John W. Mason

Practices & Industries

• Trusts & Estates, Planning & Administration
• Trusts & Estates, Litigation
• Non-profit Organizations

Education

• Davidson College, BA, 1967
• University of North Carolina, School of Law, JD, 1973

Bar & Court Admissions

• American Bar Association, Section: Probate and Real Property
• North Carolina Bar Association, Vice-President, 2006-2008; Board of Governors and Executive Committee, 2006-2008; Chair, Development Committee 2002-2006; Chair, Mental Health Law Committee 1984-1985
• North Carolina State Bar
• 28th Judicial District Bar, President, 1998-1999; Secretary-Treasurer, 1979-1981

Biography

John Mason has consistently received recognition from colleagues for estate planning and probate litigation expertise. John has extensive experience with trust and estate planning, counseling clients on estate administration matters, and trust and estate litigation. His practice includes successful representation of national banks and a major religious denomination in trust and estate property matters, as well as negotiating tax settlements with the IRS. He has been retained as an expert witness in a variety of estate and trust cases and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America as Trust and Estate counsel.

John is author of published treatises on estate administration in North Carolina and the tax aspects of probate. His cases have been reported by national publications including Trusts and Estates magazine and US Law Week.

He is active in the North Carolina Bar Association, having recently served as Vice President, and in the Asheville civic community, where he currently serves on the Board of Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He is a partner at Roberts & Stevens and has been with the firm for nearly 35 years.

Experience

Counsel individuals, non-profits, and family businesses on estate administration and post-mortem tax planning

Counsel individuals and families on trust and estate planning, preparation of wills, trusts, family LLC’s, charitable trusts and other estate planning documents

Trusts and Estate disputes and complex litigation

Professional

28th Judicial District Bar Association, President, 1998-1999

Author, ‘Types of Probate Administration in North Carolina; Tax Aspects of Probate,’ National Business Institute, 2006

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

The Best Lawyers in America, Trusts & Estates, 2009-2012; Litigation/Trusts & Estates, 2012

North Carolina Bar Association, Vice President, 2006-2008

Quoted/cited in Blink (Malcolm Gladwell), Down South: One Tour in Vietnam (William Hardwick) and Four Trials (John Edwards)

United States Marine Corps, 1st Lieutenant, Served as a rifle platoon commander with Company M, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines in Vietnam, 1968-1969; Personal decorations include the Bronze Star medal (with combat "V") and two Purple Heart medals

Community Service

Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains, Board of Directors

Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Former Member Board of Directors

Mountain Area Hospice, Former Member Board of Directors