Local roots. Experienced counsel.

For more than four decades, we’ve helped the people of the Swannanoa Valley navigate important legal decisions with practical advice and personal attention.

How We Can Help

Why Sneed & Stearns?

Our firm has served the Swannanoa Valley and Western North Carolina since 1982. Today, Sneed & Stearns combines deep local roots with experience spanning private practice, North Carolina's courts, and state government. We bring that experience home to help our clients solve problems with practical advice and personal attention.

Our story

Our Services

REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY

Closings, deeds, easements, boundary disputes, inherited property, and property ownership disputes

CIVIL LITIGATION

Estate, property, contract, and other civil disputes

ESTATE
PLANNING

Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care powers of attorney

GUARDIANSHIPS

Experienced guidance through guardianship proceedings

ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
& PROBATE

Guidance for executors and families after the death of a loved one.

BUSINESS LAW

Business formation, contracts, transactions, and ongoing legal counsel

Meet Our Team

Anna Stearns

Anna started with the firm as a high school intern and today serves as its managing partner. Along the way, she built a career spanning private practice, state government, and the North Carolina courts. Anna specializes in real estate transactions and complex estate administration.

Managing Partner

Ron Sneed

Ron founded the firm in 1982 and has spent nearly five decades serving clients in Black Mountain and Western North Carolina. His deep knowledge of the community and its people remains at the heart of the firm he built.

Founder

Johanna brings decades of experience in private practice and the Buncombe County court system, including more than ten years presiding over estate and guardianship matters. Her practice focuses on civil litigation, estates, and guardianships.

Associate Attorney

Johanna Finkelstein

Ciara first joined Sneed & Stearns as a high school intern and continued working with the firm through college and law school before returning home to practice law. She focuses on estate planning and business matters, helping clients plan thoughtfully for what comes next.