Do you have a last will and testament set up? Though most people know they need their affairs in order, most procrastinate about estate planning. We get it - thinking about your death and what happens to your assets when you pass is uncomfortable. The truth is, though, that working with an estate planning attorney in Spartanburg, SC, doesn't just protect your assets.
Having a will in place protects you and your loved ones, too, both while you're living and after you're gone. And while there's no perfect time to plan your estate, doing so sooner than later will provide security and peace of mind down the line.
At Lauren Taylor Law, we know that one-size-fits-all plans aren't suitable for your needs. That's why our team of estate planning attorneys sits down to speak with you one-on-one so that we can help create an estate plan tailored to your wishes. That way, your family and loved ones are protected when it's time for you to go.
When it's all said and done, our goal is to provide all of our estate planning clients with more information and options so that they feel less stressed about the process. After all, peace of mind is priceless these days. Why spend time worrying about the future of your family when you can do your part to provide for them now?
GET HELP NOWIf you're feeling over-stressed and uninformed about estate planning, don't worry. You're not alone! Most of our estate planning clients are filled with doubt and worry when they walk into our office. They're concerned about their kids, their spouses, their loved ones, or all of the above. They have serious questions that need truthful answers, such as:
If you find yourself asking these or other pertinent questions, our experienced team is here to help answer them. We've worked with hundreds of individuals and families trying to plan their estates, many of whom are forced to act quickly. In such situations, it's crucial to work with an estate planning firm with your best interests at heart.
Estate planning in South Carolina is like second nature for our team of seasoned attorneys. We've done it all, from setting up healthcare power of attorneys and will packages to full estate planning that involves millions of dollars in assets. When you choose Lauren Taylor Law as your estate planning team, you can rest easy knowing you'll work directly with an experienced lawyer.
Because when it involves your estate and your family's future, passing your case off to a junior associate or paralegal isn't an option. Instead, you'll be working with a dedicated attorney with the time, resources, and knowledge to exceed your needs. At the end of the day, we're passionate about the outcome of our client's estate planning cases because the future of their family is at stake.
To get a better sense of your estate plans and needs, your attorney will consult with you, so that they can answer your questions and educate you on the nuances of estate law in South Carolina. That way, you can leave our office feeling a little wiser and a lot more informed about what options lie ahead.
At Lauren Taylor Law, our practice is dedicated to providing comprehensive legal services in South Carolina Estate Law, encompassing the following areas:
When you hear the word "estate," what comes to mind? Many people think of a sprawling, multi-story mansion on the water. However, you don't have to be uber-wealthy to have an estate. Chances are you already have one. An estate is comprised of all the assets a person owns, such as:
And that, in a nutshell, is what estate planning is all about - working with an estate planning attorney in Spartanburg, SC, to create a framework that recognizes the people or organizations who should benefit from your assets. Though it may require some work and introspection up front, planning your estate now will make life easier for you and your loved ones down the line.
However, great estate plans usually cover more than fiscal assets. Your estate plan should also include:
Contrary to what others may tell you, estate planning isn't just reserved for older people approaching retirement. Estate planning is a savvy and responsible way to plan ahead because we never know when it could be our time to go.
At Lauren Taylor Law, our estate attorneys craft personalized wills while providing guidance on many estate planning topics. Some of the most common estate planning services we offer include:
Wills are a crucial legal document and the primary building block of professional estate planning. They are legal declarations that you use to name one or more people to administer your estate. Wills also dictate provisions for how your wealth is distributed after death. Hiring an estate planning attorney in Spartanburg, SC, ensures you get the outcomes both you and your loved ones prefer.
Sometimes, you need authorized representation to help with your affairs. Having a power of attorney lets you choose a person to act on your behalf or represent you in private or legal matters. It should be noted that while you have access to standard power of attorneys, they can only fulfill basic planning needs. Our team can help you draft a more comprehensive document addressing all your administrative needs.
Also referred to as an advanced directive, your living will states your medical end-of-life wishes if you cannot communicate. This sensitive document guides your family members and doctors through difficult situations, like whether you should be resuscitated after a car crash.
In addition to the estate planning services above, we also specialize in:
Estate planning can be a complex process, but drafting a well-rounded plan now will make a big difference to your beneficiaries in the future. To give you a better understanding of estate law in South Carolina, keep these basic concepts and strategies in mind.
If there were one strategy that every estate attorney agrees about, it would be maximizing what you plan to leave behind. Taking time to think through what you'll be leaving and to whom you'll be leaving it to is crucial in estate planning. It's important to note, however, that your plans may change depending on what type of asset you're leaving behind, its worth, your age, and many other factors. With an estate planning lawyer in Spartanburg, SC, by your side, you'll learn about the pros and cons of your choices while minimizing court fees and taxes.
The person you choose as the executor of your will plays a big part in your affairs. Your executor is responsible for finalizing estate settlements while upholding the terms of your will. Such a demanding role requires a unique person, and choosing that person is a decision you should take seriously. Your executor should be adept at managing money and should be patient in stressful times because they're responsible for the following:
To ensure your executor upholds your instructions and wishes, ask that they use an estate planning attorney in Spartanburg, SC, for help. Having a trustworthy, experienced lawyer on your side will help ensure your estate is distributed accurately and according to South Carolina law.
As one of the most trusted estate planning law offices in South Carolina, we encounter clients all the time who question whether having a will is really necessary. They think that because their will is small or modest, having one is a waste of money. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
Why? Think about what would happen if you didn't have a will. When you pass away without a will, you're dying "intestate." In this scenario, intestate succession laws in South Carolina determine where your assets go. You do not get to choose.
If you have a cherished family heirloom that you want to pass to your niece or a valuable car you want your brother to have, you may be out of luck without a will in place. Intestate succession laws in South Carolina dictate who gets what in your family. If you don't want the State to decide who will inherit your assets, forming a will with the help of an estate planning lawyer in Spartanburg, SC, is necessary.
Another reason to have a will is to help care for and protect your family if you pass away suddenly. This is true even if you consider yourself to be "too young" to have a will. If you're the parent of a minor and you die intestate, they will inherit your estate according to South Carolina law. However, this often means your child owns an interest in your home. That opens them up to intrusion from probate court. It also means a Guardian Ad Litem will be involved in your affairs to question the choices of your surviving family members, whether you like it or not.
By having a last will and testament in place, you have the chance to nominate a guardian for your child in the event that you pass.
You've probably seen ads for easy or "fill-in-the-blank" legal forms across the internet, promising low costs and easy will creation. Unfortunately, using these boilerplate forms is highly risky and may end up hurting your loved ones more than helping them. That's because when an estate planning attorney in Spartanburg, SC, is not present to prepare your will, you may receive a document that is inadequate, ambiguous, or even invalid by law.
At Lauren Taylor Law, we have found many issues with "DIY" wills, including the following:
Conflicting Verbiage: When using a "DIY" will, you've got to make choices on the form that often conflict, which can lead to ambiguity in your will.
Ambiguous Language: The language found within "fill-in-the-blank" wills typically includes less-than-clear verbiage. When a judge is unable to decipher the instructions in your will, it can lead to long, costly probate problems.
Outdated Info: South Carolina laws change often. Changes in the law can have a dramatic effect on the terms of your will, especially because online forms are often outdated from the very beginning.
Not Specific to South Carolina: As is the case with any state, local laws must be taken into account when creating your will, because state law governs several facets of estate planning. Many "DIY" wills are thrown out in probate court because they are generic and not specific to South Carolina estate laws.
Insufficient Instructions: Many people using boilerplate legal documents are uninformed about estate and probate laws. When it comes to preparing legal documents like wills, there is no substitute for the guidance you receive from a lawyer. Only a certified lawyer has the knowledge and experience to provide you with reliable advice and instructions. The instructions included with "DIY" wills lack true advice from a lawyer, rendering them nearly useless.
In life, there are no guarantees as to how long we'll be around to enjoy time with our families. That's why planning your estate is so important: to provide for those who mean the most to you. As your estate planning attorneys, our job is to ensure your family and assets are protected under South Carolina law. We take that job very seriously.
If you're looking for experienced, professional help drafting your last will and testament - one that truly reflects your wishes - look no further than Lauren Taylor Law. Our team is dedicated to the best interests of you and your family and is committed to providing sound legal advice, no matter the value of your estate.
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S. C. (Friday, ET) — A shooting at a Spartanburg County motel has escalated from an on-scene response into a broader search effort after authorities issued an AMBER Alert tied to the incident. deputies were sent to the Rodeway Inn on New Cut Road around 11: 36 a. m., where one person was injured. As of the latest official update, no one is in custody, underscoring that the situation remains active as investigators work to develop leads in spartanburg sc.What officials have c...
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S. C. (Friday, ET) — A shooting at a Spartanburg County motel has escalated from an on-scene response into a broader search effort after authorities issued an AMBER Alert tied to the incident. deputies were sent to the Rodeway Inn on New Cut Road around 11: 36 a. m., where one person was injured. As of the latest official update, no one is in custody, underscoring that the situation remains active as investigators work to develop leads in spartanburg sc.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office said it is responding to a shooting at a motel on Friday. Deputies said one person was hurt at the Rodeway Inn on New Cut Road around 11: 36 a. m. (ET). Authorities also stated that no one was in custody at the time of the update.
Shortly before 3 p. m. (ET), authorities issued an AMBER Alert connected to the incident. The alert included a vehicle description: they are looking for a white 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander with South Carolina tag 669BMX.
The decision to issue an AMBER Alert several hours after the initial call signals that investigators are treating the incident as more than an isolated shooting scene. While officials have not released additional details in the publicly available update, the alert indicates law enforcement is seeking rapid public awareness around a specific vehicle believed to be relevant.
In practical terms, an AMBER Alert changes the operating tempo of a case: it extends attention beyond the motel property, focuses the public on an actionable identifier, and can widen the search area as tips and sightings are evaluated. At this stage, officials have not announced an arrest, and the lack of a person in custody keeps the outcome uncertain in spartanburg sc.
Authorities have not publicly provided the condition of the injured person beyond confirming that one individual was hurt. Officials also have not disclosed information on a suspect, a motive, or the circumstances that led to the shooting at the Rodeway Inn. The AMBER Alert announcement did not include additional narrative details in the available statement.
Key developments that would clarify the scope of the event include any official confirmation of who is connected to the white 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander with tag 669BMX, whether investigators have a description of a person of interest, and whether additional safety guidance is issued. For now, the confirmed facts remain limited to the response time, the location, the injury, the absence of custody, and the AMBER Alert vehicle information connected to the case in spartanburg sc.
Jaylin Nicole Simpson was born February 11, 2018 to Jacosha Simpson and Jamarcus Wade. In her 8 years of life, she found many joys in her family, her friends and her faith. Jaylin loved attending church with her grandmother at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, her great-grandmother at Greater New Hope, and even would join her grandfather at Greater Target AME Church in Hollyhill, SC.Aside from her faith, Jaylin enjoyed all things creative, girly and cats. She drew pictures and made dolls out of everything she could find. Her love f...
Jaylin Nicole Simpson was born February 11, 2018 to Jacosha Simpson and Jamarcus Wade. In her 8 years of life, she found many joys in her family, her friends and her faith. Jaylin loved attending church with her grandmother at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, her great-grandmother at Greater New Hope, and even would join her grandfather at Greater Target AME Church in Hollyhill, SC.
Aside from her faith, Jaylin enjoyed all things creative, girly and cats. She drew pictures and made dolls out of everything she could find. Her love for music was just as strong. She loved to record videos of her and her friends doing day to day things. She spent the most time with her cousins. She was a very bright student as well and although she didn't like school, she excelled. She loved to travel and see new places, on her list of must sees was New York and Paris.
Jaylin knew how to be the boss and even had a couple of babies of her own: Hailey, Bailey, Kaylie, Aylie and Lolie.
In addition to her parents, left to cherish fond and loving memories are: maternal grandparents, Rita Simpson and James (Renee) McKissick; paternal grandparents, Jamie Fuller and Marcus Wade; great-grandparents, Deloris and Henry James and Lettie Fuller; aunts, Markesha Fuller, Tynesha (Jaylin) Hynes and Klarke McKissick; brothers, Kace and Koree McCreary; cousins, Angela Wallace and Cameron Fuller; godmothers, Briana McCreary and Mariah Chapel; and a host of cousins and extended family members she also loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by: her aunt, Victoria Fuller and her uncle, Jeremiah Gilliam.
Jaylin lived a wonderful 8 years and was loved by everyone she held dear, and she loved us all as well. Please keep Baby Jaylin ,"Sugar Sugar", our sweet girl in your thoughts and prayers.
Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC. Burial will be in the Heritage Memorial Gardens, Roebuck, SC.
Public Viewing will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at The John Stinson Woodward Memorial Chapel.
In Honor of Jaylin's love for tea parties, the family kindly requests tea party attire for her homegoing celebration.
Severe storms are possible Sunday and Monday across the Upstate of South Carolina, western North Carolina, and northeast Georgia, with threats including damaging straight-line winds, isolated tornadoes, large hail, and heavy rain.Live radar:Severe threat Monday:MONDAY: Impact Day due to severe storm potentialKeep up with what's happening around our area by downloading the WYFF News 4 app on the App Store or Google Play....
Severe storms are possible Sunday and Monday across the Upstate of South Carolina, western North Carolina, and northeast Georgia, with threats including damaging straight-line winds, isolated tornadoes, large hail, and heavy rain.
Live radar:
Severe threat Monday:
MONDAY: Impact Day due to severe storm potential
Keep up with what's happening around our area by downloading the WYFF News 4 app on the App Store or Google Play.
*** A burst of snow is likely in WNC by the afternoon as the front departs. Light accumulation, mainly on elevated surfaces, is possible. ***
The wind will pick up behind Monday's powerful cold front. A Wind Advisory is in place for the highlighted areas above 3500 feet in western North Carolina. Wind gusts of 50-60 mph are expected.
TUESDAY: Impact Day due to frigid temperatures & wind chills
WEDNESDAY: Impact Day due to another cold morning. Lows in the teens & 20s.
The WYFF News 4 weather team has been independently certified for having the most accurate forecast in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson market for the second year in a row.
"Our goal every day, in every forecast is accuracy," said WYFF 4 President and General Manager Blake Bridges. "Our expert weather team is dedicated to giving viewers a forecast they can trust to be right. We are also the only station in the market with our own 24/7 live radar, Live Super Doppler 4. It’s clear that WYFF News 4 is the weather leader in this market."
The certification comes from WeatheRate, an independent research firm that tracks forecasts from every station in multiple markets across the country.
"Everyone knows that forecasting the weather around here is difficult with the Upstate and mountains," said WeatheRate President Bruce Fixman. "The station that gets the forecast right more than anyone else is Chief Meteorologist Chris Justus and the WYFF News 4 weather team."
GREENVILLE, S.C. —Severe storms are possible on Monday in the Upstate of South Carolina, western North Carolina and northeast Georgia.Storms may produce damaging, straight-line winds, isolated tornadoes, large hail and heavy rain.Live radar:Severe threat Monday:MONDAY: Impact Day due to severe storm potentialDownload the free WYFF News 4 App to receive weather alerts. Be sure your notifications are turned ON.*** A burst of ...
GREENVILLE, S.C. —
Severe storms are possible on Monday in the Upstate of South Carolina, western North Carolina and northeast Georgia.
Storms may produce damaging, straight-line winds, isolated tornadoes, large hail and heavy rain.
Live radar:
Severe threat Monday:
MONDAY: Impact Day due to severe storm potential
Download the free WYFF News 4 App to receive weather alerts. Be sure your notifications are turned ON.
*** A burst of snow is likely in WNC by the afternoon as the front departs. Light accumulation, mainly on elevated surfaces, is possible. ***
The wind will pick up behind Monday's powerful cold front. A Wind Advisory is in place for the highlighted areas above 3500 feet in western North Carolina. Wind gusts of 50-60 mph are expected.
TUESDAY: Impact Day due to frigid temperatures & wind chills
WEDNESDAY: Impact Day due to another cold morning. Lows in the teens & 20s.
The WYFF News 4 weather team has been independently certified for having the most accurate forecast in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson market for the second year in a row.
"Our goal every day, in every forecast is accuracy," said WYFF 4 President and General Manager Blake Bridges. "Our expert weather team is dedicated to giving viewers a forecast they can trust to be right. We are also the only station in the market with our own 24/7 live radar, Live Super Doppler 4. It’s clear that WYFF News 4 is the weather leader in this market."
The certification comes from WeatheRate, an independent research firm that tracks forecasts from every station in multiple markets across the country.
"Everyone knows that forecasting the weather around here is difficult with the Upstate and mountains," said WeatheRate President Bruce Fixman. "The station that gets the forecast right more than anyone else is Chief Meteorologist Chris Justus and the WYFF News 4 weather team."
SPARTANBURG — A jury delivered a $5.1 million verdict against BMW last month after determining the Spartanburg plant discriminated against an American employee on the basis of her nationality, in violation of federal Title VII protections.Kelly Dawsey of Greenville left her job in 2021 after learning of a reorganization that replaced her German boss with an American one, according to court records.BMW had a long-standing policy mandating alternate German and domestic positions among senior managers, court records said, wh...
SPARTANBURG — A jury delivered a $5.1 million verdict against BMW last month after determining the Spartanburg plant discriminated against an American employee on the basis of her nationality, in violation of federal Title VII protections.
Kelly Dawsey of Greenville left her job in 2021 after learning of a reorganization that replaced her German boss with an American one, according to court records.
BMW had a long-standing policy mandating alternate German and domestic positions among senior managers, court records said, where no two consecutive managers in the chain of command could be American.
For Dawsey, getting an American boss meant the company would have to replace her with a German. Indeed, the company had made plans to replace Dawsey with a German and transfer her to a new role, court records said.
She left before being offered any alternative position and filed the suit in October 2022. It went to trial this year, where a jury agreed that BMW discriminated against her because she was American.
The jury awarded her $100,000 in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. But since the damages in employment discrimination cases are capped at $300,000, that’s likely all she will receive, plus possible economic damages in the form of lost or future wages.
“We were surprised and disappointed by the outcome,” BMW spokesman Steve Wilson said in an email. “While we disagree, we respect the jury’s decision. We are currently evaluating potential post-trial and appellate options.”
Dawsey’s attorney, Brian Murphy, did not respond to requests for comment.
But Jeremy Summerlin, a Greenville employment attorney who followed the case, said the verdict was a rare occurrence for several reasons.
Nationality-based discrimination claims are less common than sex-based, race-based, age-based or disability-based claims, according to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission statistics. When they do occur, he said, they usually don’t come from Americans. And generally, employment cases are settled before they get to a jury.
“You don’t see a lot of cases like this go to trial,” said Summerlin, who wrote about the case in his own blog. “Something like 97 percent of cases are going to be settled or dismissed at summary judgment before trial.”
Dawsey began working at BMW in 1995 and had worked her way up to department manager for human resources planning and steering, which reports directly to the vice president of human resources.
Before a planned reorganization, the vice president was a German national. When the German left, an American was brought in to fill the role.
Dawsey learned that a reorganization was in the works in the spring of 2021. In early September, before she learned she would be replaced by a German national, she reached out to a recruiter to look for other jobs.
BMW argued in a motion for summary judgment that Dawsey didn’t have a case, in part because she was looking to leave her position before she learned who was replacing her, and that her job transfer would be a lateral move.
In a motion opposing BMW’s request for summary judgment, Dawsey said that she only began looking for other opportunities after communication about the changes became “chaotic” and she wanted “to see if there were alternatives if she was left out.”
Dawsey pointed out that she only accepted employment elsewhere after BMW told her she would be moved to a job that she considered a demotion.
Major questions left up to the jury included whether BMW’s policy of requiring a German in the chain of command violated Title VII and whether moving Dawsey to another role would have been a demotion that could be considered an adverse employment action.
“BMW’s position is that she was being moved laterally, but the testimony, the argument was that position was a lower classification and the plaintiff had worked there for a long, long time,” Summerlin said. “And she was aware that that job was basically a black hole and nobody got promoted out of that position. She knew ‘If they stick me there, that’s basically the end.’ ”
A judge ruled against BMW on its motion for summary judgment, and the case moved forward, eventually ending in a trial.
On Feb. 25, a jury in the Greenville federal courthouse sided with Dawsey.
A hearing on economic damages is scheduled March 13.