Rick E. Graves JD, Master of Taxation, CFP, Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law Major Practice Areas: Estate planning, trusts, asset protection, taxation, generation skipping transactions, and taxation of, and planning with, IRAs and Qualified Plans. Admitted: US Tax Court Federal Court: Eastern District of NC Licenses and Certifications: North Carolina State Bar (1997) Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law (2003) Education Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), magna cum laude , Clearwater Christian College Master of Tax, summa cum laude , University of Akron, Ohio Juris Doctorate (JD), University of Akron, Ohio Member: North Carolina Bar Association (2009-2010 Chair of the Tax Section) New Hanover Bar Association New Hanover County Estate Planning Council (past Chair) Recognitions: Martindale Hubble BV Rated Rick Graves has established himself as attorney with a solid reputation for experience and effectiveness. Mr. Graves has always emphasized a mastery of the fields of the law in which he practices. He has demonstrated this aspiration through his board certification as a Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law and through the organizations with which he has worked and the positions he has held within these organizations. Mr. Graves is the 2009-2010 Chairman of the North Carolina Bar Association's Tax Section, serves on the Legislative Committee of the Estate Planning Section, and is a contributing author to both the Estate Planning and Tax Section Newsletters. He is active in the New Hanover County Estate Planning Council and is a past chair. Mr. Graves is a frequent speaker in his field. He teaches the Estate Planning module of the Certified Financial Planner education program at the UNCW School of Business. His recent presentations have included a speech at that 8TH Annual NC/SC Tax Section Workshops (May 2009) on the new rules and penalties for tax return preparers and also a presentation to the UNCW Entrepreneurship Center on Tax Tips and Traps for Entrepreneurs (June 2009). More importantly, Mr. Graves serves his clients in the Wilmington area with a combination of technical expertise and practical advice that has resulted in steady growth in the number of clients that he serves. Mr. Graves is proud to be the primary attorney and counselor for many residents of the Wilmington area as well as throughout the state of North Carolina. Mr. Graves has demonstrated a life of commitment and excellence beyond the law. Mr. Graves served for 21 years in the United States Army National Guard. In his years in the United States Army, Mr. Graves completed extensive training and served as an Army Green Beret and then as a JAG officer when he graduated from law school. Mr. Graves works with several charitable organizations and is active in his local church (Grace Baptist Church). Mr. Graves has lived with his beautiful wife and three boys in Wilmington since 2001. He is happy to call Wilmington his family's home. When he is not working, Mr. Graves enjoys spending time with his family, working out at CrossFit Wilmington, doing projects around the house, and being active in politics.