Estate Planning. Real Estate. Elder and Special Needs Law. Probate.
our Team
James M. Arges
PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY
Jim has been a licensed attorney for more than three decades. When serving clients, Jim is always mindful that real estate or estate planning may be their first encounter with legal representation. "I want to give my clients a positive first experience of lawyers."
Jim brings to his law practice special gifts as an unabashed people person. "I practice estate planning and real estate law because I enjoy working with people and helping them with the most important investments of their lives. Our firm is very focused on taking care of our clients. We return phone calls promptly and we want to make sure that visits to our office are pleasant experiences."
As a dedicated family man, Jim has a real understanding of the concerns and fears of parents wanting to provide for their children. "I feel strongly that anybody who has young children needs to do estate planning, as well as anybody with assets of any kind. Even young adults should at least have power of attorney documents in place in case of an emergency situation or incapacity. Estate planning can be complicated, but it can be straightforward. For some people, a simple will is sufficient, along with a general power of attorney, health care power of attorney and advance directives.
Jim has survived the death of two amazing and brilliant wives, and is proud of the strength and resilience he and his four adult children are learning together as they all are finding their way in the world.
Jim is a Durham native who graduated from Durham Academy, Duke University (BA in History) and Campbell University's Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law (Juris Doctor).
Jim is a member, treasurer and past president of the Real Estate Lawyers Association of North Carolina (relanc.com), a statewide attorney advocacy group whose purpose is to protect home ownership rights. He is also a member of the Real Property and Estate Planning Sections of the North Carolina Bar Association and the North Carolina State Bar. On the local level, Jim is a member of the Durham County Bar Association; an affiliate member of the Durham Regional Association of Realtors and the Triangle Mortgage Lenders Association.
Jim's involvements in the community have included service as a youth athletics coach for the North Durham Little League, the Hillandale Athletic Association, and the Durham YMCA. As a member of Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham, Jim has served as a Deacon, Chair of the Church Council, Church Moderator, Chair of the Personnel Committee, Chair of the Youth Education Committee, and as a Sunday School Teacher. Around church he is known for his prowess around the grill!
Deborah H. Shartle
OF COUNSEL
A Campbell Law School graduate with honors, Deb is passionate about advocating for vulnerable populations, including clients with special needs and protecting individual rights. As a former U.S. Air Force Officer, she has a particular interest in helping military veterans. As a prior math teacher and tutor, Deb loves helping clients understand the process of putting an estate plan together or the complexities of purchasing a home. "I am rewarded most when I hear that my explanation leads to understanding."
Deb enjoys helping individuals as they navigate the court system to get a loved one's will or estate probated. "I empathize with anyone who is facing the court system for the first time because they are the named Executor in their loved one's will or are the logical choice to serve as Executor for a loved one's estate. Dealing with the legal system can be very intimidating." Not only that, but she also recognizes that the people who are serving in these roles often have only a limited amount of time to devote to the probate process because they already have many other commitments. "My goal is to make the process as seamless as possible for my clients. Losing a loved one is hard enough; having to go through the probate process often just adds another layer of difficulty to that loss."
Deb is a fan of incorporating trusts into estate planning. "A revocable living trust allows a client to place their assets into a trust, with complete freedom to not only manage those assets during the client's life, but also to transfer those assets to heirs without the need for probate. It's also private; that trust document is not filed in the court after your death like your will is. At the end of the day, I think you create a trust not for yourself, but to make your loved ones' lives easier. With a trust holding most of your assets, you will minimize the time that your fiduciary spends trying to navigate the court system. probating your estate."
Deb recognizes the need for elder care planning for a population that is growing every year. "Elder care planning actually starts with a basic estate plan. However, it goes beyond that because elder clients are concerned with what will happen if they are no longer able to live independently. Who will care for them? Will they continue to live in their home or will they transfer to a nursing home or other long-term care facility? Who will pay for this level of care? And what will happen to all the assets that they have spent a lifetime accumulating? Will those assets go to the state or long-term care facility, and will there be anything left to leave to their children and grandchildren? We want to help our clients successfully navigate this new phase in their lives so that they can live comfortably while knowing that they will still have assets to pass onto their children."
In addition to her law degree, Deb holds a Masters of Education (M.Ed.) and Bachelors degrees in Mathematics from Cedar Crest College and in Business Administration from the University of Houston.
Deb is a member of the North Carolina State Bar. She is also a member of the Real Property, Estate Planning, Military & Veterans Law, and Elder & Special Needs Law Sections of the North Carolina Bar Association. Locally, Deb is a member of the Durham County Bar Association, an affiliate member of the Durham Regional Association of Realtors, and the Triangle Mortgage Lenders Association. As an elder law attorney, Deb is a member of ElderCounsel and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
CYNTHIA C. SNYDER
ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
Cindy joined the Arges Law Firm in 2025, having retired in 2023 after 32 years at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and then ViiV Healthcare. Her career in the pharmaceutical industry included federal and state advocacy, policy development and government relations. She worked with patient advocates and policy makers on health policies that improve access to care for people living with HIV and those in need of HIV prevention.
Cindy also worked with several state Medicaid programs, advocating for increases to federal and state HIV funding, and improved access for people eligible for Medicaid and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
Cindy received her law degree from North Carolina Central University in 1999, and although her career in the corporate world did not require a law degree, it helped her review legislation and Medicaid regulations and policy. She has an affinity for Medicaid work, and while she knows a lot about Medicaid policy, it was rewarding to see how the program works “in real life” as she worked to get her mother long-term care Medicaid coverage, and Medicaid coverage for other family members.
She is delighted to finally become a practicing attorney and enjoys working with clients to understand their needs and help them with solutions, especially people with Medicaid questions. “I am humbled that clients share such private and sometimes difficult situations with me. I am required to keep these conversations confidential, but I know it must still be hard for some people to share their problems. It is an honor to help them.” Cindy is happy to meet with clients in person, or through Zoom.
Through her church, St. Paul’s Lutheran (Durham), Cindy has worked for many years with the Duke Lutherans Campus Ministry. She is on the boards of the Community Action National Network (CANN) and The AIDS Institute. She graduated from Duke University (1983), North Carolina Central University (1999) and is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the Sixteenth Judicial District Bar and the Durham County Bar Association. She lives in Durham with her husband and two cats. She is the proud parent of two daughters and a granddaughter. Cindy enjoys entertaining, traveling, reading, walking, swimming and spending time with family and friends.
william g. harriss
OF COUNSEL
After decades of practice in his own law firm, Harriss and Marion, Bill joined Arges Law Firm in an Of Counsel position in 2019. A Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bill graduated from Duke University School of Law. A native of Burlington, Bill has practiced law for more than 50 years in diverse areas including commercial and residential real estate, business law, and estate planning.
Bill has had a lifelong interest in the Salvation Army that began when he was young; his parents were ministers with the Salvation Army, stationed in Burlington. Bill learned to play the horn and participated in both his high school band and the Salvation Army brass band. He has continued his commitment to this organization throughout his life, from participating as a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and teaching youngsters to play horns to participating in the church ensemble. Bill was a founding member of the Triangle Brass Band and was a member of the group for over 30 years. Bill is an active member of his church community, Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church in Chapel Hill.
FELICE MCNEILL-HAYES
OFFICE MANAGER
Felice McNeill-Hayes is the office manager and a North Carolina Certified Paralegal with over 27 years of experience. Assisting home buyers has been an especially meaningful part of her work: “I enjoy helping people attain their dreams. Buying a home is the fulfillment of an important dream for many people. I make sure that everything goes smoothly; that there are no bumps or headaches at closing. I want to make sure it’s an enjoyable experience for our clients. I want people to know that they can always call us—that they can bring any question to us. There are no dumb questions; this is not something that people do everyday, and they have to be sure they really understand what is going on.”
A native of the Bronx, NY, Felice grew up in Rocky Mount and graduated from North Carolina Central University, completing a B.A. in political science. Her husband, Darryl, is employed locally by a local insurance provider as an IS technician. They have two girls. Felice has worked with Jim for several years. “I enjoy working for Jim; he is an honorable attorney. Plus, we've got a great staff.”
Felice’s hobbies include jewelry making and scrapbooking. She is active at her church, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, helping to provide resources for folk in need, assisting with the ministry to children, and donating her time to the many community projects which her church undertakes.
jeanette taylor
PARALEGAL
Jeanette is a paralegal who joined Arges Law Firm, P.C. in 2023. With two decades of experience with other law firms in the Durham area, she has worked on literally thousands of real estate files. In addition to real estate, Jeanette has experience in other areas of the law including Wills & Estate and Divorce cases.
Jeanette is from Lumberton, NC in Robeson County where she worked in law enforcement before becoming a paralegal.
Jeanette is a proud mother of three outstanding children and a very proud grandmother of three wonderful grandchildren. She loves calling Durham home.
Mary Elizabeth Hill Hanchey
ESTATE PLANNING COORDINATOR
Mary Elizabeth (she/her) joined Arges Law Firm in 2025, bringing together her legal training and ministry experience to support our care for clients and their families as they navigate imporant decisions and significant life changes. "I hope to be a calming presence in the midst of complex - and sometimes uncomfortable - conversations. And I want our clients to remember that we are here to help, again and again, in planning for the years ahead, and in responding to the challenges that arise."
Born into the community of Mars Hill, NC, Mary Elizabeth has a deep love for that part of the state. But she has spent most of her life in Durham, NC. She graduated from Northern High School in 1995.
Mary Elizabeth earned a BA from UNC Chapel Hill (English and Political Science with a minor in music); a JD from the UNC School of Law (Davis Scholar); and an MDiv from Duke Divinity School (CBF Scholar). In addition to these degrees, Mary Elizabeth is trained as a leadership coach, and an intentional interim minister/transition consultant. She appreciates the opportunity to untangle complexities and build community.
Mary Elizabeth is grateful for the partnership of her wise and supportive husband, and is proud of her three children who are beginning to make their way in this world. She appreciates living in community with family and dear friends.
Mary Elizabeth plays piano, gardens, and writes. She is often happily covered in mud and mulch. She also delights in playing boardgames with friends and family. Much of her attention is devoted to a black dog that was supposed to be a lab, but is not.
Mary Elizabeth also spends her time working with churches in transition.