Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning in Missouri and Kansas
At Kapke & Willerth, LLC, sound advice about estate planning and the best ways to meet personal and family objectives have formed a hallmark of our firm's practice for 40 years. Whether you just want a Last Will and Testament or wish to discuss more complex estate planning solutions to address specific objectives, our lawyers can help. Contact our office in Lee's Summit to schedule an initial consultation about the estate planning alternatives that will work best for you and your family.
Our lawyers help people define and prioritize their goals, then work to find ways to overcome legal or practical obstacles. While a Last Will and Testament can be an effective way to transfer assets between generations, other estate planning tools will often be useful for achieving more specific objectives or protecting particular interests.
For example, durable powers of attorney will express clear preferences and instructions concerning financial matters or medical treatment in the event of a person's incapacity. By designating specific persons to look after these matters for you if you become unable to do so, you can avoid the need for an appointed guardian in the event of a major medical crisis.
A Living Will directive to health care providers can also give clear guidance to your family and your medical team about the circumstances under which you would prefer that life support efforts be discontinued at a particular stage of a terminal illness or catastrophic accident. The combination of a Last Will and Testament, Power of Attorney, Living Will and non-probate transfers such as Beneficiary Deeds constitute the main estate planning documents that cover the majority of most families' needs.
Kansas City Testamentary Trust Attorneys: Call 816-461-3800 or 888-731-6092
Depending on your circumstances and objectives, you and your family might also benefit from trust instruments to achieve your particular focused goals, including:
- Avoid probate
- Manage or defer anticipated tax liability
- Protect Medicaid eligibility
- Protect a disabled or vulnerable family member
- Specify ownership or management succession for a family business or farm
- Support charitable, educational or religious institutions while retaining a beneficial interest in a particular asset during life
Because trusts tend to support particular objectives that reflect a family's unique circumstances and objectives, it makes sense to work with experienced lawyers who can explain the functions of each of the different trusts you can choose from: revocable living trusts, testamentary trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, charitable remainder trusts, special needs trusts and many others.
Our experience with probate and estate administration in Missouri and Kansas helps us prepare wills with a reliable sense of how they will function when you need them. As seasoned probate litigation attorneys, we also know how to draft estate plans with a view toward clarity and avoiding the oversights that can invite disputes between heirs, beneficiaries, executors or trustees. Contact our Lee's Summit estate planning attorneys to find out about the ways our experience and our individualized approach can benefit you and your family.
