John G. Kelso

John practices in the areas of estate planning and tax law. His estate planning and administration practice focuses on wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, in addition to more sophisticated planning with charitable trusts, insurance trusts, business succession, and structured gifts. In his tax practice, John works with individuals, businesses, and families to minimize taxation of personal and professional transactions. He has been designated as a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.

Practice Highlights

• John has extensive experience with creative solutions for business succession and charitable planning as part of an overall estate plan. He teams with other Van Winkle attorneys to incorporate estate planning as part of the law firm’s overall representation of a client’s legal matters. His focus is on prompt and thorough work, with attention to detail, even for the most common cases that do not involve sophisticated business and tax issues.

Professional Affiliations

• 28th Judicial District Bar
• Land of Sky Estate Planning Council
  • Past President
• North Carolina Bar Association, 1996-present
  • Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Section, 1997-present
    • Council Member, 2005-2008
  • Tax Section, 1997-present

Recognitions

• Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the North Carolina State Board of Legal Specialization
• 2010 Best Lawyers in America

John and his wife Amy are the proud parents of two boys. His interests include bicycling and motorcycling, and on weekend mornings you can often find him riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway, or hiking to the perfect spot to read the Sunday New York Times and watch the sun rise over the mountains.

Favorite Food: Garbanzo beans

Favorite Artists: Local brewers, for whom good beer is an art

Favorite Music: Local bluegrass in the summer, Asheville Symphony in the winter, and of course, Jacques Brel

Community Involvement

• Colburn Earth Science Museum
  • Board Member, 1998-present
  • President, 2005-2006
• Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
  • Board Member, 2004-present
• Pack Place Arts, Education & Science Center
  • Past Board member, 2002-2004
• Rotary Club