Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Support
  Nothing is more important than the love and care a parent owes their child. Even if parents never married, they have a legal duty to support their children financially. Willful failure of a noncustodial parent to make required child support payments can be charged as a criminal offense. In many cases, it is best to set child support rates by consensus, but if court intervention is required, we can make sure that the proper information is considered when the judge refers to the North Carolina child support formula. If an existing order is being ignored or requires modification due to a change in financial status, we can petition the court for relief. Firm lawyers can also assist with paternity and adoption matters to establish parental responsibility pursuant to state law.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Establishing child custody arrangements — When negotiating legal and physical custody of children, we make an extra effort to create a plan agreeable to both parents. If consensus is not possible, the court can review numerous factors to determine what is in the child’s best interests. There is a strong preference for an arrangement that maintains full involvement for both parents, but if you believe this might be harmful, we will argue to the court on your behalf.
• Adoption
• Guardianship
  You’ve worked hard for your family, so knowing that you have planned for their long-term well-being and financial security can bring you great comfort. We thoroughly analyze your estate and strategize the best means of transferring your assets, minimizing taxes, establishing guardianship for your children, caring for your pets, supporting personal philanthropic causes and protecting your loved ones.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  If you have been charged with a crime in the Morganton area, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. The attorneys at Starnes Aycock Law Firm fight to defend the rights of our clients. We have built our reputation on getting results. We are intimately familiar with all facets of the North Carolina criminal justice system, and have the knowledge and skill to make sure you understand your legal options and to guide you through the legal process.
• DUI/DWI
• Traffic Violations
• Sex Crimes
• Fraud
  If you are being audited by the IRS, you need the assistance of an experienced tax attorney to help you avoid criminal tax fraud charges. Our extensive experience with all areas of tax law allows us to understand the complicated processes and procedures that accompany an audit. We ensure that you show up to your audit prepared for what you are about to face by reviewing your tax returns and explaining how to answer questions that the auditor is likely to ask. Trust our firm to ease your stress and give you the guidance you need.
• Robbery
• Burglary
• White Collar Crimes
  When you have charges on your record that you want eliminated, we can help you get those charges sealed or expunged or represent you in appellate court.
• Theft
• Drug Crimes
• Assault
• Murder
• Homicide
• Arson
• Manslaughter

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Corporate law — Small and large businesses rely on our corporate law advice to resolve conflicts and keep their organization running smoothly.
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Business Disputes
  A native of Rutherford County, North Carolina, Peggy graduated from Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. After receiving a Masters of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she taught English at Freedom High School. In 1989, she obtained her J. D. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a staff member of the North Carolina Law Review for two years. After graduation, she returned to Morganton and joined the law firm of Byrd, Byrd, Ervin, Whisnant, McMahon & Ervin, P.A., where she became a partner. Her practice there focused on residential and commercial real estate and other property matters, but she  also gained experience in other areas, including estate planning and administration, and business law. She continued these areas of practice when she became a solo practitioner in 2001. Peggy has been recognized with an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review.
• Business Transactions
  Most business transactions conducted today are done through the use of contracts. A contract is a binding agreement between two parties that sets terms for the transaction, including price, delivery and quantity of items to be sold. Properly drafting and negotiating contracts will allow you to clearly define and understand your business’s rights and obligations. When a dispute arises, you need an attorney who understands how to negotiate and litigate contracts cases. The attorneys at Starnes Aycock Law Firm handle contract drafting, negotiation and breach cases for our clients in North Carolina.
• Limited Liability Companies

Employment Law

• Employment Litigation

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  The attorneys at Starnes Aycock Law Firm apply their extensive knowledge about property rights, real estate issues, finance and business to all areas of real estate law. Our experienced attorneys can help you with...
• Construction Litigation
• Real Estate Transactions
  Some disputes are better solved outside of the courtroom. Our effective mediators guide negotiations to protect your interests. By retaining an experienced mediator to strategize during the contract negotiation process, you can often prevent disputes from arising at a later stage in the real estate transaction. This can save time, costs and frustrations.
• Eminent Domain
• Easement
• Land Use and Zoning
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
• Property Damage
• Condominium Law

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Personal injury claims are filed by victims who suffer physical or psychological injury directly due to another person’s negligence. At Starnes Aycock Law Firm, our attorneys employ a practical and professional approach to ensure our clients obtain full and fair recovery for their injuries, including damages for their past and future medical bills, lost income, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. We use our extensive civil litigation experience, our knowledge about insurance company tactics and our skills at settlement negotiation to obtain the best possible recovery for our clients.
• Medical Malpractice
  The personal injury attorneys at Starnes Aycock Law Firm successfully help injured clients recover just compensation for losses resulting from auto accidents, medical malpractice, unsafe products, dangerous drugs, slips and falls and unsafe work conditions.
• Auto Accidents

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Estate planning documents are extremely flexible and can be designed to fit your unique needs. Starnes Aycock Law Firm works closely with you to determine your goals and create precise instruments to carry out your intentions.
• Wills
  Your last will provides the opportunity to distribute your property, establish care for your children and otherwise express your wishes upon your death. A will is necessary if you intend to leave property to a person or entity other than a blood relative, such as a domestic partner, a friend or a charity. If you die without a will, the court determines how your property is distributed, who cares for your children and even what happens to your pet – making decisions that might not reflect your desires.
• Trusts
  John brings over twenty years of experience to the foothills of North Carolina and has clients throughout North Carolina. He welcomes the opportunity to help those with small estates and complex estates, along with assisting businesses of all sizes. John can prepare wills, trusts, irrevocable trusts, education trusts, special needs trusts, charitable trusts, financial powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, living wills, HIPAA waivers and other estate planning arrangements to solve any estate planning need. He also handles probate of simple and complex estates and can advise an Executor or beneficiary regarding their rights and duties. John also advises individuals on asset protection, guardianships and elder law. In addition to individuals and estates, John also helps in setting up, buying and selling corporations and Limited Liability Companies and is happy to review leases and contracts as part of his practice.
• Power of Attorney
• Probate

Finance Law

• Foreclosure
  Upon graduation from law school, Susan practiced with the law firm of Kuehnert & Ayers, P.L.L.C. in Morganton, NC. While there, she assisted the County Attorney in real estate matters, particularly tax foreclosures and other civil litigation.
• Tax Law
  There are few areas of the law as complicated as tax law. If you have personal or business tax challenges, you need to be represented by an attorney with the skill and experience to help you. At Starnes Aycock Law Firm, we are dedicated to guiding you through any tax issues you may be facing. We handle all tax law matters, including tax preparation, filing certain types of tax returns, IRS audits and litigation. We represent clients throughout North Carolina with integrity and professionalism.