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Meet Your Neighbor: Carrie Lique
This week, I caught up with Carrie Lique of Protected Assets Legal, a local attorney who focuses on real estate law and estate planning. We talked about how she landed at Lake Norman, life outside the office, and a conversation many of us keep putting off.
What stood out to me was how much she wants people to feel comfortable asking questions. You don’t need everything figured out before you call her.
Here’s our conversation, edited for length and clarity.
Scott: How did you end up at Lake Norman?
Carrie: I’m originally from Clearwater, Florida. My parents moved to Mooresville while I was in law school, and I did an internship with the athletics department at UNC Charlotte before my last year. I liked the lake life and everything a growing area had to offer. I figured if I didn’t like it, I could always go back. Almost 20 years later, I’m still here!
Scott: What keeps you busy outside the office?
Carrie: My son plays basketball, and his team just won its championship. My daughter does travel gymnastics, so that keeps us busy, too. We love boating, spending time on the lake, and traveling. I’m also trying to get better at pickleball and golf. Really, anything with friends and family.
Scott: What do people misunderstand about estate planning?
Carrie: People sometimes think they need to have a lot of assets for it to matter. But so much of it is about making things easier for the people you leave behind. They’re already grieving. Reducing the paperwork, delays, and decisions they have to deal with can mean a great deal.
We do estate planning for the people we care about.
Scott: If I already have a will, why might I need another conversation?
Carrie: Having a will doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve addressed everything. A will provides instructions for the probate process, but it doesn’t itself avoid that process. Depending on your circumstances and how your assets are arranged, a trust may help reduce that burden and provide greater privacy.
Business owners should also think about how their business connects to their estate plan. What happens to the business if something happens to you? That’s an important question to work through ahead of time.
Scott: What do you want working with you to feel like?
Carrie: Comfortable. I give my clients and business partners my personal cell number because I want them to feel they can reach out and ask questions. Our whole team has that “we’re here to help” approach.
I also love teaching and helping people understand things. Whether I’m teaching a class for real estate professionals or talking with a family about their plans, I want to make the process easier to understand.
Scott: What would you say to someone who keeps putting this off?
Carrie: Start with a conversation. We offer a free estate planning consultation because I know this can feel overwhelming. I want people to feel comfortable asking questions and learning what makes sense for their family. Making that first conversation accessible is really important to me.
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