Anita Harold Ashley is a solo-practitioner with a general, small town practice. She has a special interest in family law cases, but her practice is not limited to those issues. There are several areas of the law, briefly summarized here, which describe her practice. If you have a case which does not fall into any of these categories, please inquire. It might be a case Anita would be interested in accepting.

Divorce and Family Law - Adoption - Social Security - Wills and Estate Planning - Personal Injury - Real Estate

Wills and Estate Planning
  Anita Harold Ashley has taken a special interest in writing wills, powers of attorney, medical power of attorney or living wills and other documents designed to protect a person and his or her family in the event of death or incapacity.

  A last will and testament is a document which you sign in advance, specifying how you wish your property to be distributed in the event of your death. Since it is not effective until you die, you can change your will, and you should change your will any time your circumstances change. A last will and testament is especially important if you have minor or disabled children, as you can choose who you want to take custody of your children and who you want to manage their money in the event of your death. It may also be important to minimize your exposure to federal taxes.

  A durable general power of attorney is a document which is executed to appoint another individual to handle your business affairs for you. This can be tailored to specific circumstances, like when you may not be able to be present when your property is sold, or it can be written generally to designate a person to handle all of the business you could conduct. It is a durable power of attorney if it is written with the direction that it remains effective even though you may later become incompetent.

  Medical powers of attorney are similar to living wills, in that you designate, ahead of time, what advance health care directives you want employed in the event that you become unable to make medical treatment decisions for yourself. The living will simply expresses your wishes, but the medical power of attorney designates an individual or individuals to carry out your expressed wishes and make decisions for you if your wishes are unknown.

  Having a medical power of attorney and a durable general power of attorney are wise planning tools. Without those documents, if you become incapacitated, your family would have to go to court to be appointed as guardian and conservator for you. This process can be expensive and time-consuming, but is also a service Anita Harold Ashley can assist your family with, if that is necessary.

  Many folks are concerned about the prospect of losing their assets to Medicaid, in the event that they become confined to a nursing home. Anita Harold Ashley is trained to provide advice and counsel on how to avoid, or at least minimize this costly, but often necessary assistance.

  Settlement of estates is also a service which Anita Harold Ashley has been trained to provide. Whether your loved one dies with or without a will, it is important to probate the estate. She can assist with preparation of the appraisement, settlement and all other documents and forms used in the process.

Personal Injury
  If you have been injured in a automobile accident and you have medical bills and lost wages, you may need the assistance of an attorney in dealing with the insurance company. Perhaps, your loved one may have been killed. If the accident was not the injured or deceased person's fault and was caused by someone else's negligence, please feel free to call for an appointment. You are entitled to be compensated for your damages, which includes pain and suffering. If the driver of the vehicle at fault was uninsured or inadequately insured, you may also have a claim against your personal auto policy.

  Personal injury and wrongful death cases are almost always handled on a contingent free basis, meaning that you pay no lawyer fee unless and until you recover money. A written fee contract is required so that you will know from the start exactly the way attorney fees will be calculated. You will also know that your lawyer has a personal stake in getting you the most money.

  Anita Harold Ashley has over eighteen years experience as a lawyer and has handled numerous personal injury cases. Her clients have been satisfied with her services, and she has worked diligently to attain substantial settlements, both before and after a lawsuit is initiated.

Real Estate
  Anita is an experienced real estate lawyer and is available to assist you with the legal aspects of selling or buying property in West Virginia. Title searches, preparation of contracts, deeds, deed of trust and other legal documents are available for Lawyers Title Insurance Company and West Virginia Bankers Title, LLC. Closings can be scheduled in her office for cases involving cash transactions or owner-financing.

  Title searches are limited to the following counties: Roane, Calhoun, Jackson, Gilmer, Wirt, Kanawha, Braxton, Clay and Lewis

Anita does not do boundary line disputes or right of way disputes.