In order to provide expert advocacy and counsel, our attorneys focus on the following areas:
Condemnation – McCoy Wiggins has a long tradition of successfully representing landowners in disputes arising out of a government entity or utility taking their land or lowering its value. In the past several years, our firm has won jury verdicts one-million dollars or more in excess of the condemnor’s initial deposit. Recognizing the special monetary and emotional value individuals and families place in their real estate, we exclusively represent landowners, and not condemnors, in this practice.
Business Advice and Litigation – Our attorneys form and advise corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies (LLCs). We advise on which business entity will best meet your objectives and prepare shareholder, operating, and partnership agreements, and other documents necessary for the ongoing operation of that entity. We help prepare corporations and individuals for exit strategies when persons end their relationship with a company. The firm represents entities of all sizes, newly formed businesses, and joint ventures. Our attorneys frequently handle mergers and acquisitions and negotiate complex business transactions including asset purchase agreements, employment agreements, and noncompetition agreements.
Real Estate – McCoy Wiggins’ Real Estate department regularly handles between 750 and 1000 transactions per year, including closings and leases of residential and commercial properties. We recognize that purchasing real estate is an enormous decision, and each and every closing is personally handled by an attorney to ensure that questions and concerns are thoroughly addressed. We are well versed in dealing with the special opportunities that VA-guaranteed financing provides veterans. Most transactions are handled by Steve O’Connor. Before focusing his practice on real estate, Steve had over twenty years of commercial litigation experience. That experience allows him to draft documents and handle transactions with a practical eye towards avoiding common litigation disputes.
Estate Planning – Our Estate Planning practice involves preparation of all components of estate plans, including wills, revocable trusts, credit shelter trusts, generation skipping transfer tax trusts, durable financial powers of attorney, healthcare powers of attorney and declaration of a desire for a natural death (living will), as well as advice on minimizing potential estate and income tax liabilities.
We provide advice on charitable planning and gifting, including outright gifts to charity, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts. The firm counsels clients on estate and income tax planning for retirement benefits and life insurance planning, including use of irrevocable life insurance trusts. Additionally, we prepare pre-marital and post-marital agreements and advise on lifetime gift planning to reduce estate taxes, including use of limited liability companies, family limited partnerships, and other fractional interests.
Estate and Trust Administration and Litigation – McCoy Wiggins provides all aspects of estate and trust administration and settlement including preparation of estate tax returns, probate court inventories and accountings, preparation of federal and North Carolina gift tax returns, and representation of estates and trusts before the Internal Revenue Service. We represent executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries in the administration of trusts and estates. We also represent heirs, beneficiaries, and fiduciaries in litigation involving the validity of wills and trusts and other disputes related to their administration.
Taxation – Our practice includes advice on minimizing potential income and estate taxes of individuals and business entities, transactional tax planning, handling tax controversies, establishing tax exempt entities and obtaining IRS determination of their tax exempt status, tax planning for selection of the appropriate business entity, and exit strategies for owners of closely held and publicly traded corporations. We advise on structuring like kind exchanges, assist in planning for qualified retirement plan and Individual Retirement Account distributions. We handle tax controversies including IRS audits and litigation before the United States Tax Court.
Immigration – We are proud to help individuals and families safely and legally transition to the United States. The firm's current immigration focus is family-based petitions.
Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer's or a law firm's past results.
