Charlotte, NC – Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP is pleased to announce that nearly 30 of its attorneys recently teamed up to provide free representation to low-income homeowners located primarily in one of North Carolina’s most economically distressed counties. The project was a joint effort by Pisgah Legal Services, Habitat for Humanity, and Parker Poe to help Rutherford County homeowners complete wills and other legal documents to protect their family’s interests.
“We know that when homeowners don’t have a will, it can create very difficult situations for heirs,” said Katie Russell Miller, managing director of community engagement at Pisgah Legal Services. “We have also had many unfortunate situations in our region where low-income homeowners and heirs – particularly people of color – have been targets of fraud that resulted in heirs losing the longtime family homes they were living in.”
The pro bono project aims to prevent that. The team worked with more than 24 clients to develop wills, advance directives, and powers of attorney. The legal documents not only protect the clients’ heirs but also ensure their last wishes are honored. The team and clients finalized the documents at a signing clinic in Rutherford County.
“This project allowed us, in partnership with Parker Poe and Habitat for Humanity, to reach clients in a rural community where it is harder to find volunteer lawyers,” said Max Gibbons, director of pro bono at Pisgah Legal Services. “Parker Poe’s attorneys were very impactful in representing clients who are seeking to protect family assets and who would struggle to afford a lawyer.”
Parker Poe’s Tiffany Burba led the firm’s efforts in the project. In addition, these Parker Poe attorneys took part:
- Will Barker
- Patti Bartis
- Blair Carpenter
- Catherine Clodfelter
- Michael Crook
- Trey Ellis
- Marie Farmer
- Laura Goode
- Scott Leo
- Jasmine Little
- Stacy Little
- Miguel Manna
- Carlos Manzano
- Molly McCabe
- Jon McLamb
- Seth Morris
- Merrick Parrott
- Lauren Reeves
- Chelsea Rush
- Kalyn Simmons
- Deb Stern
- Elizabeth Trenary
- Eimile Whelan
- Laura Wright
About Parker Poe
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has more than 275 lawyers in eight offices in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington, DC. The firm provides legal counsel to many of the largest companies and local governments in the Southeast.
Parker Poe is a member of two leading international legal networks: TerraLex and the Employment Law Alliance. TerraLex and the ELA have chosen Parker Poe to help guide clients through the challenges of global business.