Stephen Lee Carpenter

PRO

Stephen Lee Carpenter

also known as Stephen L. Carpenter, Steve Carpenter

5.0
Rating: 7.3

Licensed for 36 years

Probate Lawyer at Knoxville, TN
Practice Areas: Probate, Estate Planning, Business ... +2 more

10413 Kingston Pk Ste 200, Knoxville, TN

Virtual Consultation Available

Free Consultation

About Stephen

Biography

Do you need help with wills, trusts, estates or business transactions? Call Stephen Carpenter.

Stephen advises businesses on contracts and transactions with a prompt yet thoughtful approach.

Stephen has been counseling families since 1989 to establish wills and trusts that work for them.

When you have lost a loved one, you need help navigating the probate process. Stephen can help you.

Do you need help with setting up a trust? Learn about new types of trusts at www.carpenterlewis.com

Do you need help with your will? Let us help you protect your family. Call Stephen Carpenter

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Probate 50%

“Probate” is the legal proceeding where a court oversees the distribution of a deceased person’s assets, after the payment of debts. As with any legal proceeding, the Executor or Administrator must comply with many legal duties, such as notifying heirs, paying creditors and filing paperwork with government agencies. Stephen has helped many families navigate the probate process and resolve family conflicts.

36 years | 450 cases

50%
Estate Planning 45%

“Estate planning” is the process of specifying how you want your assets handled, both during your lifetime and after your death. An estate plan typically results in legal documents (such as Wills, Trusts, and/or Beneficiary Designations). Everyone should take the time for estate planning - not just the wealthy. It is the best way to minimize conflict and uncertainty for your heirs. Stephen helps clients of all ages handle all aspects of estate planning, including advanced types of trusts.

36 years | 2,200 cases

45%
Business 3%

“Business Law” describes the transactional legal matters Stephen handles for business owners, such as working with clients in planning and carrying out business transactions, drafting and negotiating agreements, and counseling clients about compliance with laws and regulations. Stephen serves the needs of numerous business enterprises, both large and small.

36 years | 820 cases

3%
Trusts 1%

Trusts are extremely useful tools, both during your lifetime and after your death. Stephen can review the many reasons for establishing a trust with you, and can ensure your trust will be legally valid and accomplish your objectives appropriately.

36 years | 2,050 cases

1%
Wills and Living Wills 1%

A written will lets you decide what happens to your money and property after you die, while a "living will" lets you decide whether or not you wish to be placed on a medical life support system if you become disabled or incapacitated. Stephen can help you with these basic documents, as well as Powers of Attorney that are equally important to prepare.

36 years | 2,000 cases

1%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 20 minutes

Hourly Rates

$ 275-275 per hour


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Awards

Silver Client Champion
Distinguished Peer Review Rating

Licenses

Licensed in Tennessee for 30 years

State: Tennessee

Acquired: 1996

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Virginia for 36 years

State: Virginia

Acquired: 1989

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Carpenter & Lewis PLLC

10413 Kingston Pk Ste 200, Knoxville, TN, 37922

carpenterlewis.com/

Online Presence

Other places you can find Stephen online.

Stephen Lee Carpenter's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

7 Client Reviews

5 star (7)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by Jim | May 6, 2018 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

You CAN NOT Go Wrong With Stephen Carpenter

I needed an estate attorney for my 90+ year old parents to update Wills, prepare a Living Trust, and prepare Powers of Attorney, Healthcare POA's, Living Wills and Deed changes for the Trust. After interviewing 7 Knoxville attorneys/law firms, I settled on Stephen Carpenter at Carpenter & Lewis. He ...had fixed pricing (very reasonable for an entire Estate Package) and was impressive and personable on the phone. We have now completed the process and we could NOT be happier with the result. My parents were so complimentary of the very process that they were dreading. Stephen is HIGHLY knowledgeable, tax and estate savvy, detail oriented and is so very down to earth, professional and responsive. His documents were amazing and needed very few changes. He is an avid listener and translated our unique needs into legal language so very well. He was great in explaining everything and answered all our questions in terms we could all understand. The process was painless! I did my own estate documents 10 years ago in another state using a large, high powered law firm -- Believe me -- Stephen's process was 10 TIMES better - and a lot less expensive. Stephen knows how to do this and how to guide you through it VERY WELL! Also, Lorie, his assistant, was a joy to work with, so pleasant and service oriented. I do NOT do reviews of things on the web...but, after using Carpenter & Lewis' services, I wanted all of you who are looking to do estate planning to know -- YOU WILL NOT GO WRONG WITH THEM!!!! So, do yourself a favor...if you want a great outcome, if you want super value for your money, if you want to deal with very pleasant, personable and responsive people who are experts and pros at what they do -- use Stephen Carpenter at Carpenter & Lewis. It's not a large law firm...it's a small, highly effective, service oriented group. You won't regret it...and perhaps afterwards, you'll also WANT to write a review of them to help others who are trying to decide who to use for some of the most important legal documents in their life.

Posted by Bob | April 25, 2016 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Review for Stephen Lee Carpenter

5-Star rating. As long as I have know Stephen Carpenter and worked with him in a client-attorney relationship, he has consistently been helpful, caring, friendly, sincere, honest, fair and (generous) when it comes to charging for services, thorough in researching issues, and willing to refer out to o...thers in areas where others may have more "niche" experience in dealing in certain legal areas. I would highly recommend his services. — Bob

Posted by Corrie | April 22, 2016 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Pesonal and Attentive Lawyers

We use Carpenter and Lewis for our small business. Over the years our business has grown and changed, Stephen Carpenter has helped us through these changes with sound advice and quick responses. Stephen has experience in the CPA world as well so is able to give a perspective that contributes in man...y areas of our business. What I like the most is the personal attention and response. There is no red tape or hoops to jump through - it is just straight honest answers.

Posted by anonymous | April 22, 2016 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Set up a trust.

Very professional. Answered all of our questions.

Posted by Thomas | December 18, 2015 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Outstanding Estate Planning Attorney

Mr. Carpenter drafted excellent last will and testament, family trust, living will, and power of attorney documents for my wife and me. (I also happen to be an attorney.) Mr. Carpenter was referred to us by our retirement investment planning expert. We are very glad that we engaged Mr. Carpenter to t...ake care of our estate planning needs.

See All Client Reviews

Stephen Lee Carpenter's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Stephen
Stewart Michael Crane headshot
Stewart Crane

Estate planning lawyer | Jun 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Stephen Carpenter is a very competent attorney. He has extensive knowledge of the laws relating to estate planning, including Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and taxation. He is also familiar with the laws relating to business transactions. I endorse him without reservation."

View All Endorsements
Stewart Michael Crane headshot
Stewart Crane

Adoption lawyer

Experience

Rating:  7.3 (Very Good)

Honors

2018

BV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2014

Client Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

2000

National Registry of Who's Who, Who's Who In American Law

Work Experience

1989 - Present

Attorney/Founder, Carpenter & Lewis PLLC

Associations

2007 - Present

Knoxville Estate Planning Council

Member

2000 - Present

Knoxville Bar Association

Member

2000 - Present

Fountain City Business & Professional Association

Past President

1996 - Present

Tennessee Bar Association

Member

1989 - Present

Virginia State Bar

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Estate

Assets Protected, Family Conflicts Resolved

See More Legal Cases

Education

1990

College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law

LL.M - Master of Laws

1989

College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1986

Asbury College

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2009

Helping Your Client Select the Best Entity Option Training other attorneys about LLCs and Corporations

2007

Monthly meeting

Wills and Trusts

2002

Considerations in buying or selling a business in Tennessee Small Business Law

Publications

2009

self-published IRA Inheritance Trusts: How to protect your heirs FAQ

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution