Generated by All in One SEO Pro v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Coward, Hicks & Siler, PA | Sylva, Franklin, Cashiers Tradition. Quality. Service. ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Coward Hicks & Siler Earns Tier 1 Recognition in 2026 Best Law Firms for Real Estate Law](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/coward-hicks-siler-earns-tier-1-recognition-in-2026-best-law-firms-for-real-estate-law/) - Western NC — Coward Hicks & Siler, P.A. (CHS) has once again been recognized among Western North Carolina’s premier law firms, earning a Metropolitan Tier 1 ranking in Real Estate Law in the 2026 Edition of Best Law Firms by Best Lawyers in America. This distinction places CHS among the region’s most trusted and accomplished - [Coward Hicks & Siler Continues to Lead Western North Carolina in Real Estate Law](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/coward-hicks-siler-continues-to-lead-western-north-carolina-in-real-estate-law/) - Coward Hicks & Siler PA is proud to announce that two of its attorneys have been named to the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Kimberly R. Coward, of the firm’s Cashiers office, and Orville Coward Jr., based in the Franklin office, have both been recognized in the category of Real Estate Law. - [Coward Hicks & Siler Congratulates Kim Coward and Orville Coward on 2025 Best Lawyers Recognition](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/coward-hicks-siler-congratulates-kim-coward-and-orville-coward-on-2025-best-lawyers-recognition/) - Coward Hicks & Siler congratulate Kim Coward and Orville Coward for their selection to the 2025 Edition of Best Lawyers in America Real Estate Law Section, continuing our legacy of excellence in Western North Carolina. - [Coward, Hicks & Siler Partners Included in Best Lawyers in America 2024](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/coward-hicks-siler-partners-included-in-best-lawyers-in-america-2024/) - Please join the historic law firm of Coward Hicks & Siler in congratulating Kim Coward, Orville Coward, and Edward Cole, who have all been included in the 30th Edition of Best Lawyers in America. Orville has been included in the Litigation Sections for Land Use and Zoning and Real Estate as well as in the - [Coward, Hicks & Siler Selected to 2024 Best Law Firms by Best Lawyers in America](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/coward-hicks-siler-selected-to-2024-best-law-firms-by-best-lawyers-in-america/) - The law firm of Coward, Hicks & Siler, PA, has been selected for inclusion by Best Lawyes in America to Best Law Firms 2024 as an Asheville Metropolitan Area Tier 1 law firm in the areas of Real Estate Law and Litigation - Land Use & Zoning, and as an Asheville Metropolitan Area Tier 2 - [Coward, Hicks & Siler Partners Included in Best Lawyers in America 2023](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/coward-hicks-siler-partners-included-in-best-lawyers-in-america-2023/) - oward, Hicks & Siler, PA is pleased to share that Kimberly Coward and Orville Coward have once again been included in Best Lawyers in America. Orville Coward has been named the 2023 Litigation - Real Estate Section and the Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Section Lawyer of the Year. Kim Coward has been included - [Coward Hicks & Siler listed in 2018 Best Law Firms](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/coward-hicks-siler-listed-in-2018-best-law-firms/) - We have been proudly selected to the U.S. News - Best Lawyers in America “2018 Best Law Firms” as an Asheville Metropolitan Area Tier 1 Ranked law firm in the area of Family Law. The 2018 Edition of "Best Law Firms” includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and 122 metropolitan-based practice areas. The U.S. - [Kim Coward Interviewed by the NC State Bar Journal](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/kim-coward-interviewed-by-the-nc-state-bar-journal/) - We are happy to share with you Kimberly Coward’s interview in the fall issue of the North Carolina State Bar Journal regarding her service on the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. You can find the interview at page 41, here: https://www.ncbar.gov/media/730710/journal-27-3.pdf. Kim is a Board Certified Specialist in Real Estate Law - - [Coward, Hicks & Siler Partners Included in Best Lawyers in America 2022](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/coward-hicks-siler-partners-included-in-best-lawyers-in-america-2022/) - We are pleased to share that Kimberly Coward and Orville Coward have once again been included in Best Lawyers in America. Orville Coward has been named to the 2022 Litigation - Real Estate Section and the Litigation - Land Use and Zoning Section. Kim Coward has been included in the 2022 Real Estate Law Section. - [Coward, Hicks & Siler Selected to 2020 US News/Best Lawyers Best Law Firms](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/coward-hicks-siler-selected-to-2020-us-news-best-lawyers-best-law-firms/) - We have been proudly selected to the U.S. News - Best Lawyers in America’s “Best Law Firms” 2020 as an Asheville Metropolitan Area Tier 1 ranked law firm in the area of Family Law and a Metropolitan Area Tier 3 ranked law firm in the area of Litigation - Real Estate. - [Orville Coward selected to Best Lawyers in America 2019](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/monty-beck-and-orville-coward-selected-to-best-lawyers-in-america-2019/) - We are pleased to announce that Monty C. Beck and Orville D. Coward, Jr. have been selected to the 2019 edition of the Best Lawyers in America©. First named in Best Lawyers in America© in 2015, Monty is listed to the Family Law Section, and Orville has been listed to the Litigation – Real Estate - [Partners Included in Best Lawyers in America 2021](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/partners-included-in-best-lawyers-in-america-2021/) - We are pleased to announce that Monty Beck, Kimberly Coward, and Orville Coward have all been included in the 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers in America. Additionally, Orville has been named the Land Use and Zoning Law Section’s Lawyer of the Year for the Asheville Metro Area. Together, these three partners form the entirety of - [Kimberly Coward featured in "Profiles in Legal Specialization"](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/kimberly-coward-featured-in-profiles-in-legal-specialization/) - The firm is pleased to announce that Kim Coward has been included in the North Carolina Bar Journal’s on-going series, “Profiles in Specialization”. The profile is in the Summer (June) 2015 issue of the North Carolina Bar Journal. A full copy of the Journal is available below. Her Profile in Specialization appears on page 36. - [What is Legal Specialization?](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/what-is-legal-specialization/) - Legal Specialization was established to create a method by which qualified North Carolina lawyers might become certified as specialists in designated areas of the law - [Coward, Hicks & Siler Selected to 2019 US News/Best Lawyers Best Law Firms](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/2019-best-law-firms/) - We are pleased to share that the firm has been selected to the U.S. News - Best Lawyers in America’s “Best Law Firms” 2019 as an Asheville Metropolitan Area Tier 1 ranked law firm in the area of Family Law. Divorce attorney Monty Beck was listed as the 2019 Family Law “Lawyer of the Year - [Kim Coward Appointed to Board of Legal Specialization](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/kim-coward-appointed-to-board-of-legal-specialization/) - Kimberly Coward has been appointed to the North Carolina Board of Legal Specialization by the North Carolina State Bar Council. Kim will serve as a member of the Board through the fall of 2018. - [Why do I need a will?](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/why-do-i-need-a-will/) - Discussing your Will and reasons for needing one is not a particularly fun topic. While a Will can give you peace of mind, the best reasons for drafting a Will are your surviving loved ones. When drafted properly, a Will takes into account your unique, personal assets and your relationships with the people in your - [Wouldn’t it be cheaper to use an online will-drafting service (ie. LegalZoom™)?](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/wouldnt-it-be-cheaper-to-use-an-online-will-drafting-service-ie-legalzoom/) - Online will-drafting and DIY legal services like LegalZoom™ have become quite popular. But, just like the cookie-cutter "default" of a state's intestacy laws, the online services cannot ensure your loved ones are provided for after your death exactly the way you desire. Potentially worse than that, online DIY Wills are untested, are usually not state-specific, - [Besides a will, what other estate planning documents should I have?](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/besides-a-will-what-other-estate-planning-documents-should-i-have/) - The types of estate planning documents you might need are wholly dependent on your unique situation. We typically recommend the following additional documents: - Health Care Power of Attorney - sometimes known as a "living will," this document allows you to appoint a representative to make health care decisions for you if you become incapacitated. - [The North Carolina 2014 LLC Act: Changes could affect current NC LLC owners](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/the-north-carolina-2014-llc-act-changes-could-affect-current-nc-llc-owners/) - The North Carolina Limited Liability Company Act underwent some substantial changes in 2014. Additionally, the New LLC Act that took effect on January 1, 2014 applies to the North Carolina LLC’s formed before, on, or after January 1, 2014. This article is the first in a series meant to provide information for NC LLC owners - [Obtaining Right of Way to Landlocked Property in North Carolina](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/obtaining-right-of-way-to-landlocked-property-in-north-carolina/) - A right of way is a type of easement that allows someone to cross over another’s property in order to gain access to his or her own property. Many modern deeds include a written right of way, which ensures that the Seller and any subsequent owners of that property have access over the adjacent parcel. ## Pages - [Home](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/) - Coward Hicks & Siler is a Western North Carolina Law Firm focusing on Real Estate & Transactions, Civil Litigation, Family Law, and Business & Corporate Matters - [Kimberly Coward](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-firm/cashiers/kimberly-coward/) - Board Certified Legal Specialist Real Property Law: Residential Transactions Kim Coward is a Board Certified Specialist in Real Property Law and Residential Transactions. She has practiced with Coward, Hicks & Siler, PA since 1988, focusing almost exclusively on Real Property matters including contracts, easements, property owner associations, entity formation, foreclosures, and real estate development. Kim is - [Orville D. Coward, Jr.](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-firm/franklin/orville-coward/) - Orville D. Coward, Jr. was born in Sylva, North Carolina on December 22, 1953. He graduated magna cum laude from Yale University in 1976 with a BA in English and went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina Law School in 1979, where he reestablished and served as President - [Estate Administration](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/estates/estate-administration-settlements/) - ESTATE ADMINISTRATION & SETTLEMENT When a loved one passes away, dealing with the distribution of their assets can be confusing and emotionally trying. North Carolina law has specific requirements for dealing with real estate, personal property, and financial assets of deceased persons. Our professionals have years of experience navigating this long and sometimes difficult process, - [Guardianships](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/estates/guardianships/) - Guardianship and Incompetency Lawyers | Elder Care, Child and Special Needs Guardianships and Incompetencies - [Estate Planning](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/estates/) - Asset protection and benefit planning legal services. Wills, trusts, guardianships and elder law planning. 828-586-2147 - [Outside Counsel To Governmental Entities](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/municipal-and-county-government-law/outside-counsel-to-governmental-entities/) - WNC Associate and Local Counsel to Municipal Entities and Agencies | Municipal Counsel - [Annexation](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/municipal-and-county-government-law/annexation/) - Property Annexation Attorneys | Annexation matters in Sylva, Cashiers, Franklin, Highlands and throughout WNC - [Zoning, Planning and Land Use Attorneys](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/municipal-and-county-government-law/zoning-planning-and-land-use-attorneys/) - Land Use and Zoning Lawyers | Land Use, Planning and Zoning Attorneys in Western North Carolina - [Municipal and County Government Law](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/municipal-and-county-government-law/) - Municipal, Agency, and County Governmental Attorneys - Franklin, Sylva, Cashiers | Serving all of Western NC - [Homeowner and Condominium Association Law](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/transactional-law/homeowner-and-condominium-owner-associations/) - Homeowner Association and Condominium Association Lawyers in WNC | Sylva, Franklin, Cashiers, Highlands, Murphy, Maggie Valley NC - [Eminent Domain and Condemnation](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/municipal-and-county-government-law/eminent-domain-and-condemnation/) - WNC Eminent Domain and Condemnation Lawyers | Land Condemnation in WNC, Highlands, Sylva, Franklin, Murphy - [Real Estate Closings](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/transactional-law/real-estate-closings/) - Real Estate Closings and Transactions Lawyer | Western North Carolina, Cashiers, Sylva, Highlands, Franklin - [Transactional Law - Real Estate & Contracts](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/transactional-law/) - Real Estate Closings and Transactions Lawyer | Western North Carolina, Cashiers, Sylva, Highlands, Franklin - [Real Property Law](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/transactional-law/real-property-law/) - Real Estate Transactions, Contracts and Closings | Cashiers 828-743-2401 | Sylva 828-586-2147 | Franklin 828-524-6475 - [Our Focus](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-focus/) - Coward Hicks & Siler is a Western North Carolina Law Firm focusing on Real Estate & Transactions, Civil Litigation, Family Law, and Business & Corporate Matters - [Contact](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/contact/) - CONTACT OUR FIRM WE CAN HELP. LET'S GET STARTED. Full Name * Email Address: * Phone Number * What is Your County of Residence Buncombe Cherokee Clay Graham Haywood Jackson Swain Transylvania Other What is Your County of Residence Checkboxes General Real Estate Real Estate Transactions & Closings Condemnation Home or Condominium Associations Municipal Matters - [J. K. Coward](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-firm/sylva/j-k-coward/) - PRACTICE FOCUS: Real Estate & Transactions, Real Property Law, Business & Corporate Law, Homeowner & Condominium Owner Associations, Zoning, Planning & Land Use Attorneys, Estate Planning & Estate Settlement, Guardianships, Construction Law, General Civil Litigation, Municipal & Government Law, Zoning & Land Use, Eminent Domain, Annexation, Native Peoples Law James Kent ("Jay") Coward, Jr. was born and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and has been practicing law - [FIRM NEWS](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/articles/) - [Sylva](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-firm/sylva/) - [Franklin](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-firm/franklin/) - [Cashiers](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/our-firm/cashiers/) - [Comments & Reviews](https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/reviews/) - Thank you for taking the time to review our services. 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