Adam Beaudoin Named Co-Chairman of 2027 CAI Law Seminar Planning Committee
March 12, 2026
Ward and Smith is proud to announce that attorney Adam Beaudoin has been asked to serve as Co-Chairman of the planning committee for the…
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Adam Beaudoin and Hunter Cornelius to Speak at 2026 Community Association Law Day Symposium
March 5, 2026
Attorneys Adam Beaudoin and Hunter Cornelius are among the featured speakers at the 2026 Community Association Law Day Symposium, hosted by the North Carolina…
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Madeline Williams Named Vice Chair of CAI–NC Legislative Action Committee
January 28, 2026
Ward and Smith is pleased to announce that Madeline Williams has been named Vice Chair of the Legislative Action Committee for the Community Associations…
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Adam Beaudoin Selected to Present at the 2026 Community Association Law Seminar
December 23, 2025
Ward and Smith is pleased to announce that Community Association attorneyAdam Beaudoin has been selected to speak at the 2026 Community Association Law Seminar,…
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Community Associations Legislative Update: 2023 – 2024 Legislative Session
December 19, 2024
The North Carolina General Assembly finally concluded an extremely busy 2023-2024 legislative session on December 13, 2024. Several bills introduced during this session had…
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Amending Your Planned Community’s Declaration
September 17, 2024
The most common question community associations in planned communities (i.e., single, family homes) pose is, “How can we amend our declaration?” Of course, this…
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67 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in America for 2025
August 15, 2024
Ward and Smith is pleased to announce that 67 attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers®. Fifty-four attorneys were chosen for inclusion in…
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Attorney Adam Beaudoin Elected CAI-NC Board of Directors President
March 13, 2024
Attorney Adam Beaudoin has been elected President of the Community Associations Institute of North Carolina (CAI-NC) Board of Directors. He seamlessly transitioned into this…
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Madeline Lipe Williams and Amy Wooten to Speak at CAI-NC’s Community Association Law Day 2024
March 6, 2024
Mark your calendars! On March 15, join distinguished attorneys from Ward and Smith, Madeline Lipe Williams and Amy Wooten, as they grace the virtual…
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Budget Ratification: Understanding the Ghost of Budgets PAST When Preparing for the Future
November 29, 2023
It’s that time of year again. The holidays are upon us, and the end of the year is drawing near. As we reflect on…
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Ward and Smith Welcomes Five New Attorneys
October 5, 2023
Ward and Smith is delighted to welcome a dynamic cohort of five attorneys. Representing a breadth of capabilities spread throughout multiple offices, these professionals…
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Mo Money, Mo Problems? No Biggie for a Homeowner’s Association, Right?
October 4, 2023
Was your community association lucky enough to come in under budget last year? On the surface, this might appear to be a bonus, but…
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Disasters Take Many Forms – Preparing your Community Association for the Unexpected
September 20, 2023
Disasters, natural or otherwise, are usually unexpected and leave little time for advance action. Hurricanes, named storms, floods, fire, and even crime, are types…
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One of These Things Is Not Like the Other: Proxies at Meetings, Written Ballots, and Electronic Voting
August 30, 2023
All community associations, at least annually, are faced with action items requiring a vote of their membership. For example, community association membership participation is…
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52 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for 2024
August 17, 2023
Ward and Smith proudly celebrates an incredible achievement—over half of our esteemed attorneys have gained recognition from one of the nation’s most respected legal…
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Eric Remington and Amy Wang to Speak at Community Association Law Day 2023
March 9, 2023
Attorneys Eric Remington and Amy Wang will be sharing their insights and knowledge at the upcoming Community Associations Law Day 2023. This highly anticipated…
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Adam Beaudoin Elected CAI-NC Board of Directors President-Elect
March 7, 2023
Attorney Adam Beaudoin has been chosen to serve as President-Elect of the Board of Directors for the Community Associations Institute of North Carolina (CAI-NC).…
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Pushing the Boundaries: Ward and Smith’s Most Popular Articles of 2022
December 30, 2022
2022 was an amazing year of enriching content from the Ward and Smith team! Our attorney-authored articles on trending topics were read far and…
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Madeline Lipe Williams Appointed to the CAI-NC Legislative Action Committee
November 29, 2022
The North Carolina Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI-NC) Board of Directors has appointed attorney Madeline Lipe Williams to its Legislative Action Committee (LAC). …
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Installation and Use of Solar Power Systems in North Carolina
July 6, 2022
Approximately twenty-five percent of North Carolinians live in a planned community where the restrictive covenants are administered by a homeowners association (“HOA”). If you…
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On Demand: Community Association Webinars
June 21, 2022
North Carolinians love their neighborhoods. And it’s no surprise why – with nearly 30% living in a community association, they share many goals to…
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Ward and Smith Welcomes New Tax and Business Attorney
June 1, 2022
Ward and Smith is pleased to announce tax and business attorney Matthew Jones has joined the firm. Matthew’s practice is limited to corporate and…
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Adam Beaudoin to Speak at the CAI 2022 Annual Conference & Exposition
April 21, 2022
Attorney Adam Beaudoin will be a featured speaker at the Community Associations Institute’s (CAI) 2022 Annual Conference & Exposition. He will be joined by…
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Introducing Ward and Smith’s Triangle Community Associations Team
March 22, 2021
There is no substitute for experience when it comes to community association law. Ward and Smith has maintained a full service, state-wide Community Associations…
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It’s No Big Deal, Until It Is: Why Vendor Contracts Matter for Community Associations
February 26, 2021
A key role of most community associations is to engage contractors, service providers, and vendors (all together, “vendors”) to assist the community with its…
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Serving on Your Community Association’s ARC, ACC, or ARB? Take Note to Whom Your Fiduciary Duties Are Owed
February 17, 2021
Residents of planned communities often must obtain approval prior to making any modifications to their homes and lots. Through their declaration of covenants, conditions,…
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Call of [Fiduciary] Duty: How Good Faith, Due Care, and Loyalty Guide Community Associations’ Boards
August 7, 2020
Nearly 30 percent of North Carolina’s population lives in a community association of some sort, be that a condominium or single-family community. Yet, confusion among…
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Media Mention: Eric Remington Discusses Eviction Moratoriums with NC Lawyers Weekly
August 4, 2020
A wave of evictions is expected in North Carolina now that the statewide moratorium is expired. North Carolina Lawyers Weekly recently interviewed several attorneys, including…
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Your HOA Got Served: Now What?
July 29, 2020
The unfortunate reality for many community associations and their boards of directors is that at some point in their existence they will be sued. …
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Commercial Owners Associations/Residential Owners Associations The Same — But Different
July 22, 2020
What are commercial owners associations, and are they really that different from residential owners associations? Commercial owners associations are nonprofit corporations that govern planned…
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Don’t Dive Right In! Strategies for Opening Community Pools in the Wake of COVID-19
May 19, 2020
Ed. Note: On May 21, The NC Department of Health and Human Services issued Interim Guidance for Public Pools and Spas. See our coverage of this most recent…
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Economic and Financial Uncertainty: How a Homeowners Association Can Protect Itself
April 30, 2020
In a short period of time, COVID-19 has changed the way we live and conduct business. Sadly, the pandemic seems as though it will…
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Desperate Times Call for…Taco Tuesday? Navigating the Use of Food Trucks in HOA Communities During COVID-19
April 15, 2020
We have now just crossed the halfway point of Governor Cooper’s “Stay at Home” Order, which, unless additional action is taken, is set to…
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Impact of COVID-19 on Force Majeure and Rent Abatement in Commercial Leases
March 27, 2020
Many businesses have suffered greatly in the wake of the measures taken to slow the spread of COVID-19. One immediate impact is the flood…
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HOA Boards and the Coronavirus
March 16, 2020
We are seeing the emails already. “We have a Board Meeting and need to award the contract for the pool, but we shouldn’t be…
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The Member’s Role in a Community Association
September 4, 2019
Congratulations! You just purchased your first home in a planned community and became a member of a community association. For a detailed understanding of…
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The Accidental Construction Owner: A Checklist of Considerations for HOAs Engaging in Construction
July 26, 2019
Homeowners associations (“HOAs”) do not typically act as construction owners. HOAs are set up as entities to maintain and manage planned unit communities. The…
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Don’t Jump Without a Parachute! Understanding Community Association Insurance Needs
July 12, 2019
In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, many Community Associations located in the Eastern part of the state had a rude awakening when they discovered…
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Avoiding Commercial Lease Disputes – Clearly Reflecting the Intent of the Parties is Key!
April 12, 2019
A commercial lease symbolizes a consensual relationship between parties that can be enduring and rewarding, or short-sighted and emotionally and financially taxing. Entering into…
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Who Gets What When a Real Property Lease Terminates?
February 22, 2019
Who gets what when a lease of real property is over? This is a question that can be problematic for both landlords and tenants. …
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A Perfect Union: Creating Landlord-Tenant Agreements for Commercial Leases
November 21, 2018
Similar to a marriage, in which two parties come together to enter into a legally binding agreement, a commercial lease symbolizes a forged relationship…
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What NC Community Associations Need to Know about Fair Debt Collection
May 30, 2017
Nearly all Community Associations (“Associations”) must cope with owners who fail or refuse to pay their periodic assessments (also known as “Dues”). When this…
