Montreat Lawyers

Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning & Probate Law

Attorney Douglas A. Petho joined the firm in 1993. He is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in the Administration of Criminal Justice in 1988. He earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 1991. Mr. Petho is a native of the Charlotte area.

Mr. Petho began his trial career as an Assistant District Attorney for the 1st Judicial District of North Carolina serving under the Hon. H.P. Williams. In that position, Mr. Petho was tasked with the prosecution of both misdemeanor and...

Scott Lippert was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He and his wife moved to North Carolina to start practicing law in 2013. He began his career in private practice before becoming a prosecutor in Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties. Scott left the District Attorney's Office to partner with his wife and Richard Beyer to form Beyer & Lippert. Scott has served on several local boards and committees within the North Carolina 25th Judicial District. He is a State Board-Certified Specialist in North Carolina Criminal Law. Scott lives in Morganton with his wife, kids, and dogs.

Joshua B. Farmer was born in Hendersonville, North Carolina, but has lived in Rutherford County since 1986. Currently, Josh is a partner in Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC. Since beginning his practice, Josh has been serving the citizens of North Carolina and South Carolina for their legal needs. His practice focuses on representing injured clients. He is married to Andrea G. Farmer and has one son, Thomas Bradley Farmer. Education: University of North Carolina School of Law J.D. with High Honors - 2004 Class Rank - 5 of 235 Order of the Coif North Carolina...

I'm an attorney practicing in Western North Carolina and licensed to practice in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, and Arkansas. I primarily focus on transactional law and estate planning. I'm originally from Georgia, but went to Wake Forest for Law School. While at Wake Forest, I was involved in the Moot Court, Public Interest Law Organization, Phi Alpha Delta, and the Federalist Society. My main practice areas are estate planning, business law, trademarks, and family law. I am a guardian ad litem in several of the counties here in Western North Carolina.

Paul J. Ditz has been practicing law in Cleveland County, NC and surrounding counties for nearly 20 years. He has extensive experience in both criminal and civil courts having tried dozens of cases during that time. As a former prosecutor, he possesses the insight necessary to prepare and present your case successfully and to help you get the best result under the law.

• DACA - In 2012-2013 I successfully processed over 75 DACA applications in North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. Each successful application resulted in my clients obtaining employment authorization leading to the acquisition of a Social Security number and a valid drivers license. These clients no longer live in the shadows of society. • BIA Appeal Success! With only a few hours before my client was scheduled to be deported, I filed an emergency motion with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to "stay" his deportation and have my client's matter "re-opened" based on new evidence and...

Erin November is a Associate Attorney, primarily at the Columbus, North Carolina office. Erin’s practice area is mainly focused on Family Law. She is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina. Erin graduated from Wingate University, with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. She graduated from Campbell Law School, receiving her Juris Doctors. While attending law school, Erin was the social media coordinator and founding member of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association.

I am a North Carolina native who was born in Marion, but grew up in Rutherfordton. While I was truly blessed to be raised in a loving, caring, and stable home, I realized at a young age that not everyone had that opportunity and always had a heart to help my friends who were hurting. Upon graduating high school, I began working with my father who has a real estate office in Bat Cave, North Carolina, while at the same time, attending Gardner-Webb University. I was seeking what direction to go with my career. At the...

I am a US Marine Core veteran committed to protecting your interests and providing excellent service.

I am married with 3 children. I was raised in WV by two wonderful parents. My dad worked in a glass factory, and later after it closed, an aerospace manufacturer. I know the value of a hard earned dollar and maintain low fees to help everyone. I have experience in all aspects of criminal law including DWI, Speeding, various misdemeanors and felonies. I also handle employment law, personal injury and worker's compensation. I enjoy mediating divorce/custody cases and doing adoptions. I have vast experience with Domestic violence cases all over the western part...

Ever since I was a young child and even through college, I have personally witnessed family members and very close friends endure divorce, child custody battles, bankruptcy, civil lawsuits and even fraudulent criminal accusations. I both saw and experienced the stress such events can place on an individual, and I realized that everyone, at some point in their life, needs hope, comfort, and encouragement. In each one of those situations, the person that was best situated to provide that vital support was their lawyer. So that’s why I became an attorney. I understand what you are going through—and...

I have practiced law since 2004, defending clients who were accused of everything from shoplifting to murder, trying more than 25 cases to a jury verdict. I have also represented clients in civil rights cases, personal injury, real estate, debt collection, divorce/custody, adult and child protective services, administrative adjudications, and appeals. My experience has given me a broad range of legal knowledge that I can readily adapt to new cases. I live in and love the mountains in the outskirts of Waynesville, Haywood County.

Bill Cannon is a native of Leesburg, Georgia and has been practicing law for more than 30 years. He focuses his practice in the area of civil litigation and has extensive experience in complex litigation. Bill enjoys working closely with his clients in finding innovative solutions to the challenges they face. He has a keen interest in professionalism and has been a speaker for orientations on professionalism at law schools. Bill is an author of a variety of professional articles and has made many presentations on professionalism in the practice of law and the importance of the justice system.

Chase is a native of Murphy, North Carolina and loves practicing in the Appalachian mountains. Chase has focused his work in trial advocacy, and spends a great deal of time on contracts, construction law, foreclosures, and other civil disputes. He has a talent for drafting contracts and leases, and he represents his clients in any litigation over those contracts and leases. At Wake Forest School of Law, Chase was the treasurer of the Public Interest Law Organization and an active member of the Inn of Court, a national ethics-based organization. Chase is a member of First Baptist...