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Law Office In Marion, NC

Our legal team of attorneys and support staff would be honored to work with you to seek a solution to the issues about which you have concerns, needs and questions. Contact our law office in Marion, NC to speak to talk about any of our legal services from estate planning and deed writing to health care law or joint ownership problems.

Attorneys

Legal Support Staff

attorney:

Stephen R. Little

As senior attorney at Little, Lattimore, & Ledford, P.A., he has practiced law for over 40 years. A 1977 graduate of Wake Forest University Law School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he spent many years building a practice focused on the people of McDowell County and the surrounding areas.

In addition to many awards and recognitions, Steve continues to further his education in law and develop skills that allow him to focus on estates, wills, trusts, and elder law issues. Steve's beliefs and ideals continue to demonstrate his fair and honest work ethic as well as his leadership in the community of Marion and McDowell County.

Steve has written three local histories dealing with the railroad in western NC, a nature hike book about the Blue Ridge Mountains and a few others.

Position: Senior Attorney

Admitted to Practice Law: North Carolina, 1977; U.S. Supreme Court, 2004

Education:

Wake Forest University of Law, Winston-Salem, NC
1977 Graduate with a J.D. degree. Recipient of Trial Advocacy Award

Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
1973 cum laude Graduate with a B.A. Degree — Major in History

Areas of Legal Practice:

Lady Bird Deeds
Estate Planning/Elder Law
Wills and Trusts/Special Needs Trusts
Estate Administration

Professional Affiliations:

Member, North Carolina State Bar
Member, North Carolina State Bar Association
Member and former President of McDowell County Bar Association
Member, National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
Member, North Carolina Chapter of Elder Law Attorneys

Professional Activities:

He is a frequent speaker at seminars on estate planning and lady bird deeds, especially for the North Carolina Baptist Foundation.

Author/Speaker for National Business Institute (NBI) at continuing legal education seminars for North Carolina attorneys and CPA's, including:

2003: Civil Litigation
2004: Special Needs Trusts, Estate Planning in North Carolina
2005: Probating Estates: Estate, Financial and Health Care
2006: Probate Beyond the Basics
2007: Fundamental Probate Procedure and Practice
2008: Drafting Effective Wills and Trusts; Advanced Principles of Will Drafting
Elected and Re Elected Mayor of Marion, NC, from December 2009 to the Present
First Baptist Church of Marion, NC: Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and Handbell Choir Member
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina: State Moderator, March 2010 - March 2011
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (National): Member of Governing Board, 2015 - 2017
North Carolina Baptist Hospital of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC: Trustee, 2001 - 2006, 2008 - 2011
Wingate University in Wingate, NC: Trustee, 1988 - 1992, elected by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina

Various Other Continuing Memberships:

Marion - McDowell County Chamber of Commerce
Marion Downtown Business Association
Camp Ridgecrest for Boys Alumni Association (Taught Survival Camping at Camp Ridgecrest in the Late 1960s and Early 1970s)

North Carolina and Community Involvement:

Many Local Community Organizations

ATTORNEY:

W. Lee Lattimore

A partner and seasoned attorney at Little, Lattimore, & Ledford, P.A., Mr. Lattimore has been practicing law in Marion since 2006. Lee was admitted to the North Carolina Bar and the McDowell County Bar in September of 2006. He provides valuable legal evaluation in the area of real estate. The primary focus of Lee's practice is in real estate law and transactions, generally consisting of closings of residential and commercial real estate purchase and sale transactions, title examinations, and associated document preparation.

Education:

1. BBA degree (Magna Cum Laude) in 2003 from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC.
2. MBA degree in 2003 (with Distinction) from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC.
3. JD degree in 2006 from Campbell University School of Law in Buies Creek, NC.

Lee was an articles editor for the Campbell Law Review while a law student, and a student research assistant for the editor of the fifth edition of Webster's Real Estate Law in North Carolina, which is the real estate bible for North Carolina attorneys. He also worked on the fourth edition of Wiggins Wills and Administration of Estates in North Carolina. His academic success accumulated into an M.B.A. degree with distinction, and an undergraduate B.B.A. degree magna cum laude from Campbell University.

Personal:

Lee was raised in Cleveland County, and his family resides in Lattimore, North Carolina. Lee is an active member of the Marion Rotary Club and is the attorney for the McDowell County Board of Realtors.

Attorney:

Matthew L. Ledford

A first-generation lawyer and a Marion native, Matthew L. Ledford is the newest addition to Little, Lattimore, & Ledford, P.A.. His primary areas of practice include estate planning and administration and elder law.

Upon his graduation from high school, Matthew attended NC State University. It was there that he served as an undergraduate teaching assistant, studied abroad in Vienna, Austria, and was a nominee for the Poole College of Management’s Most Outstanding Student Award.

While in law school in Chapel Hill, he tried over 40 cases in the state’s district and superior courts, served as a senior staff editor for the North Carolina International Law Journal, and participated in the school’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Clinic.

Matthew was raised in McDowell County and was a 2011 graduate of McDowell High School. Nearly all his immediate and extended family still resides in McDowell County.

Education:

B.S. Business Administration (magna cum laude), NC State University, Raleigh, NC (2015)
B.A. International Studies (magna cum laude), NC State University, Raleigh, NC (2015)
Minor, German
J.D., University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Law, Chapel Hill, NC (2019)

legal support staff:

Alicia A. Lattimore

Alicia A. Lattimore has been a paralegal at Little, Lattimore, & Ledford, P.A., since June, 2010. She works directly with attorneys Stephen R. Little, W. Lee Lattimore and Matthew L. Ledford. Her areas of focus in the firm include Estates, Guardianships, and Trust Administration.

Alicia is a graduate of McDowell High School. She studied Surgical Technology before deciding to take her career path into the legal field. She holds a degree in Applied Science in Paralegal Technology and is a member of the National Notary Association.

Alicia is very proud to be the mother of one son, Kavan. They live in Marion with their large puppy, Max. She enjoys sports, music, and being outdoors, as well as spending time with her family.

LEGAL SUPPORT STAFF:

Shelley Roach

Shelley is the Legal Secretary for Little, Lattimore, & Ledford, P.A.. She joined the firm in April 2011 and works closely with attorneys Stephen R. Little; W. Lee Lattimore and Matthew L. Ledford to ensure that each client's experience is completed with the respect and confidentiality that is required and deserved. She is a member of the National Notary Association.

Shelley comes to our firm with over 30 years of experience serving in multiple capacities in customer service, accounting, banking, technology, and project management.

Shelley is married to Reverend Terry Roach, who serves as Pastor of Clinchfield Baptist Church in Marion. Their family consists of their son, Tyler Roach and wife, Emily Krick Roach of Mooresville, NC, and Brittany Roach Clement and husband, Robert Tyson Clement of Rutherford County, North Carolina. They are blessed with two grandchildren, James William Clement and Kennedy Kay Clement.

LEGAL SUPPORT STAFF:

Brandon Goforth

Brandon has worked with our firm since July 2016. He works closely with Attorney W. Lee Lattimore as one of his Legal Assistants. His area of focus involves Real Estate transactions to ensure all closings go as smoothly as possible. He also helps with tech-related issues to ensure systems are constantly updated to protect information and client confidentiality.

Brandon is a member of the National Notary Association and a graduate of McDowell High School. He joined our firm as a summer intern in June 2016 and is a valuable asset to our Real Estate Team.

Legal Support Staff:

Wendy Barnes

Wendy works directly with attorney W. Lee Lattimore as one of his Legal Assistants. Her primary area of focus in the firm centers on real estate closings and transactions. She also handles the Real Estate Scheduling for closings.

Wendy has over 4 years’ experience in residential real estate sales, as a Licensed NC Real Estate agent. Having lived in McDowell County for 17 years, Wendy loves serving the buyers and sellers in our community.

Wendy raised two amazing sons who are proud to serve our country as a Marine and National Guard MP. Prior to joining the firm Wendy ran a successful gourmet specialty food distribution company in NC for over 10 years. Wendy is originally from Hendersonville, and Madison County and loves the beautiful mountains of WNC.

Education:

M.B.A – Western Carolina University (2006)
B.A Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude), Gardner Webb University (2005)
A.A.S. – McDowell Technical Community College (2003)

Legal Support Staff:

alex towe

Alex joined our firm in October of 2020 as a legal assistant for Attorney’s Stephen R. Little, W. Lee Lattimore and Matthew L. Ledford. He assists each attorney in the areas of Estate Planning, Real Estate and Elder Law.

He is a graduate of Western Piedmont Community College and is expected to graduate from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science in the spring of 2022.

Alex was raised in Marion, NC and during his spare time he enjoys various activities such as hiking, kayaking, developing software, playing video games and spending time with his family and friends.

Legal Support Staff:

Mason Ledford

Mason was born and raised in Marion and joined our firm in December of 2020. He is expected to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Minor in Emergency and Disaster Management from Western Carolina University, located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Mason works as a legal assistant for Attorney Matthew L. Ledford and Attorney Stephen R. Little to help ensure that work is done in a timely manner.

In his free time, he likes to play sports, play guitar, and spend time with his friends and family.