Paul Hicks is a partner in the Parkersburg office of Bowles Rice, LLP and a member of the Firm’s Tax Group.  He focuses his practice in the areas of tax, estate planning and administration, asset protection planning, elder law and Medicaid planning, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, with additional experience in general business, real estate and natural resources law.

Paul’s estate planning practice includes the preparation of wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, charitable remainder trusts, special needs trust and advanced directives (financial power of attorney, medical power of attorney and living will).  His estate administration practice consists of the settlement of estates and the preparation of federal and state estate tax returns in both West Virginia and Ohio.  Paul represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service and the West Virginia Department of Tax and Revenue and also individuals and professionals in litigation matters involving estate and trust administration.

In his asset protection planning, Paul assists clients as part of their estate planning to protect their assets from potential creditor liability in both their professional and personal lives. 

In regard to the elder law and Medicaid planning, Paul assists clients as they face issues that are unique to parents and their children in dealing with legal issues faced by an aging population.  This includes assisting clients with navigating the maze of Medicaid law and the application process.  This may also include guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, when required, or the preparation of advance directives to avoid future guardianship and conservatorship proceedings.

Paul has successfully represented commercial lending institutions, businesses and individuals in many commercial transactions, including: the creation, operation and dissolution of business entities; contract preparations; leases and mergers and acquisitions.  He is also experienced in the areas of real estate and natural resource law, including mineral ownership and development, complex multi-tract transactions, closings and purchase/sale agreements. 

Paul is a member of the Board of Directors for the Good Samaritan Clinic, is President of the Mid-Ohio Valley Estate Planning Council and is a Trustee of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia.  He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Professional Advisors Committee of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation.  Paul is a retired Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy, where he held the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Paul received his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in accounting, from West Virginia University.  He is a member of the West Virginia Bar Association, The Ohio Bar Association, the Wood County Bar Association, the Washington County Bar Association and is licensed to practice in West Virginia and Ohio and before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and the U.S. Tax Court.