Thomas Wilson | Estate Planning

Wilson Ratledge PLLC

Thomas Wilson | Wilson Ratledge PLLC

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Firm Summary

Thomas “Tom” J. Wilson is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Wilson Ratledge, which was formed in 2001.  He is licensed and practices in North Carolina, Florida and Colorado and holds a Masters of Laws in Taxation and the Chartered Financial Consultant designation.  Mr. Wilson is a Veterans Administration (VA) accredited attorney and manages the firm’s Business, Asset Preservation Planning, Trust and Estates, and Tax Practices.

Mr. Wilson received his undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Johnston scholar and a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.  After graduation and prior to entering law school, Mr. Wilson worked for five years in the life insurance business, first in sales, later as an associate general agent for a thirty agent regional office, where he earned the designations of Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant. He continues to use this background when counseling with other professionals on sophisticated insurance, tax, retirement and estate planning matters.

Mr. Wilson attended law school at Campbell University and earned a full scholarship.  He graduated cum laude and was a member of Law Review.  Following law school, Mr. Wilson worked in his family’s business, started by his father, and structured the marketing and sale of the business (which heightened his interest and focus on the unique issues facing family business owners and any non participating family members). Mr. Wilson then entered the graduate law program at Emory University and earned a Masters of Laws in Taxation.

Mr. Wilson has served on the Advisory Board of the Wake County Salvation Army, as a Board Member and State Treasurer of the North Carolina Special Olympics and as Advisory Board Member of the Duke Heart Center.

Education

• Emory University, LL.M. in Taxation, 1983
• J.D., Campbell University, 1982 cum laude
• Chartered Financial Consultant, American College, 1994
• B.A., B.S. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1974

Bar Admissions

• North Carolina, 1982
• Florida, 2001
• Colorado, 2003
• United States Tax Court, 1982
• United States Supreme Court, 1992

Professional Activities

• North Carolina Bar Association
• Wake County Bar Association: Member of the Estate Planning, Fiduciary and Tax sections