Mariah has dedicated a little more than the past decade to representing fiduciaries in their roles as executors, trustees, guardians, and decision-makers under powers of attorney. She has negotiated many out-of-court estate and trust settlements to protect her clients from litigation. She has also represented clients in court proceedings both contested and non-contested when litigation is unavoidable. Mariah is a partner of Garlock & McKinney, P.C. and has also joined the law firm of W.G. Alexander & Associates in Raleigh in January, 2026 where Mariah concentrates her practice there in fiduciary litigation matters as an affiliated “of counsel” Attorney. https://wgalaw.com/

Mariah often refers to herself as the mountains to the sea lawyer as she offers representation to clients statewide. Her practice areas include: Fiduciary Representation & Litigation, Probate and Estate Administration, Incompetency & Guardianships, Trusts, and Estate Planning. Her primary practice focuses on litigation matters within her practice areas and she continues to represent clients in some non-litigation cases.

In 2024, Mariah began spending more time in the Topsail Island area where she has wonderful beach memories and strong connections from her childhood. She has helped many people in the Topsail and surrounding areas with legal issues since that time. Mariah is married to her husband, Tony McKinney, who is originally from Mitchell County, NC. After they married in 2009, Mariah moved to the mountains to try it as a mountain woman. That is how she met her law partner, Victor Garlock of Garlock & McKinney, P.C. Vic and Mariah opened a law office in Black Mountain in 2016, which remains open and thriving.

Mariah has very unique experience as a former probate clerk in both Wake and Buncombe Counties where she audited and approved estate filings, assisted attorneys, and presided over hearings as an ex officio Judge of Probate as an extension of the elected Clerk of Court’s judicial authority in those counties. She also served as Assistant Legal Counsel to all the Clerks of Court and their offices statewide in her practice areas with the NC AOC.

Mariah is a native of North Carolina, born in the sandhills and then graduating high school in Eastern Wake County. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and then earned her law degree from North Carolina Central School of Law in 2004.

She continues to practice with and provide legal representation for her law partner, Victor Garlock, in his role as the Buncombe County Public Guardian and as the President and founder of Fidelicare, Inc., a fiduciary services company. Through Fidelicare, Vic and his staff of case managers oversee a number of guardianships and special needs trusts with Vic as Guardian and Trustee. Fidelicare is devoted to helping people needing assistance with their daily affairs and supporting individuals serving others as trustee, attorney-in-fact (power of attorney) or guardian. Fidelicare also provides trustee services for trusts, including special needs trusts. For more information, the Fidelicare website is accessible by clicking the link here, www.fidelicare.net.

Mariah is a proud member of the Buncombe County Bar and is also a member of The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce. She is also a trained Christian Mediator and Conflict Coach. She offers those services through PeacePoint Ministry. You can learn more about PeacePoint at www.peacepoint.com.