News + Insights

Firm News

Veteran Legal Marketer Joins Ward and Smith, P.A.

June 3, 2016

Laura Hudson recently joined Ward and Smith as the Director of Marketing and Business Development. She brings 18 years of legal marketing experience to…

article

Can a Judge Force You to Pay Your Child’s Private School Tuition?

June 2, 2016

In some circumstances, the answer is “yes.” In North Carolina, a court considering a parent’s child support obligation initially consults the North Carolina Child…

article

Municipalities, Farmers, and Manufacturers Targeted by EPA’s New Enforcement Initiatives

June 2, 2016

Written By Amy P. Wang

Municipalities and those involved in animal feeding and food manufacturing operations take heed: heightened EPA scrutiny is coming your way! Every three years, the…

article

How Non-Probate Assets Can Affect Your Estate Plan: A Few Cautionary Tales

June 1, 2016

Written By Virginia S. Carter and Peter B. von Stein

When you think about the control of your possessions and assets after your death, you probably think of a Will and probate. A Will…

article

Reasonable Compensation Issues Remain On the IRS Radar

May 27, 2016

Many professional service corporations (“PSC”) such as law firms, accounting firms, and medical practices are organized and taxed as C-corporations. The earnings of a…

article

Losing Control: The USDOL’s Latest Independent Contractor Test

May 24, 2016

The use and misuse of independent contractor status has been one of the most talked about issues facing businesses over the past decade. Major…

article

North Carolina General Assembly Makes Public-Private Development Agreements More Available And Attractive

May 24, 2016

Written By Clifford P. Parson

Background Before 2005, North Carolina’s laws on vested rights offered developers some protection, but not enough, for the large, multi-phased, multi-year, mixed use developments…