Elijah Deese

Personal Interests & Charitable Work

Elijah G. Deese is an attorney with extensive estate planning experience. His mission is to help individuals and families achieve peace and protect their loved ones through estate planning. With years of experience within the subfield of estate law, Elijah brings both depth of understanding and a personal approach to every client relationship. He earned his law degree cum laude from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he received the prestigious CALI Excellence Awards in Contracts, Law & Cognition, Legal Philosophy, and Estate Planning. These academic honors were early indicators of his ability to excel in the areas of study most essential to estate planning. Before law school, Elijah received his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at UNC, he met his wife, Gabriella. The two then moved to Connecticut for the world’s best pizza and top-tier college basketball, and along the way managed to pursue their professional degrees. Elijah has worked extensively in estate planning since entering the legal field. He began as a law clerk at Czepiga Daly Pope & Perry in Simsbury, Connecticut. There he worked hand in hand with some of the most esteemed members within the field to plan for, protect, and defend their clients. He also worked at the The Estate Planning Law Center in Hartford, Connecticut gaining experience in trust drafting, elder law, and long-term care planning. Finally, as an associate attorney at Providence Wills and Trusts in Charlotte, he deepened his understanding of family dynamics, asset protection, and guiding clients through some of life’s most important decisions. Having worked in three estate planning firms across multiple states, Elijah founded Luminary Wills and Trusts to take the best of what he’d seen and build a practice that reflects his own vision. At Luminary, planning is never just about documents. It’s about understanding your story, honoring your values, and creating something that lasts. Elijah grew up in Weddington, North Carolina, completed his undergraduate education at UNC Chapel Hill, and spent several years studying and working in Connecticut before returning to his home state. He and Gabriella now live in Asheville with their two rescue dogs, Loch and Nessa. Outside the office, you’ll find Elijah exploring new trails, cooking, listening to music, and blacksmithing.