Estate Planning and Probate/Expert Profile

Expertise

Areas of law where I can give general answers 1) Basic design, creation, and administration of estate plans. (Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Medical Releases, Probate Avoidance, Estate Tax Sheltering) 2) Asset Protection (using Trusts, Company Structures, and offshore planning) 3) Special Needs Planning (Planning for people with special needs - Typically this involves needs based government benefits.) 4) Medicaid Qualification 5) Veteran’s Pension Benefits qualification (Sometimes referred to as Aid & Attendance benefits) 6) Wealth Transfers that get into other areas of law (i.e. Bankruptcy - There was a bankruptcy question where one family wanted to know how they could give money to a family in bankruptcy. Your bankruptcy expert correctly stated bankruptcy law but could give no solution. I would have given a potential solution through the use of a specially drafted irrevocable trust.) 7) Multigenerational Planning (Most estate planning exhausts the estate within three generations. There are some very special considerations and complex planning to be done if the wealth is to benefit many generations.) 8) Charitable Planning (using charitable trusts) 9) Business Planning a. Exit Planning (this also includes valuation) b. Continuity Planning c. Cross Purchase and Buy-Sell Agreements I can specifically answer the above areas with regard to Kansas law. Areas of law I can not answer: 1) Most areas of law not dealing with wealth or asset transfers (criminal, civil suits, etc….) 2) Probate ( I can not answer probate questions except in the most general terms because 1) probate laws are very state specific and 2) I don’t do probate. My clients avoid it.) My focus is not just stating rules of law, but offering possible solutions to problems.

Experience in the area

For the last four years I have limited my practice (Advanced Legal Planning, LLC) to work involving Estate Planning issues. I have counseled with clients and drafted many estate plans. I have also drafted Charitable Remainder and Lead Trusts. I have counseled families on and drafted special needs trusts to care for their minor and adult children. It is what I love to do. Also, if I don't know the answer I have resources through Wealth Counsel to go and get the answers from other attorneys who also practice in the area.

Organizations

Wealth Counsel Applying with International Association for Attorneys for Family Held Enterprise Applying with Family Firm Institute

Education/Credentials

BBA - Austin Peay State University (Concentration in Accounting) MSM (Masters of Science in Management) - Friends University (4.0 GPA) JD - Washburn University School of Law (Certificate in Tax Law) (Graduated with Honors) Admitted to Practice in the state of Kansas Supreme Court # 21302

Past/Present Clients

I can not give specifics about any client but I can tell you that my clients have ranged in wealth from estates of $40,000,000 or more down to those with no money for whom I did free work. My typical client has between $500,000 and $2,000,000 in assets.