My favorite way to introduce myself is to say that I'm not your grandpa's estate planning attorney. I'm not the "reading of the will" attorney you've seen on tv. I'm here to help real people make plans for themselves and their loved ones. I'm here to help you quiet all of those "what if???" worries.Do you feel like estate planning is a confusing, stressful, and opaque process? It doesn't have to be, I promise. I demystify estate planning by making the process straightforward, manageable, and transparent. Subscribe to Estate Planning 101 to learn more: www.bit.ly/EP101-AmpersandLawIf you're looking at this, you probably need power of attorney (POA) documents. You're not alone, most people do. In my opinion, POAs are the unsung heroes of estate planning. Subscribe to Estate Planning 101 to learn more: www.bit.ly/EP101-AmpersandLawIt's pretty common to hear people talk about avoiding probate. If your loved one figured out how to avoid probate, be glad. If your loved one didn't figure it out (or thought they did but didn't), I'm here to help.Trusts avoid probate. True enough but also just part of the story. Trusts are comprehensive yet flexible estate plan documents that often can do things that simple Wills cannot. Subscribe to Estate Planning 101 to learn more: www.bit.ly/EP101-AmpersandLawWills address what should happen to your property after you die. Living Wills address how you want to (or don't want) to die. Completing both documents gives both you and your loved ones peace of mind. Subscribe to Estate Planning 101 to learn more: www.bit.ly/EP101-AmpersandLaw
Estate planning made easier. Really. In 2016, 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. With more than 10 years of experience, 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).
Practice areas
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.
11 years
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.
11 years
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.
11 years
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.
11 years
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).
11 years
Languages spoken
English
Ampersand Law
PO Box 61182
Durham, NC, 27715
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
NC | Active | 2016 | 06/23/2022 |
WI | Good Standing | 2011 | 05/28/2022 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation | American Bar Foundation | 2021 |
2019 North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society | Supreme Court of North Carolina | 2019 |
Mathys Memorial Award for Service to Moot Court | UW Law School | 2011 |
Dean’s Academic Achievement Award | UW Law School | 2011 |
Graduation Cum Laude | UW Law School | 2011 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Solo Practitioner | Hazelwood Law, PLLC dba Ampersand Law | 2016 - Present |
Associate | Hurley, Burish & Stanton, S.C. | 2011 - 2015 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
NCAWA Judicial Endorsement Committee | Member | 2021 - Present |
Sixteenth Judicial District Bar Grievance Committee | Member | 2020 - Present |
North Carolina Bar Association | Member | 2016 - Present |
North Carolina State Bar | Licensed Attorney | 2016 - Present |
North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys (Durham/Orange chapter) | Vice President, President, Immediate Past President | 2016 - Present |
Durham County Bar Association | Member | 2016 - Present |
Sixteenth Judicial District Bar Association | Member | 2016 - Present |
State Bar of Wisconsin | Licensed Attorney | 2011 - Present |
Exceptional Kids Yoga Project, Inc. | Board President | 2014 - 2018 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Ampersand Law website | Five Key Estate Planning Documents for Families with Minor Children | 2020 |
Ampersand Law website | Three Key Estate Planning Documents for Everyone | 2020 |
Ampersand Law blog | FAQ: What happens when you die without a Will? | 2020 |
Ampersand Law blog | FAQs about Revocable Living Trusts | 2020 |
Ampersand Law website | Estate Planning: Tips for Choosing an Executor, Trustee, Guardian, Health Care Agent, & Durable General POA Agent | 2020 |
Ampersand Law blog | FAQ: What Happens to Debt at Death? | 2020 |
Ampersand Law blog | Tips for Talking to Your Parents about Their Estate Plans | 2020 |
Ampersand Law blog | 5 Questions about Probate | 2020 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
University of Wisconsin | JD - Juris Doctor | 2011 |
University of Wisconsin, Madison | BS - Bachelor of Science | 2000 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Clio's Legal Trends Report for Solo Lawyers | Clio's Legal Trends Report for Solo Lawyers | 2021 |
American Bar Association | How to Prepare For a Future Beyond COVID-19 | 2021 |
Estate Planning 101: Just the Basics | Estate Planning 101: Just the Basics | 2020 |
Purpose & Power | Estate Planning: The Ultimate Adulting Task | 2020 |
Estate Planning: During the COVID-19 Pandemic & Beyond | Estate Planning: During the COVID-19 Pandemic & Beyond | 2020 |
Clio's Innovate Legal Online: Practice Area Meetup | Navigating theChanging Estate Planning Landscape During the COVID-19 Crisis | 2020 |
Clio's Innovate Legal Online | Level Up Your Firm's Marketing and Social Media | 2020 |
What's Your Plan? The Basics of Estate Planning - A Free Informational Session | Estate Planning | 2016 |
Casualty Claims Seminar - “Negotiations with Insurance Claims” | Mediation | 2015 |
Casualty Claims Seminar - “Negotiations with Insurance Claims” | Mediation | 2014 |
UW Law 743: “Art Exhibition Controversy” | Negotiation/Mediation | 2014 |
Casualty Claims Seminar - “Negotiations with Insurance Claims” | Mediation | 2013 |
UW Law 743: “Art Exhibition Controversy” | Negotiation/Mediation | 2013 |
HIPAA Update | HIPAA | 2013 |
Casualty Claims Seminar - “Negotiations with Insurance Claims” | Mediation | 2012 |
Lunch & Learn Seminar: Advance Directives | Advance Directives | 2012 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Estate Administration | Successfully administered & court case closed |
Trust Administration | Trust successfully administered & terminated |
Estate Planning - streamlined | Estate plan completed |
Estate Planning - comprehensive | Estate plan completed |
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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.
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.
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