Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Support
  Family law issues become even more complicated whenever children are involved. The issues of child support and custody are vital to the future of your family, but it’s difficult to find an agreement that satisfies all parties. At White Peck Carrington, LLP, we work with you on these issues to find a custody and support payment plan that works for your family’s future in a positive way. Kentucky law considers your current financial and personal situations when establishing child support and custody agreements, and we stand by your side to make sure these plans reflect your and your child's best interest.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  A court will base its decision on a child custody agreement solely on the best interest of the child. A number of factors will be considered when deciding how the custody will work for your family after a divorce, including...
• Spousal Support
  During and after a divorce, it may be necessary for one former partner to pay the other spouse regular amounts of compensation in the form of spousal support — also known as alimony. This depends on the financial status of both parties, the potential of each to earn income and other key factors. At White Peck Carrington, LLP, we help with all issues related to spousal support, and our legal team provides superior service and personal attention at competitive rates. Our lawyers have more than 100 combined years of experience, and our firm has been in operation in Mount Sterling since 1862.
• Legal Separation
• Annulment

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  A misdemeanor crime typically involves crime against a person, property, or the public safety or public order. There are two main types of misdemeanors according to Kentucky criminal law...
• DUI/DWI
  In Kentucky, there are some strict penalties for individuals accused of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, including jail or prison time, large fines, probation, community service and suspension of your driver license. When your personal and professional life is at stake, our experienced DUI and DWI defense attorneys at White Peck Carrington, LLP meet with you in person to discuss your case, answer your questions and provide the objective advice you need. Our legal team has experience handling cases in both state and federal courts.
• Wrongful Death
  White Peck Carrington, LLP engages in the general practice of law, including civil litigation, personal injury, wrongful death, real estate, domestic relations, criminal law, financial institutions, business organizations, business law, probate, estates, trusts, and other matters.
• Traffic Violations
  Automobile technology has improved drastically in recent years, doing wonders to increase driver and passenger safety. However, accidents may still occur due to a number of different factors, and some causes are much more common than others, such as distracted driving (looking at the scenery or a cell phone, adjusting the radio, etc.), driver fatigue, drunk driving, speeding, aggressive driving (tailgating, verbal abuse, disregarding traffic signals, etc.), and inclement weather.
• Burglary
  Class A misdemeanors — This is the most serious type of misdemeanor. Some common examples include assault that results in a bodily injury, burglary, perjury, obscenity, public lewdness, the unlawful possession of a weapon or the violation of a restraining order.
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
  Class B misdemeanors — Class B misdemeanors are less serious in nature. Some common examples include criminal mischief, criminal trespass, graffiti, certain types of assault, and property theft of less than $500.
• Drug Crimes
  Ben spends a large amount of his time defending criminal cases in both state and federal courts here in Central and Eastern Kentucky.  He is dedicated to make sure everyone has their “day in court” and that each of his clients’ Constitutional Rights are protected in the process.  Ben has tried many felony cases through the years, ranging from assault to drug offenses to even homicide crimes.  Ben not only takes great pride in asserting a zealous and vigorous defense for his clients charged with crimes, but also is proud of his ability to maintain professional and courteous relationships with those bringing the charges, including the Commonwealth’s Attorneys and Assistant United States Attorneys.
• Assault
• Homicide
  From misdemeanors to felonies, we provide criminal law defense services in a number of areas, including drug crimes, violent crimes and homicide cases.
• Restraining Order
• Hit and Run
  Hit-and-run accidents. A hit-and-run collision occurs when one vehicle collides with another person or vehicle and the driver fails to stop and exchange information. This most commonly occurs in parking lots, such as when a motorist hits a parked car and simply drives away.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Mr. Peck practiced law from 1968 until 2020 with extensive experience in the areas of real estate transactions, business organizations and corporate law, banking and finance, estate planning, probate and estate administration and elder law.
• Business Formation
  Jesse provides counsel for corporate structuring. He is able to provide advice and assist clients in the formation, dissolution, purchase and/or sale of businesses, including stock purchases/sales and asset purchases/sales. His expertise in business formation ensures compliance with state and federal regulations for diverse and numerous industries.
• Business Disputes
  Matters relating to starting, maintaining, purchasing and selling and/or passing on an interest in a business can be complicated and, sometimes, confusing. The experienced business law attorneys at White Peck Carrington, LLP can effectively guide you in business entity formation, governance, operation and successful planning.
• Limited Liability Companies
  For his business clients Mr. Peck provided formation of business organizations such as corporations, limited liability companies, general partnerships, limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships. He also handled business and corporate law matters such as corporate governance, buy-sell agreements, non-compete agreements, employment agreements, asset purchase and sale agreements and stock purchase and sale agreements.

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  Michelle R. "Shelly" Williams is a native of Mount Sterling, Kentucky and has been engaged in general practice at White Peck Carrington since 1991, initially focusing on insurance defense, workers' compensation, and family law.
• Employment Contract
  He is also able to assist existing businesses in governance, employment agreements and non-compete agreements. Jesse provides contract formation and documentation, contract review, negotiation of existing of proposed contracts and dispute resolution of contractual terms.
• Non-compete Agreement
  Preparation or review of all kinds of business related documents such as contracts, employment agreements, "buy-sell" agreements, asset purchase and sale agreements, stock purchase and sale agreements, non-compete agreements, etc.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Legal issues related to real estate matters fall into two categories - "transactional" and "ligitation". The attorneys at White Peck Carrington have extensive experience in all types of real estate matters in either of these categories.
• Premises Liability
  Swimming pools provide hours of summertime fun for families throughout northeastern Kentucky, but they can also be extremely dangerous. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were more than 190,000 swimming pool injuries nationwide in 2012, with children ages 5 to 14 being the most likely to experience them. If an accident like this has happened in your family, consult with one of our premises liability lawyers at White Peck Carrington, LLP. Our friendly team of legal professionals serves people throughout the Mount Sterling area, providing personal attention and setting realistic expectations for your case.
• Construction Litigation
  Jesse also provides numerous services in the area of construction law. He has worked with contractors to provide contract review, negotiation, dispute resolution, collections, lien preparation and lien enforcement regarding both private construction jobs and high profile state jobs, including highway construction and building construction.
• Real Estate Transactions
  Dealing with a legal issue of any kind is always stressful, especially because of potential difficulties in your personal and professional life. At the law office of White Peck Carrington, LLP, our experienced staff of attorneys works with individuals and families to achieve a positive resolution in a number of different legal areas including divorce, personal injury, business law, criminal law and real estate transactions and litigation. Our staff of experienced lawyers has more than 100 combined years of legal experience, and every client who comes to us for assistance will benefit from their extensive knowledge of Kentucky law.
• Easement
• Land Use and Zoning
  In the real estate area Mr. Peck prepared all types of real estate related documents such as purchase and sale agreements, deeds of conveyance, mortgages, promissory notes and leases. He assisted clients in subdivision development, planning and zoning issues and condominium and planned development formation and governance. He also supervised real estate title examinations, rendered title opinions, provided title insurance policies and conducted real estate closings.
• Property Damage
  Automobile accidents happen on Kentucky’s roads and highways all the time. In fact, 147,838 car accidents that resulted in 36,579 injuries were reported in our state in 2012 alone. After being involved in a car accident that causes an injury or property damage, you may need to take action against the responsible parties or an insurance company for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our auto accident lawyers at White Peck Carrington, LLP have the knowledge, and leverage their more than 100 combined years of experience practicing law, to help your case succeed.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  If you have been the victim of a personal injury, we work to help you get the compensation you deserve for your pain.
• Medical Malpractice
  Mr. Carrington was involved in many types of civil litigation including business disputes, automobile and trucking collisions, catastrophic injuries, wrongful deaths and medical malpractice in state and federal courts. He also represented numerous individuals charged with serious felony offenses as well as misdemeanors. He argued cases before the Kentucky Supreme Court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Auto Accidents
• Social Security Disability
  Divorce and Child Custody, Personal Injury, Education Law, Social Security Disability Appeals, Probate of Wills and Estates, Administrative Law, Kentucky Personnel Board Appeals
• Medicaid Planning
  Jesse provides counsel in the area of elder law, particularly Medicaid planning, to ensure compliance with existing law and provide advice to those seeking Medicaid eligibility. Jesse is able to counsel those seeking Medicaid eligibility, and their loved ones, about the qualification process and how to effectively obtain and retain Medicaid qualification.
• Dog Bites
  Personal injury and Wrongful Death (Motor Vehicle Accidents, Work-Related Accidents, Intentional Torts, Slip and Fall, Dog Bites), Bankruptcy - Creditor and Debtor Matters, General Civil Litigation - State and Federal Court

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  White Peck Carrington, LLP has the oldest and most experienced estate planning, probate and elder law practice in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky and one of the oldest and most experienced in the surrounding area.
• Wills
  If a deceased person dies without a Last Will and Testament, they are referred to as having died "intestate" and an administrator must be appointed by the District Court in the County of their last residence to wind up and settle the person's affairs and distribute surplus assets to his or her spouse, if any, and/or heirs at law as specified by Kentucky law.
• Trusts
  Trusts - testamentary and living trusts, including revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, life insurance trusts, special needs trusts, etc.
• Power of Attorney
  A Will is only one part of a complete estate plan.  Everyone should also have a financial power of attorney to give authority to one or more persons you know and trust to handle your business and financial affairs while you are alive, but have developed some mental or physical condition that prevents you from doing so at all or, at least, conveniently.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
• Foreclosure
  Additionally, Jesse handles the collection of past due debts for a wide variety of industries and individuals and also represents consumers to settle past due debts.  He also represents financial institutions in foreclosure of retail shopping centers, commercial properties and subdivisions.
• Tax Law
  Last year Congress made significant changes to Federal tax law, including some relating to Federal estate taxes.  As a result, not many Americans will have to worry about paying any federal estate taxes.