Roy D. Trest

Roy D. Trest is a native of Brunswick County, North Carolina, and a 1966 graduate of Shallotte High School.  He was admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in 1977.

Mr. Trest earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1970.  At Carolina, he was a member of Delta Sigma Pi.  After graduation, he enlisted in the US Army Reserves.  In 1974, he was accepted at the University of Mississippi School Law where he later graduated in 1977.  At Ole Miss, Mr. Trest interned with the District Attorney’s Office as a third year law student and prosecuted a multitude of criminal cases.  He also was a member of the Law Review and Phi Alpha Delta.

Upon graduation, Mr. Trest became employed as an Associate with Attorney Mason Anderson for two years.  In January of 1979, he opened a sole practitioner’s office.  In August of that year, he was appointed District Court Judge by Governor James B. Hunt, and successfully sought election of that position.  In January of 1985, Mr. Trest formed the law firm of Baxley and Trest with law partner, Douglas W. Baxley.

In January of 2005, he formed the partnership of Trest & Twigg with his daughter and law partner, Tonia Trest Twigg.  The current office is located in his former childhood home.

Some of his many accomplishments include the following:

• Presentation of a seminar on DWI laws to the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (now the North Carolina Advocates for Justice)
• Service on the Board of Governors for the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers from 1990 to 1996
• Advocate of the PALS program
• Recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine on September 15, 1984
• Recipient of the 2011 Brunswick County Hall of Fame award.

Mr. Trest is a member of Shallotte Presbyterian Church where he has served as both a deacon and elder.

Mr. Trest has defended hundreds of DWI cases, multiple murder cases, and numerous criminal cases in both Superior and District Court.  He also has a successful civil litigation career including two complex cases regarding easements and roadways at Sunset Beach.  He is an accomplished personal injury and wrongful death attorney, and has settled and collected two notable cases in excess of $900,000.00.

His memberships include the North Carolina and American Bar Associations; North Carolina State Bar; and North Carolina Advocates for Justice. His practice areas include Automobile Accidents and Injuries; Criminal Law; Civil Litigation; Driving While Intoxicated;  Personal Injury; Traffic Violations; and Wrongful Death. He is also a Certified Mediator in North Carolina.

Mr. Trest is married to his college sweetheart, Donna, who also serves as the firm’s office .manager.  He has two daughters, one son-in-law, a grandson and a granddaughter.

To schedule an appointment with Attorney Roy D. Trest, contact Anne at 910-575-7337 ext. 0 or email at annem@atmc.net