate work in Wake County, North Carolina?

North Carolina probate is administered by the Clerk of Superior Court in each county. In Wake County, estate filings, will validations, and executor appointments are handled at the Wake County Justice Center. If someone dies leaving $20,000 or less in personal property, their estate may qualify for a simplified collection-by-affidavit process that avoids formal probate entirely. A will-based estate with real property or larger accounts typically goes through the standard probate process, which an estate planning attorney can guide efficiently.

Does North Carolina have an estate tax in addition to the federal estate tax?

North Carolina repealed its state estate tax in 2013. Residents of Fuquay-Varina and Wake County are subject only to the federal estate tax, which applies to estates exceeding the federal exemption — $13.61 million per individual in 2024. However, federal tax law changes regularly, and planning structures built now may need adjustment if Congress modifies the exemption threshold, making ongoing legal counsel valuable.

What is the difference between a will and a revocable living trust in North Carolina?

A will takes effect at death and must go through the Wake County probate process before assets transfer to beneficiaries. A revocable living trust transfers assets outside of probate, which can save time and maintain privacy for the family. Trusts also allow for more detailed instructions about asset management if the grantor becomes incapacitated before death. Many Wake County families use both — a trust for primary assets and a pour-over will to capture anything not transferred into the trust during the grantor’s lifetime.