Stephen J. Grabenstein

Steve Grabenstein is a seasoned civil litigator with The Van Winkle Law Firm where he focuses his practice on will contests, business disputes, trust and estate disputes, wrongful death and personal injury claims and fiduciary related claims.  As a talented litigator, Steve has handled numerous will caveat proceedings, complex commercial actions, wrongful death and personal injury suits, suits involving trusts and trustees, and fiduciary litigation.  Grabenstein is also a certified mediator and in that role and as a member of arbitration panels has helped hundreds of individuals negotiate and settle a wide variety of cases.  Grabenstein has also been trained in the collaborative law approach to resolving disputes outside of court.

Practice Areas

• Trust and Estate Disputes & Controversies
• Will Contests
• Litigation
• Commercial Litigation
• Mediation & Arbitration
• Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

Awards & Honors

• The Best Lawyers in America® 2020, Asheville Area – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
• Lawyer of the Year, Asheville Area – The Best Lawyers in America® 2020 – Litigation – Trusts and Estates – 2 years
• Super Lawyers in Trust and Estate Litigation since 2012
• Best Lawyers in Trust and Estate Litigation since 2011
• The Best Lawyers In America 2025

Practice Highlights

• Led The Van Winkle Law Firm’s successful efforts in regaining control of more than $10 million in assets for an elderly client.
• Obtained significant settlements in wrongful death claims for accidents in and outside of North Carolina.
• Preserved an inheritance for three daughters who were told their father had no assets when he died. Following review of banking and financial records, Steve successfully negotiated an $800,000 settlement for the daughters.
• Handled a wide range of business, LLC and corporate disputes including derivative actions.
• Recovered $350,000 for the beneficiaries of a trust in a case where he alleged the Trustee had made inappropriate distributions from the Trust.
• Led efforts to resolve the distribution of an estate worth more than $2.5 million where there was considerable confusion and uncertainty regarding the provisions of a will and trust.