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Heather Elizabeth Hazelwood

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Virtual Consultation
also known as Heather, Hazelwood
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Avvo Rating10
  • Durham, NC
  • Licensed for 10 years
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About Heather

I have nearly a decade of experience with estate planning and administration. I founded my Durham, North Carolina-based law firm, Ampersand Law, on the belief that estate planning doesn’t need to be a confusing, stressful, and opaque process. I demystify estate planning by making the process straightforward, manageable, and transparent. The best way to see this in action (other than being my client) is via the law firm’s Instagram account @ampersandlawnc. Outside my (home)office, you can find me walking my dogs, working out with Peloton, reading, and/or drinking champagne (but generally not all at the same time).

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Practice areas

OtherTrustsWills and living willsProbateEstate planning
  1. Estate planning: 50%

    Estate planning doesn’t need to be a confusing, stressful, and opaque process. I demystify estate planning by making the process straightforward, manageable, and transparent. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and more make up estate planning.

    10 years

  2. Probate: 20%

    Probate is the court process that validates a Will as authentic and empowers the Executor to carry out the instructions of the deceased. If someone dies without a Will, Probate still happens - through a process called intestacy. www.bit.ly/amplawprob

    10 years

  3. Wills and living wills: 10%

    A Will is a legally enforceable document that specifies how someone wants their property and financial assets distributed after their death and who they want responsible for that process (Executor/Personal Representative). www.bit.ly/amplawwills

    10 years

  4. Trusts: 10%

    Trusts are used to manage, control, and distribute property. At and after death, a Trust functions similarly to a Will but is not subject to the Probate/Estate Court’s oversight. www.bit.ly/amplawtrusts

    10 years

  1. Power of attorney: 10%

    A Power of Attorney (POA) is a document giving someone legal authority to act on your behalf/make decisions for you. Health Care and Durable General/Financial POAs are key parts of estate planning. www.bit.ly/amplawpoas www.bit.ly/amplawhcpoa

    10 years

Languages spoken

English

Photos and videos

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Contact

Ampersand Law

PO Box 61182
Durham, NC, 27715

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
NCActive201605/31/2021
WIGood Standing201105/22/2021
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers40
Legal guides2
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
Fellows of the American Bar FoundationAmerican Bar Foundation2021
2019 North Carolina Pro Bono Honor SocietySupreme Court of North Carolina2019
Graduation Cum LaudeUW Law School2011
Dean’s Academic Achievement AwardUW Law School2011
Mathys Memorial Award for Service to Moot CourtUW Law School2011
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
Solo PractitionerHazelwood Law, PLLC dba Ampersand Law2016 - Present
AssociateHurley, Burish & Stanton, S.C.2011 - 2015
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
NCAWA Judicial Endorsement CommitteeMember2021 - Present
Sixteenth Judicial District Bar Grievance CommitteeMember2020 - Present
North Carolina Bar AssociationMember2016 - Present
North Carolina State BarLicensed Attorney2016 - Present
North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys (Durham/Orange chapter)President2016 - Present
Durham County Bar AssociationMember2016 - Present
Sixteenth Judicial District Bar AssociationMember2016 - Present
State Bar of WisconsinLicensed Attorney2011 - Present
Exceptional Kids Yoga Project, Inc.Board President2014 - 2018
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
Ampersand Law websiteFive Key Estate Planning Documents for Families with Minor Children2020
Ampersand Law websiteThree Key Estate Planning Documents for Everyone2020
Ampersand Law blogFAQ: What happens when you die without a Will?2020
Ampersand Law blogFAQs about Revocable Living Trusts2020
Ampersand Law websiteEstate Planning: Tips for Choosing an Executor, Trustee, Guardian, Health Care Agent, & Durable General POA Agent2020
Ampersand Law blogFAQ: What Happens to Debt at Death?2020
Ampersand Law blogTips for Talking to Your Parents about Their Estate Plans2020
Ampersand Law blog5 Questions about Probate2020
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
University of WisconsinJD - Juris Doctor2011
University of Wisconsin, MadisonBS - Bachelor of Science2000
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
Clio's Legal Trends Report for Solo LawyersClio's Legal Trends Report for Solo Lawyers2021
American Bar AssociationHow to Prepare For a Future Beyond COVID-192021
Purpose & PowerEstate Planning: The Ultimate Adulting Task2020
Estate Planning: During the COVID-19 Pandemic & BeyondEstate Planning: During the COVID-19 Pandemic & Beyond2020
Estate Planning 101: Just the BasicsEstate Planning 101: Just the Basics2020
Clio's Innovate Legal Online: Practice Area MeetupNavigating theChanging Estate Planning Landscape During the COVID-19 Crisis2020
Clio's Innovate Legal OnlineLevel Up Your Firm's Marketing and Social Media2020
What's Your Plan? The Basics of Estate Planning - A Free Informational SessionEstate Planning2016
Casualty Claims Seminar - “Negotiations with Insurance Claims”Mediation2015
UW Law 743: “Art Exhibition Controversy”Negotiation/Mediation2014
Casualty Claims Seminar - “Negotiations with Insurance Claims”Mediation2014
UW Law 743: “Art Exhibition Controversy”Negotiation/Mediation2013
HIPAA UpdateHIPAA2013
Casualty Claims Seminar - “Negotiations with Insurance Claims”Mediation2013
Lunch & Learn Seminar: Advance DirectivesAdvance Directives2012
Casualty Claims Seminar - “Negotiations with Insurance Claims”Mediation2012
Legal cases
Case nameOutcome
Estate AdministrationSuccessfully administered & court case closed
Trust AdministrationTrust successfully administered & terminated
Estate Planning - streamlinedEstate plan completed
Estate Planning - comprehensiveEstate plan completed

Reviews

(23)
5 Star
96%
4 Star
4%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Review Heather Hazelwood

Streamlined process

Posted by

Very clear and streamlined process for creating the documents that no one wants to talk about...Heather was friendly, professional, and efficient. I highly recommend for your estate planning needs.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Helpful estate planning

Posted by

Heather was great to work with, provided really clear information on the estate planning process for someone totally new to it. She also makes efforts to use inclusive language in her materials which I really appreciated. She provided straightforward but detailed answers to questions throughout the process and I recommend working with her.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Simple & quality estate planning

Posted by

I was overwhelmed by the idea of estate planning and unsure where to start. Heather made the whole process clear and simple. She's approachable and competent, and I'm so glad I went with Heather and finally crossed this off my to do list.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Smart and easy to work with

Posted by

Heather made the wills for my boyfriend and I, and it was clear she really knew her stuff. But she still managed to make the process super simple and clear. All we had to do was fill out a pretty short intake form and then review the drafts she wrote up for us. Heather very helpfully color coded different sections to let us know which things were fairly standard and which things we needed to make sure got our wishes across. She was so patient at responding to my many, many questions. As a procrastinator, I really appreciated that she gave us deadlines to get things done. And at the same time, it was clear that she could be flexible if those deadlines didn't work. I completely trust that Heather put together the best documents for us (an unmarried couple), and I recommend her to all my friends.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Wonderful Expereince

Posted by

My wife and I began working with Heather several years ago when we decided it was time to adult and draft up our estate planning documents. We were tempted to go the LegalZoom route but, after an initial discussion with Heather, it was clear that a product drafted by a true legal professional was the most appropriate route for us. That way, we could ensure that our wishes were accurately captured and no scenarios were left unaddressed. Working with Heather was, and remains to be, a pleasure. She is knowledgable; professional; thorough; patient; and kind. We were thrilled with the results and have recommended Heather's services to friends and family members alike.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Accessible, friendly, and responsive!

Posted by

I loved working with Heather on my will -- she's very approachable, patient, and really took the time to get to know me and what I needed (and all my hang-ups). I was (and am) in my early 40s when Heather helped me start getting my affairs in order. I wanted to be prepared for myself and for my family even though I'm in excellent health, etc. I was initially intimidated by all the information and what I thought was an extensive process but Heather was able to point me toward resources to help me make decisions, talked through the details, and also provided drafts that were focused and seemingly designed to help me ask further questions. Heather is also very good at managing her workflow and projects. I always knew when to expect the next iteration and what was expected of me as a client. For a type A person such as myself, this collaborative process was a dream.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
Heather Hazelwood's response: Audrey, thanks so much for your thoughtful review! I'm glad my process helped make estate planning feel comfortable and collaborative to you!

Estate Planning - wills, POAs, health care docs

Posted by

We worked with Heather to update our estate planning documents. Heather was great to work with! She knew the NC law and guided us to build documents that would make it easy for our executor and associated people to follow our wishes and make their tasks "easier." She also helped us understand the issues involved in naming people outside of NC in our estate documents. We would definitely work with her again.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
Heather Hazelwood's response: It was lovely to work with you to create updated documents. Thanks so much for your kind words!

Recommended without reservation!

Posted by

After many years of delaying preparing various legal documents (Will, Health Care Power of Attorney, and Durable Power of Attorney) we contacted Heather Hazelwood. After an initial consultation is was clear that she was pleasant, diligent, knowledgeable and very easy to work with and any questions we had were answered clearly and promptly. The entire process was very easy, actually pleasant, and not nearly as painful as we had feared! My advice would be to do it sooner rather than later and when you decide to get your documents in order I would recommend working with Heather without reservation.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
Heather Hazelwood's response: Thank you so much for your kind words. It was my pleasure to work with you and help you cross these items off your to-do list!

Excellent, Professional Service

Posted by

I hired Heather for an estate plan and will. She takes the time to explain legal-ese, she listens carefully, and she outlines expectations clearly (both hers and what you can expect from her). Heather takes the stress out of what can be a stressful issue. She was great to work with and I highly recommend her services.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
Heather Hazelwood's response: Beth - thank you so much. I appreciate your kind words and am grateful you chose me for your estate planning services. Thanks again!

Reliable and professional

Posted by

Heather is a consummate estate planning attorney. She drafted wills and estate planning documents for myself and my spouse, taking care of a long-delayed task we needed to do to take care of our growing family. Heather kept us on track, explained processes clearly and left us very happy and reassured that we had made the right choice with the right legal professional.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
Heather Hazelwood's response: George, thank you so much for your kind words. It was my pleasure to help you get estate plan documents in place! Congrats on your new arrival!
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Attorney endorsements

(7)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

Ana Alexander, Estate planning Attorney on May 4, 2021
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I highly recommend Heather as an Estate Planning lawyer. She is not only highly skilled and experienced, but she is organized, thorough and meticulous,.

Anne Gyemant Paris, Business Attorney on Nov 29, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Jania Braswell, Estate planning Attorney on Nov 29, 2018
Relationship: Other

I endorse this lawyer.

Nicole Quallen, Estate planning Attorney on Jul 28, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I send lots of my family law clients to Heather to create or adjust their wills during divorce. I hear back from them that Heather is responsive, professional, and cost-effective.

Kraig Rueth, Estate planning Attorney on Jun 23, 2017
Relationship: Friend

I went to law school with Heather. We had many classes together and worked on many projects together. Heather is a person of the highest professionalism and dedication to not only her craft, but her clients.

Brandon Robinson, Estate planning Attorney on Jul 9, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I highly commend Attorney Heather Hazelwood to the North Carolina Triangle-area community. Besides her erudition and deep substantive knowledge of transactional and estate-planning matters, she practices law with the greater good of society in mind. The combination of these attributes, in my opinion, is what makes an especially fine attorney.

Jeffrey Austin, Business Attorney on Jun 20, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I know Heather as a small business and estate planning in the community and am happy to recommend her to anyone needing such services.

Cost

RATES
  • Hourly Rates$175-$250/hour
    PAYMENT METHODS

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