Clients and prospective clients seeking to hire legal counsel for estate planning, trust and estate administration, or related matters should take time to ensure (among other things) that the attorney under consideration regularly practices and has sufficient experience in the field of estate planning. This law firm is routinely engaged to advise new and existing clients on estate planning matters throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area and across the states of Kansas and Missouri. Current and former clients include individuals, married couples, families, business owners, trustees, and those planning for loved ones with special or supplemental needs.
Whether you are creating your first estate plan, updating documents after a major life event, planning to preserve wealth across generations, or arranging for the care of a family member with a disability, we offer thoughtful counsel and work with you to design a plan that functions smoothly in real-world administration. Our primary estate planning attorney brings a distinctive perspective drawn from years of hands-on trust and estate administration experience, allowing the firm to anticipate the practical challenges that can arise after a plan is signed and to structure plans that are clear, efficient, and built to work when they are needed most.
A thoughtful, well-designed estate plan can make the difference between a smooth administration and a costly, contentious one. An experienced and intentional estate planning lawyer is also capable of educating his or her client along the way, and this law firm believes that informed clients make better decisions about their families, their legacies, and the future. It is important to note that there is no official designation or credential of “estate planning lawyer” or “estate planning attorney” offered by the states of Kansas or Missouri; licensed attorneys who practice law in these states may choose to engage or not engage in estate planning work.
Our estate planning capabilities include the following non-exhaustive list: revocable and irrevocable trust planning; incapacity planning, including powers of attorney and healthcare directives; probate avoidance planning; charitable planning; special and supplemental needs trust planning; trustee selection and distribution standards; and coordination of real estate holdings within an estate plan.
Beyond the design of an estate plan, we understand what it takes to administer one. Drawing on substantial experience gained while administering complex trusts for high-net-worth and multi-generational families, our firm appreciates how distribution standards, trustee duties, tax considerations, and real property holdings actually operate once a plan takes effect. We bring that administrative insight back into the drafting process, helping clients avoid common pitfalls that can undermine otherwise well-drafted documents and easing the burden on the family members and fiduciaries who will one day carry the plan out. After the discussion and drafting process, our clients have confidence that what their estate plans direct is not only the desired outcome, but also realistic, practical, and truly able to be effectuated by trustees and/or personal representatives.
Families caring for a loved one with a disability face unique planning considerations. We counsel parents, guardians, and other family members on special and supplemental needs trusts and related strategies designed to protect and preserve eligibility for important public benefits. We approach this sensitive work with care, helping families create a plan that protects and provides for those who may need lifelong support.
We are skilled at guiding clients through sensitive family dynamics and helping them make confident, informed decisions about the future. We take a collaborative, client-centered approach to estate planning, and we frequently work alongside financial advisors, accountants, and other trusted professionals so that each plan aligns with the client’s broader financial and legacy goals. Consistent with the rest of our practice, we place an emphasis on client convenience, timely communication, and efficient service.
Whether you are ready to begin your estate plan or simply have questions about the process, we welcome the opportunity to help. A great way to get started is with an initial consultation, after which we can assess your needs and offer a fee estimate, with no continuing obligation. You may also wish to review our estate planning FAQs to learn more. To schedule, please call our office at 913-735-7707, email us at admin@kincaidlawkc.com, or book online.