Estate Planning Section Distinguished Service Award

The Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Section is seeking nominations for the Section’s Distinguished Service Award.

Any section member in good standing may nominate a candidate. The criteria to be considered for a qualified candidate is as follows:

1. Be a member in good standing for twenty-five or more years of the NC Bar Association and EPFL Section.
2. Be a currently licensed member in good standing of the North Carolina State Bar or otherwise be retired to “inactive status” by said State Bar under “honorable” conditions.
3. Be a person of high character and reputation in her/his community and in the Bar.
4. Have served on Council, one or more committees or as an officer of the EPFL Section.
5. Have provided CLE services to the section as speaker, panelist, organizer and/or facilitator.
6. Have received prior public recognition by her/his peers for expertise in the area of estate planning and fiduciary law, such as being a fellow in ACTEC; being recognized by Best Lawyers, The Legal Elite or Super Lawyers; being a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the NC State Bar Board of Legal Specialization; or a similar recognition.
7. Have exhibited the utmost professionalism in the practice of law consonant with the NC Bar Association’s “Purposes” as defined in Article 1.2 of said Association’s bylaws and in Article 1, Section 2 of the EPFL bylaws.
8. Have provided exemplary, outstanding and distinguished service to the Section, the North Carolina Bar, its practitioners and the public which has made a significant impact for betterment of legal practice in the area of estate planning and fiduciary law. (By way of example, and not limitation, such distinguished service may include such matters as pro-bono activities, publications, educational programs, special expertise, mentoring, public service, philanthropic activities and all other activities which reflect favorably on the highest standards of integrity, service and professionalism to be exhibited by members of the NCBA.)

Please submit nominations by Friday, June 7 at 5 p.m.

Nomination Guidelines

Complete the form below to nominate an individual. Upload up to four separate letters of support for the nominee, describing the nominee’s practice and explaining how the nominee meets the purpose and criteria of this award.

Past Award Recipients

• 2018 | Graham Holding
• 2019 | Jimmy Narron
• 2020 | Rudy L. Ogburn
• 2021 | Elizabeth L. Quick
• 2022 | Robert Haggard
• 2023 | Maria Lynch