ABOUT US
With over 100+ years of combined experience, Strategic Estate Planning of the High Country, LLC (SEPHC) was formed to do just what the name says. To assist individuals in making decisions about their estates through Last Will and Testaments, Testamentary Trusts, Living Wills, Health Care Power of Attorneys, Financial Power of Attorneys. In making decisions that strategically assist the individual or couple to PROTECT THEIR ASSETS as best they can for their children and families to enjoy what they have worked so hard to obtain. In addition, SEPHC will assist in partition sales and adoptions.
Should Medicaid be necessary to provide long-term care it is possible that Medicaid will seek to recover the monies expended on your behalf. There are ways to assist you in protecting your real estate from being part of the recovery. Ben can assist in guiding you to do what is best for your individual situation.
When an individual is declared incompetent by the Honorable Clerk of Superior Court a guardian must be appointed to assist that individual in their personal needs and estate (financial) needs. A bond is required and most times, the Clerk appoints an attorney as the Guardian of the Estate when there are no family members available or able to be bonded. Ben has been Guardian of the Estate for many individuals over the years. Tough decisions must be made to assure the individual can be well-taken care of. Ben has been Guardian of the Estate since beginning practice in 1989 (35 years) and takes seriously the decisions that need to be made to assure the Respondent (incompetent person) is provided for based on their individual needs.
Benjamin G. Hurley, Jr.
ben@sephc.co
Benjamin Gale Hurley, Jr. known as “Ben” is a lifelong resident of Ashe County, North Carolina. Having grown up in Jefferson, he is a graduate of Ashe Central High School (1982), UNC-Chapel Hill (1986), and Campbell University School of Law (1989). He has practiced law since 1989 in Ashe County with the firm of Kilby and Hurley. Having decided to slow down his practice and focus on estate planning and guardianship law, it seemed the right thing to do when he left the firm of Kilby and Hurley to begin Strategic Estate Planning of the High Country, LLC.
Pam w. barlow
pam@sephc.co
Beginning in January 2025 Pamela West Barlow will join Strategic Estate Planning of the High Country, LLC. Pam is a lifetime Ashe Countian; graduate of Ashe Central High School (1986), Wilkes Community College (1987) and has been with the Ashe County Clerk of Court’s office since 1996 where she has served as the Elected Clerk of Superior Court since December of 2006. During her tenure as Elected Clerk, Pam has completed numerous courses through the Judicial College of UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Government. These courses have focused on Estate and Guardianship matters. Pam plans to retire from public service December 1, 2024, and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the areas of estates, guardianship, and elder law.
SERVICES
CONTACT
Grier hurley
grier@sephc.co
Grier Hurley is a native of Wilmington, NC. She is a graduate of UNC-Wilmington (1984) and Campbell University School of Law (1988). Ben and Grier met while in law school and married in 1988. Grier practiced law until she retired as attorney for the Ashe County Department of Social Services in 2021. No longer practicing law, having chosen to be “inactive,” Grier is part of the “support team” of Strategic Estate Planning of the High Country.
