Estate Planning

At Coffield Heedy Kilgore, we help individuals and families in Asheville, Western North Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee put thoughtful estate plans in place — for clarity today and peace of mind tomorrow.

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Your Ideas Have Real Value

Whether it is a new product, a unique process, or a brand you have worked hard to build, intellectual property is at the core of innovation and business growth.

Maybe you have developed a new piece of technology and want to protect it before pitching investors. Maybe you have created a name and logo for your business and want to make sure no one else can use them. Or maybe you are growing fast and need a plan to safeguard your brand, your ideas, and your competitive edge.

We are here to help you move forward with a strategy — not guesswork. Our intellectual property attorneys are licensed to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and we offer clear legal solutions that connect your IP to your larger business goals.

Trademark Services

A trademark is a word, symbol, name, or device, or some combinations of these things, that is used in connection with goods or services to identify the source of those goods or services.

Trademarks are source identifiers that inform consumers who has provided particular goods.  A service mark is used in connection with services, but both service marks and trademarks are generally referred to as "trademarks."  A trademark or service mark can serve to distinguish the source of goods or services of one party from those of other parties, which becomes part of the goodwill of a business.

What we offer:

Trademark Searching

Trademark Application

Preparation and Prosecution

Trademark Watch Services

Trademark Agreements

Affidavits of Continued Use and Incontestability

Renewals

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Patent Services

A patent provides the owner with the right to prevent others from making, using, offering to sell or selling the patented invention for a certain period of time, depending on the type of patent. We help inventors and businesses secure patents and manage the process from start to finish.

What we offer:

Patentability analysis

Filing provisional and non-provisional applications

Patent prosecution and long-term portfolio support

From solo inventors to growing companies, we help clients protect what sets them apart — and add real value to their work.

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Whether you are just in need of a simple will or are managing complex assets, we will walk you through your options and help you find practical, effective solutions.

Talk With Us About What Is Next

You have worked hard to build a good life. Maybe you have bought a second home near Asheville, or started a business and now are thinking about how to transition it to the next generation. Or maybe you have just welcomed a new child or grandchild, and you are realizing it is time to get your affairs in order — but you are not sure where to start.

Estate planning can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to protect loved ones, minimize taxes, and avoid unnecessary court involvement. The truth is, a lot of people put it off until something urgent happens.

Our goal is to make sure you do not have to wait until then. Whether you are looking to draft a will, create a trust, or navigate more complex family or financial dynamics, we will sit down with you, explain your options in plain English, and help you create a plan that works — for today and for the years ahead.

Wills and Trusts

We will help you understand the difference — and decide what makes the most sense for your situation. A will is often the foundation of a plan, but a trust can offer added privacy, flexibility, minimize probate, save costs, and expedite the disposition of your assets upon death.

Healthcare Directives and Powers of Attorney

Who do you trust to make decisions for you if you ca not speak for yourself? We will help you set up living wills, health care powers of attorney, and other health care directives so you and your loved ones are prepared.

Beneficiary Designations and Asset Titling

Some assets — like retirement accounts, life insurance, and joint property — are not necessarily controlled by the terms of your estate planning documents. We will help make sure everything is coordinated so that your full estate plan works the way it should.

Tax Planning

Depending on your circumstances, our estate plans are designed to encompass strategies to reduce  minimize unnecessary tax burdens and maximize the value that you can pass to the next generation.

Asset Protection

We work to understand your goals and concerns and implement asset protection strategies to meet your needs.

Planning for Blended Families

Estate planning gets more complex when there are children from previous marriages, step-relatives, or new partnerships. We can help you structure your plan in a way that is fair, thoughtful, and reduces the risk of conflict down the road — all while honoring your family’s unique dynamics.

Business Succession Planning

If you own a business in Tennessee or North Carolina, your estate plan needs to consider what happens to that business when you are no longer involved. We regularly work with family-owned businesses and closely held companies to build succession plans that protect the company — and the family — long term.

Why Work With Us?

Local Knowledge, Tailored Solutions: We are based in downtown Asheville, and many of our clients live in Western North Carolina and Tennessee. We understand the local markets, the local courts, and — more importantly — the values of this community.

Sophisticated Support for Complex Estates: We regularly work with clients who have family businesses, investment properties, or multigenerational wealth. If your situation goes beyond a basic will, we have the experience to handle it — clearly and confidently.

A Clear Process, from Start to Finish: We will guide you through the process step-by-step, using secure technology when it is convenient or desired — and in-person meetings when it matters most. You can come sit down with us in our Asheville office, talk through your questions, and walk out with a real plan in place.

Start the Conversation, and Find Clear Legal Solutions

Whether you are updating old documents or building a plan from scratch, we’re here to help. Contact our Asheville office today to schedule a conversation with an estate planning attorney. Let us find clear legal solutions together.

CLEAR LEGAL 
SOLUTIONS
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Clear Legal Solutions.

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With my daughter's second birthday just passing, my wife and I decided to go through the estate planning process. BJ Kilgore and the Coffield Heedy Kilgore PLLC team made it efficient and easy for a reasonable price. It also felt great to support a local Asheville business. If you need your estate planned and you are in Asheville or anywhere else in North Carolina, you can't go wrong with BJ and the CHK team!

Ben M.