James Edward Hickmon

James Edward Hickmon

North Carolina Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law • Charlotte, NC
Employee BenefitsEstate PlanningFinancial PlanningPersonal InjuryProbate

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Contact

Email
Phone
(833) 365-6917
Address
5605 Carnegie Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28209, US

Professional

About

James Edward Hickmon is a distinguished attorney based in Charlotte, NC, specializing in Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Personal Injury, Probate, Real Estate, and Tax law. He is recognized as a Board Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization and is also a Certified Financial Planner®. His legal expertise has earned him accolades as an AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer through peer review by Martindale Hubbell, as well as recognition in Business North Carolina's Legal Elite. In addition to his legal practice at North Carolina Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law, Jim serves as an adjunct professor at Wake Forest University. Here, he imparts his knowledge on Wealth Transfer and Fiduciary Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates to upper-level law students, bridging the gap between theory and practical application in estate planning. He is licensed to practice in both North Carolina and Virginia. Jim Hickmon is committed to protecting family assets and ensuring the longevity of closely held businesses through effective succession planning. He has guided families across various industries—including farming, real estate development, trucking, and software engineering—helping them navigate the complexities of estate and business succession planning. An accomplished author, Jim has contributed numerous articles on wealth transfer, tax, probate, and fiduciary responsibility, with publications in both regional and national outlets, including the Bureau of National Affairs’ Tax Management and Compensation Planning Journal. He is also a contributing author to the North Carolina Bar Association’s Estate Administration Manual and Fiduciary Litigation. Jim holds an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, an MBA from East Carolina University, and a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. Beyond his professional achievements, Jim actively participates in various charitable and community service organizations at local, state, and national levels. He is a proud member of the Charlotte chapter of the Financial Planning Association and the Charlotte Estate Planning Council, further solidifying his commitment to both his clients and the community at large.

Credentials

Education
2001 Wake Forest University JD - Juris Doctor 1996 East Carolina University MBA 1996 College of Financial Planning Certified Financial Planner Board 1992 University of North Carolina, Wilmington BS - Bachelor of Science
Languages
English

Recognition & Involvement

Awards
2025 Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers 2024 Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers 2023 Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers, Estates and Trusts Section, Thomson Reuters 2023 AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Publications
2012 The Will and the Way (NCBA) The Unauthorized Practice of Law By Nonlawyer Professionals in North Carolina 2012 The Will and the Way (NCBA) Claims, Liens & Judgments Against Estates 2011 The Will and the Way (NCBA) North Carolina's Revised Probate Procedures: The New Chapter 28A 2003 BNA Tax Management and Compensation Planning Journal Sarbanes-Oxley Produces Complex Blackout Notice Requirements and Imposes Personal Civil Liability for Plan Administrators 2002 Bureau of National Affairs, Tax Management and Compensation Planning Journal "Current Considerations for Adopting New Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedures"
Associations
2010 - Present NC Bar Association Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Ethics Committee Member 2007 - Present NC Bar Association Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Legislative Committee Member 2006 - Present NC Bar Association, Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law Section Member 2004 - Present North Carolina State Bar Member 2004 - Present North Carolina Bar Association Member
Speaking
2013 Mecklenburg County Bar Understanding & Mitigating the Federal Fiduciary Income Tax 2012 National Advisors Trust CPE/CLE Series Understanding & Mitigating the Federal Fiduciary Income Tax 2012 Charlotte Financial Planners Association Annual Symposium Financial & Estate Planning for Retirement Plan Assets & Executive Compensation 2012 33rd Annual Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Program Modifications to North Carolina's General Statutes Governing the Administration of Decedent's Estates 2011 CFP Professional Educational Series Practical Post-Mortem Financial Planning and Estate Administration for CFPs and CPAs
Updated: Mar 26, 2026