September 25th, 2024 by admin
This is the concluding column in a series to help people know the right thing to do if they are involved in a wreck that is not their fault. If you sustain personal injuries, when should you settle your claim? Unless your wreck is work-related, you...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
September 25th, 2024 by admin
The Social Security system is an insurance system created not only to help people after retirement, but also to help them throughout life. The benefits take the place of wages. But there are benefits when workers are disabled as well as when one retires....
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
September 25th, 2024 by admin
I recently received a shout out from a statewide legal publication, NC Lawyers Weekly, along with fifteen other lawyers across the state. This was the first-ever effort by NC Lawyers Weekly to establish this recognition of lawyers for various leadership...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
July 19th, 2024 by admin
This column is the third in a series aimed at helping citizens who have been in a motor-vehicle wreck resolve their claim fairly, sometimes without the need to hire an attorney. But when should you consider hiring an attorney? Attorneys represent clients...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
May 5th, 2024 by admin
Of all the columns I have written over the last twenty years on common legal issues, the columns I wrote a few years ago concerning property damage and personal injury claims, especially those in motor vehicle wrecks, are by far the most asked about by...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
April 7th, 2024 by admin
More than half of adults do not have estate planning documents in place. After being asked to conduct over 250 presentations to companies large and small, colleges, bodies of faith and everything in between, one of the main reasons is that individuals...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
February 9th, 2024 by admin
A little-known fact is that more than half of adults in America do not have estate planning documents in place. Another little-known fact is that Americans spend more money on attorneys to find their way out of the challenges this creates than anyone...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
January 8th, 2024 by admin
One of the challenges some working families face is what to do with their growing pile of bills. And how to change their family's habits to avoid their financial challenges getting worse. Studies show that over 60% of our families lack enough savings...
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October 20th, 2023 by admin
Question: My sister and I are co-executors for our mother’s estate. We are ready to close and have written checks to each heir, with a form from the clerk’s office to be signed stating that the check has been received. All have accepted, except one brother....
Posted in: Ask SAM
October 20th, 2023 by admin
Question: I have a friend that was told, more than about 18 months ago, by a lawyer in Yadkin County that they were to inherit money from a relative. This has been way too long and they have still not heard when the money will be disbursed. The deceased...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 26th, 2023 by admin
Question: Our church building is being sold and since we are a non-profit organization can we give the money from the sale of the building to our pastor as a retirement gift? — D.M.Answer: You can certainly give the pastor the proceeds of the sale, but...
Posted in: Ask SAM
June 21st, 2023 by admin
Like most lawyers, I get questions from clients about what certain legal words mean “in English.” These words are frequently found in documents related to real estate, corporate/partnership as well as wills, trusts and estate planning. They confuse many...
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June 21st, 2023 by admin
Question: Are wills and other estate forms available online valid and enforceable if they're properly completed? — R.H. Answer: Sometimes buying things off the internet might not be the bargain you're hoping to get. Mike Wells, a local attorney, said...
Posted in: Ask SAM
June 21st, 2023 by admin
My recent column about estate planning documents generated several questions and comments about revocable trusts (sometimes called “living” trusts). Here is a quick summary of how these trusts work. Since the federal estate tax exemption is so high now...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
October 10th, 2022 by admin
JANET AND I recently enjoyed a small gathering among friends in Winston Salem. By chance, three of the invited husbands are from West Virginia, including me.We talked about our growing up days, among other things, and the comments our parents would say...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
August 9th, 2022 by admin
Question: My father has been married to my stepmother for about 40 years. She recently told my sister and me that when Dad dies she’s going to drop all the funeral expenses on us. Can she do that? — D.F. Answer: Not really. Mike Wells, a local attorney,...
Posted in: Ask SAM
August 6th, 2022 by admin
I have been privileged to write a monthly legal column for the Winston-Salem Journal for nearly 20 years. After writing 200-plus columns, and conducting a like number of legal talks for companies, non-profits, educational institutions, service organizations...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
July 3rd, 2022 by admin
This is the concluding column in a series to help people know the right thing to do if they are involved in a wreck that’s not their fault.If you sustain personal injuries, when should you settle your claim?Unless your wreck is work-related, you generally...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
June 8th, 2022 by admin
THE CONVERSATION with this young attorney was taxing to say the least.He was well-educated, with a lot going for him. He had a master’s degree in tax law and a solid academic record. He was a good-looking kid with an engaging presence. At least when he...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
June 8th, 2022 by admin
This column is the third in a series aimed at helping citizens who have been in a motor vehicle wreck resolve their claim fairly, sometimes without the need to hire an attorney.But when should you consider hiring an attorney?Attorneys represent clients...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
May 1st, 2022 by admin
This column will address how you ensure you are properly reimbursed for your property damages if you are in a wreck that’s not your fault. This is the second column in a series to assist readers in dealing with their personal injury and property damage...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
April 10th, 2022 by admin
Most everyone who drives is going to be in a wreck at some time. In the next columns core issues will be discussed to try to give readers guidance on what they should do to be fairly treated for their valid claims for property damage and personal injuries.Here...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
March 1st, 2022 by admin
Most every parent of high school seniors knows and covets the phrase “Early Decision.” If one of your children thoughtfully narrows their college search, applies for that college’s early admission program and is accepted, the exhilarating and sometimes...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
February 28th, 2022 by admin
Do you have a legal question you would like answered without charge? This Friday (March 4), you can do just that during the 15th 4ALL event, a public service program of the NC Bar Foundation. N.C. citizens can talk to an N.C.-licensed lawyer for free...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
January 31st, 2022 by admin
The law touches most every controversy or significant disagreement, but that does not mean one has to hire a lawyer to resolve many of them. Most of the relatively minor issues people face can be resolved without venturing into a court of law, but by...
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January 13th, 2022 by admin
One of the most surprising truths concerning the trial of a lawsuit is about eyewitness testimony. It is often one of the most unreliable forms of evidence there is.But how can a witness who is there to see the event in question be unreliable?Most of...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
January 12th, 2022 by admin
Some of my fraternity brothers and I were studying that night for mid-terms in Alderman Library at UVA when we got the news.Ken Craft came in to tell us that the train delivering the casket of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander in WWII and...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
January 3rd, 2022 by admin
One of the challenges some working families face is what to do with their growing pile of bills. And how to change their family’s habits to avoid their financial challenges getting worse. The best legal problems are the ones which never happen. Here are...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
December 22nd, 2021 by admin
As some of you know, I have been privileged to write a monthly column on North Carolina law for the Winston-Salem Journal for many years. Its purpose in part is to simplify and explain key laws and legal concepts that affect people’s lives, and from time...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
December 13th, 2021 by admin
JANET AND I RECENTLY enjoyed a small gathering among friends in Winston--Salem. By chance, three of the invited husbands are from West Virginia, including me. We talked about our growing up days, among other things, and the comments our parents would...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
December 6th, 2021 by admin
One of the encouraging trends in our society today is that more people are considering charitable gifts during their lifetimes or at their deaths.Interestingly, however, while 70% of Americans give to charities during their lifetime, fewer than 6% give...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
December 5th, 2021 by admin
AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, I have been privileged to write a monthly column on North Carolina law for the Winston-Salem Journal for many years. Its purpose in part is to simplify and explain key laws and legal concepts that affect people’s lives, and from time...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
December 2nd, 2021 by admin
This column is the third in a series aimed at helping citizens who have been in a motor-vehicle wreck resolve their claim fairly, sometimes without the need to hire an attorney. But when should you consider hiring an attorney? Attorneys...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
December 1st, 2021 by admin
Question: I wanted to see if you could guide me in the right direction to get my personal last will and testament redone. My current one is 20 years old and it definitely needs to be updated. Due to my limited income, where could I get one redone that...
Posted in: Ask SAM
November 23rd, 2021 by admin
Most every television market in the South provides a steady stream of the old black and white Andy Griffith shows. Part of this is regional pride and the sheer entertainment of them, but deep at the heart of them is a series of enduring value stories...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
November 8th, 2021 by admin
When citizens do not have the physical and mental ability to engage in gainful employment, despite their strong will to do so, how will they support themselves?The Social Security system is an insurance system created not only to help people after retirement,...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
October 22nd, 2021 by admin
Prequel to On the Way to the CourthouseMy Courthouse pieces are sent to a wide circle of friends and other readers. One of those readers asked me to submit a piece for a podcast series with which he is associated, Luck and Opportunity. I am pleased a...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
October 6th, 2021 by admin
One of the smartest people in the world in our lifetime was Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Apple. He was a brilliant and driven leader who had the innate ability to see around life’s corner and see matters before others saw them, and who seemingly...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
September 5th, 2021 by admin
The next two columns will address basic employment laws in North Carolina.Unless one has a written contract, North Carolina generally follows the doctrine of “employment at will.” Even if the employer has an employee handbook or a progressive discipline...
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August 25th, 2021 by admin
When I was in high school the city where I grew up had been given a real deal on a nine-hole golf course that was owned and operated by a country club in the heart of the city. The course was in a very nice and established neighborhood. The club was...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
August 6th, 2021 by admin
In the late winter of 2020, we began to feel the full brunt of COVID-19. But through the vision of President Trump, and others, Project Warp Speed brought us the life-saving vaccines months ahead of any projected time estimate. The collective effort of...
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August 1st, 2021 by admin
This is the third of a three-column series to discuss commonsense ways to plan your estate and to avoid many unforced, and sometimes very expensive, errors. Do you know where your original documents are? Many people do not realize that just a copy of...
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July 7th, 2021 by admin
Question: I enjoyed your column about the Electoral College, but I have a follow-up question. According to state election law, the slate of Republican electors had to be submitted to the Secretary of State’s office. I have been trying to find the list,...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 7th, 2021 by admin
Question: I recently tried to buy a car and during the closing paperwork was given an “Agreement to Arbitrate Disputes” that I found too restrictive and would not agree to sign. I was told this was required with all auto sales and they would not sell...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 7th, 2021 by admin
Question: I contracted with a local small business owner to handle two projects for me. The first was completed in a satisfactory manner. With the second, I paid a deposit with the balance due upon completing. I am quickly approaching the time I need...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 6th, 2021 by admin
Question: Isn’t there a law against being harassed on the phone for overdue bills?Answer: Local attorney Mike Wells said there is a reason a business may have such a policy — North Carolina’s lien law.“If a contractor provides labor and materials which...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 6th, 2021 by admin
Question: Due to stricter banking regulations, I had a problem depositing my tax-refund checks into my savings account at my credit union this year. On my birth certificate, I have one name. For example, if it were “Sally Jane Olsen,” but I went by my...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 6th, 2021 by admin
Question: Now that the widening of Union Cross Road is complete, who is responsible for mowing the medians and grass by the sidewalks? It actually could look quite nice if this were maintained. ~ D.B.Answer: “Unfortunately, the power company’s easement...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 6th, 2021 by admin
Question: Two years ago, my husband and I purchased a resort condominium package. We would like to sell our package. We have retired earlier than expected and do not want the burden any longer. ~ J.R.Answer: “If you Google ‘selling a timeshare,’ the names...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 6th, 2021 by admin
If you pay an attorney who dismisses you as a client when the time comes to go to court, and then you find out he was not the type of attorney you needed in the first place, can you dismiss him? ~ O.B.Answer: We forwarded your question to local lawyer...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 2nd, 2021 by admin
Q: If a family member dies but has no will and the family members left are siblings only, are the siblings required by law to go through the clerk of court to settle the estate? What happens if an attorney has advised that, in his opinion, there is no...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 2nd, 2021 by admin
Q: If a property is foreclosed on by the bank and this causes the dwelling doors to be padlocked before personal property is removed, what happens to the personal property left inside?P.T.Answer: Again, SAM turned to Mike Wells.“This would be up to the...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 2nd, 2021 by admin
We find ourselves on the better end of COVID-19 these days, but with a pesky variant nipping at our heels.While so many contributed to our successful virus efforts, the heroes in this time of challenge are the health care workers who walked the halls...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
June 24th, 2021 by admin
Winston-Salem, N.C., June 24, 2021 – R. Michael “Mike” Wells Sr. was recently inducted the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society for 2020 by the Supreme Court of North Carolina.Wells concentrates his legal practice in the areas of estate planning, estate...
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June 4th, 2021 by admin
You and the Law: Send Mike Wells a QuestionMondays at 6 p.m. on WTOBAttorney Mike Wells of Wells Law practices in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, elder law planning, complex civil litigation, workers’ compensation, personal injury...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
June 1st, 2021 by admin
Here are some best practices for handling an estate administration/asset distribution, with proper direction in wills and trusts, which will save money and maybe some hurt feelings in your family.The parents’ homeplaceParents often want to leave their...
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May 21st, 2021 by admin
One of the most valuable lessons I learned about being a lawyer I learned before I started law school.I worked as a runner for a law firm in college. One of the lawyers was particularly bright, and he was well regarded for his intellect. He had graduated...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
May 4th, 2021 by admin
Will Rogers (among others) is credited with saying it’s not the things we know that are the problem. It’s what we think we know “that just ain’t so.”Daniel Kahneman, a brilliant analyst and psychology professor at Princeton, later won a Nobel Prize for...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
April 6th, 2021 by admin
Retirement planning for years has included tax-deferred plans that allow a person to put money into a plan and avoid paying the income-tax rate to which the money would otherwise be subject in the year earned (35%, for example). Your personal plan contribution...
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April 6th, 2021 by admin
The best legal problems, we often underscore in this column, are the ones which never occur. When we plan, the law can help us avoid many pitfalls.There is another insight which is like unto it: Legal remedies cannot solve what are at the heart personal...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
March 1st, 2021 by admin
Do you have a legal question you would like answered without charge? This Friday, March 5, you can do just that during the 14th 4ALL event, a public service program of the N.C. Bar Foundation. N.C. citizens can talk to a N.C.-licensed lawyer for...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
January 3rd, 2021 by admin
Years ago, I was asked to host a pro bono radio show on the law on Sunday afternoons. Although 3 p.m. was not an ideal time, I agreed to do so.But the show caught on, and in time it was moved to a higher listening weekday slot. New advertisers followed.I...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
December 6th, 2020 by admin
In the last column, we addressed the basic estate-planning documents everyone should have: will, financial (durable) power of attorney and health care advance directives. In this column, we will discuss when (and if) you need a revocable trust, which...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
November 1st, 2020 by admin
Perhaps it is a sign of the times, but more people ask these days what happens if they do not have estate-planning documents in place if they get seriously ill or they pass away.If you do not have a will, North Carolina statutes define who gets your property,...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
October 12th, 2020 by admin
As we reflect on the anniversary of the end of World War II, I hope we will pause and consider all the contributions in war and in peace of the greatest generation. They fought for us in that war and through the hardest of times. The abiding story of...
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October 12th, 2020 by admin
The Gambler, a Kenny Rogers song, gives sound advice for playing a card game of chance: Know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em. But it's also sound advice for a more serious game of chance: a jury trial in a civil lawsuit. When you ask...
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October 6th, 2020 by admin
Beyond their opinions in a court of law, the professional stories and character of Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first two women to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, teach us important lessons in the court of life. Their careers...
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September 5th, 2020 by admin
Before your financial challenges become too serious, readers are strongly encouraged to consult Financial Pathways of the Piedmont, a well-regarded and United Way supported nonprofit in Winston-Salem. Contact them at 336-896-1191 or info@financialpaths.org...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
August 3rd, 2020 by admin
When should you consider filing personal bankruptcy? Families facing serious financial challenges are strongly encouraged to seek some objective direction before bankruptcy, the last resort, is necessary. As discussed in the previous column, the best...
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July 27th, 2020 by admin
Here is my answer:An on-line will, if it contains all the necessary provisions the law requires and it is signed as the law requires, CAN be valid. But there are just too many things which can go wrong with homegrown wills in their provisions and execution...
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 1st, 2020 by admin
It started with a phone call.I was asked some years ago to host a weekly pro bono local legal call-in show for a radio station on a Sunday afternoon from 3-4 pm to fulfill the station’s required public service FCC requirement. The questions of the callers...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
June 30th, 2020 by admin
Over the next three columns, we will address some common financial challenges many of us face in these different economic times. This first column will address some valuable community resources you can access before you have more serious financial challenges....
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June 11th, 2020 by admin
Scams perpetrated on our senior citizens total billions of dollars every year, and they likely will total more than that in 2020 because of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Be sure you and your loved ones are aware of several of the newer scams which are out...
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June 3rd, 2020 by admin
All of us would agree we live in decidedly different times than we have experienced before. Never in our lifetimes have so many people been so uncertain about so many things, and literally so afraid.The coronavirus and economic challenges are not the...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
May 1st, 2020 by admin
After handling hundreds of estate administrations over the years, I can assure you the best legal problems are the ones which never happen. The tips in this third and final column on the subject should help you take the best planning steps to avoid common...
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March 26th, 2020 by admin
UPDATED 6.3.2020: Office Procedures During COVID-19As of June 1, 2020, we are meeting with clients at the Wells Law office. We have adopted the following procedures for our lawyers, paralegals and staff who are working in our office. We also will require...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
March 26th, 2020 by admin
Here is the second column to discuss practical how-to tips to ensure a smooth estate administration. Over the years of handling hundreds of estate administrations, the best legal problems, I have found, are the ones which never happen. Use these suggestions...
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March 1st, 2020 by admin
A terrific opportunity for all citizens to get free legal advice is set for this Friday. Don’t pass it up. (Our three-column series on helpful tips regarding estate administration will continue next month.)Do you have a legal question you would like answered...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
January 29th, 2020 by admin
The administration of a loved one’s final estate can often be more difficult, expensive and time-consuming than it needs to be.Over the years, I have handled hundreds of estate administrations, and the best legal problems one may have are the ones which...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
January 28th, 2020 by admin
One of the more surprising truths concerning the trial of a lawsuit is about eyewitness testimony. It is often one of the most unreliable forms of evidence there is.But how can a witness who is there to see the event in question be unreliable?Most of...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
January 28th, 2020 by admin
The Last Valentine’s GiftForty years ago this month, my mother gave to my three siblings and me the last Valentine’s gifts we would ever receive from her. Cancer was diagnosed shortly after Thanksgiving, and our mother was in the last battle of her life,...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
January 28th, 2020 by admin
The first lawyer I ever heard my father speak of was Andy Blair.Mr. Blair was a hard working lawyer who had climbed his way up from his small town roots. My father admired hard work as much as most any other virtue, and he had deep admiration for this...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
January 28th, 2020 by admin
This is the second of two columns devoted to providing practical solutions to help people injured in a motor-vehicle wreck avoid common mistakes in handling their claims.Property-damage claims alone rarely justify the added expense of hiring a lawyer....
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January 28th, 2020 by admin
This 2nd column on the 2018 major-rewrite power of attorney (POA) law will address common but avoidable mistakes individuals may make, and extra elder law planning provisions many individuals now provide in their POAS to protect their assets.New Revocation...
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January 28th, 2020 by admin
In the last column, we discussed the selection of a care facility. What other decisions might you face, and what steps should you take going forward to monitor the level of care of your loved one?Important contract issues.Many facilities require the admitted...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
January 28th, 2020 by admin
In the next two columns, we will identify common mistakes that people with legitimate injuries from motor-vehicle wrecks make in settling their claims. We’ll also provide some practical solutions.Have you documented clearly that the injuries you relate...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
January 28th, 2020 by admin
North Carolina lawyers give back to the community, state and profession by providing many pro-bono or low-cost legal services to our citizens. Here are a few of them which offer free or cost-efficient venues to ask for direction on important legal matters....
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
January 27th, 2020 by admin
WHAT WOULD YOUR MAMA SAY?It was Pete Sparks' idea.Pete Sparks lived down the street from me when I was just a boy. He was a year older than me, so he of course knew a lot of things. One of which was the way to get to the Valley Bell,where one could get...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
January 27th, 2020 by admin
I have been asked literally thousands of questions about the law through several venues over the years. Some of these questions are about legal judgments on the official courthouse book of record.But the answers about courthouse judgments may surprise...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
January 27th, 2020 by admin
THE MOST IMPORTANT OPINION OF JOHN ROBERTSChief Justice John Roberts has written many legal opinions for our nation's most influential court of law. But his most important opinion may be about his insights concerning what really matters in the court of...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
December 10th, 2019 by admin
Over the last several years Mike Wells has written nearly 200 “On the Way to the Courthouse” pieces. Many of them are published in various state and local publications as well, including the North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, the Winston-Salem Journal, the...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
September 16th, 2019 by admin
Friends,Following is a piece about the importance of learning to say No from time to time in our busy lives. I am pleased that it was published by the NC State Bar in the North Carolina State Bar Journal (Fall 2019), which is sent to all the lawyers...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
August 15th, 2019 by admin
"Social Security telephone scam " from Michael Wells's Album by Michael Wells. Released: 2019....
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
August 15th, 2019 by admin
"Social Security won't go bankrupt by 2035" from Michael Wells's Album by Michael Wells. Released: 2019....
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August 15th, 2019 by admin
"Do you need to speak English to get SSD benefits? " from Michael Wells's Album by Michael Wells. Released: 2019....
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July 24th, 2019 by admin
This week, Mike Wells provides a Winston-Salem Journal reader with information about North Carolina's lien law. For the full article, click here....
Posted in: Ask SAM
July 24th, 2019 by admin
North Carolina lawyers give back to the community, state and profession by providing many pro-bono or low-cost legal services to people. Here are a few of them that offer free or cost-efficient venues to ask for direction on important legal matters: Our...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
July 10th, 2019 by admin
Third in a series covering the most important subjects on which I’ve given citizens direction over the 15 years I have been privileged to write this column.Motor Vehicle MishapsWhen do you have to contact the authorities?N.C. law generally requires you...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
July 10th, 2019 by admin
This column is the second in a series of the most important legal issues most of us encounter.Traffic Tickets. Getting a traffic ticket generally is not high on the legal-impact scale in your life, but the precipitating conduct often reaches far beyond...
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July 10th, 2019 by admin
Over the 15-plus years that I have been privileged to write this legal column, and the 25 years I hosted a legal call-in radio show, one of the most persistent problems I’ve heard about from the public involves home-construction and home-repair contracts....
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
July 10th, 2019 by admin
A truism we all know is that nothing is sure in life but death and taxes. But added to that in contemporary life is the higher cost of health care and long-term care for an aging population. We will leave it to the elected officials to figure out the...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
July 10th, 2019 by admin
In the last column we discussed the selection of a care facility. What other decisions might you face, and what steps should you take to monitor the level of care of your loved one?Important contract issuesMany facilities require the admitted person to...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
July 10th, 2019 by admin
I have reviewed in recent columns some of the main questions that clients and others have asked me over the years. I have fielded nearly 30,000 questions during this time, counting those received on a popular radio public-service legal call-in show I...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
July 10th, 2019 by admin
My last few columns have dealt with some common legal issues clients and citizens face in everyday life, with suggestions about how to avoid the problem in the first place. The best legal problem to have is the one which never happens. Hopefully, the...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
December 31st, 2018 by admin
In his first Winston-Salem Journal article of the new year, Mike offers practical suggestions and helpful information about dealing with home building and/or home improvement contractors. Among his recommendations is confirmation of the contractors' Certificate...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
September 10th, 2018 by admin
It has been my privilege to write a monthly column on the law for the Winston-Salem Journal for 15 years. I am grateful for your kind comments about the helping hand we try to extend to you to make this powerful tool, knowledge of the law in a free society,...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
August 16th, 2018 by admin
In this Winston-Salem Journal column, Mike addresses the high costs--both financially and emotionally, of legal disputes, and offers some practical tips on how to resolve them. For the full article, click here....
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August 16th, 2018 by admin
The Winston-Salem Journals' "Sam" asks Mike about the challenges that variations in one's name can present, often the result of marriage and divorce, and advice for preventing or resolving them. For the full article, click here. ...
Posted in: Ask SAM
August 16th, 2018 by admin
Finding and evaluating long-term care facilities is a daunting task, but Mike offers some invaluable insights and resources to help you find the right fit for yourself or a loved one. For the full article, click here....
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
August 16th, 2018 by admin
In this second installment of a two-part series, Mike outlines the 2018 North Carolina Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act, and offers practical advice for users. For the full article, click here....
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
August 16th, 2018 by admin
In the first installment of a two-part series, Mike examines the sweeping 2018 federal tax law reforms, and how they might impact tax payers. For the full article, click here....
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
May 31st, 2018 by admin
Two key questions to ask about most any insurance product are: 1) Are you insuring against a significant financial risk that would be hard for your assets to cover, or a financial discomfort? and 2) What would a thoughtful cost/benefit review tell you?In...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
May 6th, 2018 by admin
Most of us spend a fair number of dollars for various kinds of insurance. How do you get the most bang for your buck, particularly as you assess how effectively your insurance protects you from your legal risks?Here are some major areas of personal legal...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
March 19th, 2018 by admin
Michael Wells has dedicated his practice to serving the injured and disabled, who are often misunderstood, marginalized, and even despised. In his Legal Fact And Fiction podcast series, Michael shares intimate narratives and insights about these claims...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
January 20th, 2018 by admin
The NC Uniform Financial Power of Attorney Act went into effect on January 1, 2018. It is the first major overhaul of this law since the early 1980’s.A financial power of attorney (FPOA) may be the most important estate planning document an individual...
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November 20th, 2017 by admin
Over the last several years our firm has written nearly 200 “On the Way to the Courthouse” pieces, which are reflections of partner, Mike Wells. Many of them are published in various state and local publications as well, including North Carolina Lawyers...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
October 30th, 2017 by admin
AARP Tax Aide-certified volunteers will again be offering free assistance in preparing and e-filing personal federal and state income tax returns in 2018.The locations will be the Reynolda Manor Branch Library, 2839 Fairlawn Drive, and the Southside Branch...
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July 10th, 2017 by admin
Published in the Sunday, June 25th Winston-Salem Journal: R. Michael Wells, Sr., sworn in as a member of the board of trustees of the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation. See the announcement herehttp://www.journalnow.com/business/business_milestones/business-milestones/article_041e4f9b-76c8-553a-a503-8565172f77f6.html
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June 20th, 2017 by admin
You know the Devil Brothers, don’t you? They know you.When you come to that fork in the road on a major decision you have to choose: do you stick with the devil you know, with all of its known challenges, or do you choose the devil you don’t know, the...
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June 19th, 2017 by admin
A Winston-Salem Journal reader asks Sam for advice when faced with the need for a utility easement on an uncooperative neighbor's property. Mike offers some possible solutions. Read it HERE....
Posted in: Ask SAM
June 6th, 2017 by admin
In the Sunday, June 4th edition of the Winston-Salem Journal, Mike offers in part one of a two part series, practical advice about the selection process for long-term care facilities. Select the link below to read the article.http://www.journalnow.com/business/columnists/mike-wells-steps-to-take-to-select-long-term-care/article_3e118080-c404-5d9d-ab87-60a1114a5981.html
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May 22nd, 2017 by admin
Advocacy does not always end after a Social Security Disability hearing. In fact, good advocacy sometimes requires work after the hearing to drive home arguments raised in the hearing brief, in the medical records, and during hearing testimony. Sometimes...
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May 22nd, 2017 by admin
Studies tell us our process for making important decisions could be improved, and sometimes in some significant ways. Many wrong choices could become better choices if we did a more disciplined job of handicapping true facts, and we learned to value largely...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
May 8th, 2017 by admin
Have you got plans for home improvement? If so, Mike offers some simple tips for working successfully with contractors in his Sunday, May 7th Winston-Salem Journal column. For the full article, click here....
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May 1st, 2017 by admin
Are a neighbor's security cameras making you feel insecure? Mike offers sage advice for dealing with this issue. For the full article, click here....
Posted in: Ask SAM
April 3rd, 2017 by admin
Here is a helpful article I wrote for my April monthly column in the Winston-Salem Journal on resolving back tax issues with the IRS. For the full article, click here....
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March 16th, 2017 by admin
560 licensed North Carolina attorneys--including Wells Law's own Mike and Michael Wells, manned the phones during the 10th annual North Carolina Bar Association's 4ALL Statewide Service Day. The event pairs callers with an attorney who will answer their...
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March 1st, 2017 by admin
If you've got a legal question and can wait until Friday, March 3rd for an answer, have we got an event for you! It's the annual North Carolina Bar Association's 4All Statewide Service Day (#NCBA4ALL) event where from 7 am until 7 pm licensed North Carolina...
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February 28th, 2017 by admin
The Triad Business Journal announced Mike Wells' nomination to the North Carolina Department of Transportation Board by Governor Roy Cooper. Wells will represent Division 9, which includes Forsyth County. Read about the nomination of Mike Wells and fellow...
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February 20th, 2017 by admin
Mike Wells has been nominated by Governor Roy Cooper to serve on the North Carolina Department of Transportation Board. Please read the Saturday, February 18th Winston-Salem Journal report, here, to learn more about it. http://www.journalnow.com/news/elections/local/governor-nominates-local-lawyer-to-state-dot-board/article_acb3c5b9-da98-5494-952b-94c79e5b20e4.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
February 13th, 2017 by admin
Did you know that you could be held responsible to both visitors and trespassers for accidents that happen on your property? Mike Wells explains the "duty of reasonable care" in his column for the Winston-Salem Journal, here: http://www.journalnow.com/business/columnists/mike-wells-know-your-responsibility-to-people-who-get-hurt/article_73ca9479-1b54-5428-8b98-4a5b9f6e422d.html...
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February 6th, 2017 by admin
The vocational expert (VE) is an expert in the field of work, who testifies at a Social Security Disability hearing. The VE uses the Dictionary of Occupational Titles to respond to hypotheticals presented by the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Hypotheticals...
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February 6th, 2017 by admin
One of the great contradictions we all share is the strange interplay in life between genuine confidence and our (in) ability to thread Life’s needle of success to avoid arrogance and pride. If you find the winning path to this one you are off to a great...
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January 30th, 2017 by admin
"Got Plans?" Free SeminarWhat: "Got Plans?" is a free advanced care workshop in Winston-Salem.When: February 7th from 1:00-2:00 pmWhere: Multipurpose Room, Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home-101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103Description: Learn about...
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January 30th, 2017 by admin
R. Michael Wells, a senior partner of Wells Law, PLLC, has been named by the Triad Business Journal as one of the Most Influential People in the Triad.Read the notice in the Winston-Salem Journal's Business Milestones section for January 15, 2017 here....
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January 30th, 2017 by admin
B. Brittany Scantland-Lall has joined Wells Law as Of Counsel. Her primary areas of practice are estate planning and estate administration. Scantland-Lall received her BA degree from Duke University and her JD degree from the University of Denver. She...
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January 23rd, 2017 by admin
Wake Forest Baptist Health - Best Health has put together a calendar of events for February that offers something for everyone! Take a cooking class or two, and learn some new recipes for healthy, hearty soups to chase off winter's chill. Valentine's...
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January 3rd, 2017 by admin
Want to simplify estate planning? Mike Wells shares his thoughts about how to do so, thanks to new federal and state laws. Read his article in the Winston-Salem Journal here because, as Mike says, an informed choice is a smart choice!http://www.journalnow.com/townnews/economics/wells-changes-in-federal-and-state-laws-that-can-actually/article_79457b69-1fa0-58c7-ab61-5d77d05c03cd.html
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
January 3rd, 2017 by admin
Our senior partner, Mike Wells, was recently honored by the Triad Business Journal as one of the most influential leaders in the Triad in 2016, and one of a very few lawyers included. For more information, see http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2016/10/27/meet-the-triads-most-influential-people.html#g96...
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December 27th, 2016 by admin
Leadership for the future will require us to take principled chances to find common ground. Here are three leaders who did this.http://www.journalnow.com/opinion/columnists/r-michael-wells-leaders-for-all-seasons/article_d0c4601a-5db4-5019-92c0-e342030b24e2.html...
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
December 13th, 2016 by admin
Don't get bitten by the Humbug this holiday season. In his Sunday, December 11th Winston-Salem Journal column, Mike Wells offers helpful tips for avoiding legal complications that can arise during holiday travels and gatherings, and from making big-ticket...
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December 5th, 2016 by admin
This week, a writer asks Sam how to get rid of a timeshare. Mike Wells offers solutions to this timeless problem. For the full article, click here....
Posted in: Ask SAM
November 17th, 2016 by admin
For the full article, click here....
Posted in: Ask SAM
November 7th, 2016 by admin
From the November 6, 2016 edition of the Winston-Salem Journal:http://www.journalnow.com/business/columnists/wells-common-causes-of-motor-vehicle-accidents-and-injuries-and/article_96493893-6369-558c-a2df-2b42965e70d6.html
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
October 28th, 2016 by admin
Your support of Forsyth County Bonds is needed to ensure the improvement and viability of essential Forsyth County resources including:Forsyth County SchoolsForsyth County Parks and RecreationForsyth Technical Community CollegeSmith Reynolds Airporthttps://vimeo.com/189326547
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October 26th, 2016 by admin
DisabilityJudges.comThis is a useful site in that it gives you the statistics for an ODAR (Office of Disability Adjudication and Review—hearing site) judge. In other words, it tells you how a particular judge has decided cases in the past, at least statistically....
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October 21st, 2016 by admin
Most of us have a favorite pet, especially pets we had as children. Cushman was a big brown boxer we had when I was a very young boy. The older kids in our neighborhood, Chris Cortney, Tommy and Ricky Dickerson next door, and the Corey brothers kept their...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
October 18th, 2016 by admin
No one wants to file a Social Security Disability claim, but things happen. Many of these things are beyond a claimant's control. These occurrences--genetic dispositions, ailments, or a combination thereof render a person unable to work. Disinformation...
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October 7th, 2016 by admin
Mike Wells offers information and insights about arbitration clauses, which have become pervasive in consumer contracts. For the full article, click here.Over the years a number of bills have been introduced in Congress to require organizations to provide...
Posted in: Ask SAM
October 3rd, 2016 by admin
From the Sunday, October 2, 2016 Winston-Salem Journal: Mike Wells outlines the ways in which using online legal documents may be practical--or problematic.http://www.journalnow.com/business/localcolumnists/wells-practical-and-common-sense-ways-to-save-on-routine/article_8f22b031-ecf5-5adf-9790-72105781d5aa.html
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
September 24th, 2016 by admin
The Winston-Salem Journal's Sam consults Mike Wells about how to compel a contractor to respond to a client, and complete the client's project in a timely manner. For the full article, click here....
Posted in: Ask SAM
September 19th, 2016 by admin
The Sunday, October 18 edition of the Winston-Salem Journal featured the Wake Forest Baptist Health - Best Health October Community Health Seminars, Screenings and Events calendar, attached here for your convenience: http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/journalnow.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/classifieds/8/d7/8d7da3ea-aa85-5ad2-acf6-9c584483dc48/57de1233bc9c9.pdf.pdfAmong...
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September 16th, 2016 by admin
Published Thursday September 15, 2016 in the Winston-Salem Journal. Mike Wells answers the question of how to dismiss an attorney. For the full article, click here....
Posted in: Ask SAM
September 14th, 2016 by admin
Published in the Winston-Salem Journal, September 2, 2016. Author, Mike Wells.http://www.journalnow.com/business/localcolumnists/assumption-law-and-its-unintended-consequences/article_2de4022f-766d-5543-8276-ab45c1fa8cfe.html
Posted in: WS Journal Articles
August 21st, 2016 by admin
Originally published in the Winston-Salem Journal's Ask SAM column, Sunday, August, 21, 2016Q: We are suspicious that a family member is abusing/misusing their Power of Attorney designation in regard to an elderly parent’s financial decisions. Please...
Posted in: Ask SAM
October 28th, 2015 by admin
She was way ahead of me on this one, as older sisters often are with their little brothers.Halloween has always been a great time for children. The best part for me as a child was the stash of candy you collected. For a period of time, your mom indulged...
Posted in: On the Way to the Courthouse
