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WAEstate

Creating Comprehensive Estate Plans in Kansas & Missouri

Connect with us today(913) 262-2000

Attend a Free Workshop

About The American Academy

History of the Academy

The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys was established in 1992 by Armstrong & Fisch, one of the most successful estate planning law firms in the country. After providing two decades of superior estate planning guidance and advice to thousands of legal clients, the firm decided to share their methods and practices with attorneys nationwide.

The Academy is a national organization dedicated to promoting excellence in estate planning by providing its exclusive membership of attorneys with up-to-date research on estate and tax planning, educational materials, and other important resources to empower them to provide superior estate planning services. The Academy expects members to have at least 36 hours of legal education each year specifically in estate, tax, probate and/or elder law subjects. To ensure this goal is met, the Academy provides over 40 hours of continuing legal education each year. The Academy has also been recognized as a consumer legal source by Money Magazine and Suze Orman in her book, 9 Steps to Financial Freedom.

For over 20 years, the Academy has been a highly-regarded and sought-after resource for attorneys and consumers alike, and has been recognized by Consumer Reports, Suze Orman in her book, 9 Steps to Financial Freedom and numerous times by Money Magazine.

Why Academy Members Are Unique

Focusing in Estate and Legacy Planning.

Members of the Academy concentrate their law practices in the area of estate planning and reinforce their expertise daily by dedicating their efforts to clients concerned with preserving what they have accumulated for future generations.

Professional Legal Training.

Academy members receive on-going training specific to the field of estate planning to ensure that their legal knowledge and techniques are based on the latest information and resources.

Nationwide Membership.

Members of the Academy are available throughout the U.S. and in most metro areas.

Superior client care.

Most Academy members offer expanded client care services such as in-home consultations, in order to meet the needs of each particular client.

Work with attorneys who focus on estate and legacy planning.

The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys encourages consumers to refer to the member listing located at (www.aaepa.com) to see if an Academy member has completed this continuing education.

Have your estate plan, legacy plan, and your financial plans coordinated.

Academy members recognize the importance in coordinating your estate, legacy, and financial goals together. Members can work as a team with your existing financial advisors.

Attend seminars on estate and legacy planning topics.

As educators in the field of estate planning, most Academy members regularly conduct seminars in their local areas to inform and educate consumers and financial advisors on estate planning issues.

Receive special reports on late-breaking estate and legacy planning news.

Regularly published consumer alerts provide timely, accurate hot topics in estate planning such as the latest changes to our estate tax laws.

Preserving Your Wealth With Estate and Legacy Planning

Academy members offer guidance and advice to their clients in every area of estate planning. This list offers a sampling of these services:

  • Advanced planning.

    Get assistance with matters such as Family Limited Partnerships, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, and Charitable Remainder Trusts.

  • Asset protection.

    Receive guidance on protecting your legacy.

  • Creditor protection.

    Find out how you can protect your estate and your heirs.

  • Divorce protection.

    Protect loved ones and get informed advice on these important estate planning issues.

  • Estate planning.

    Receive consultation and planning to ensure that your estate is distributed according to your wishes.

  • Legacy Wealth Planning.

    Create a Legacy Wealth Plan customized to leave the legacy you want.

  • Living Trusts.

    Create a Living Trust customized to address all of your family’s unique needs.

  • Long-term health care.

    Make sure you have properly outlined necessary health care instructions.

  • Probate assistance.

    Get the assistance you need when someone with or without a Will passes away.

  • Remarriage protection.

    Protect heirs and their special interest in the event the surviving spouse remarries.

  • Retirement planning.

    Ensure that your tax-deferred accounts are properly structured to give your family the greatest tax advantages possible.

  • Special needs planning.

    Tailored plans to protect family members with special needs.

  • Structured buy-out plans.

    The plan you create for your children to sell land and assets.

  • Tax planning.

    Preserve your wealth and reduce taxes with proper planning.

  • Trust administration.

    Create a Living Trust customized to address all of your family’s unique needs, and receive guidance when a family member passes away.

  • Updating documents.

    Ensure that your affairs are in order with regular estate reviews. Amend or restate your existing estate plan to ensure its effectiveness.

  • Wills.

    Prepare a Will or other document to outline your wishes.

Disclaimer: The Academy is a membership organization of estate planning attorneys and provides educational and practice management resources to members. The Academy is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. An Academy member is not an employee nor an agent of the Academy. The Academy does not certify or test the competency of any attorney who is a member of the Academy.

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHEET

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.
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Testimonials

“Chris and his staff were awesome to work with. I felt like I was their only client with the personal attention and time they spent with me setting up a trust. Chris did an excellent job of making sure I understood everything I needed to and things were being set up for our families specific needs and desires. I look forward to having Chris continue to be our estate planning attorney.”
jan–
“Chris and his staff have been very accommodating, answering every question, e-mail or phone call in a timely manner. They made our Estate planning easy and comfortable-no question unanswered or looked down upon. Thank you, all.”
glenda–
“Chris and his team led us through what we felt was a complicated process in a very organized manner. Everything was explained to our satisfaction and then our decisions were executed quickly. All we had to do was sign documents. Most important, the after support has been excellent. If we have a question, the answer is always.....let us take care of that for you! Everyone in this firm is unpretentious, helpful and very knowledgeable.”
carla–
“For about 10 years my husband and I kept saying, "we need to prepare a trust or a will. We had already planned and paid for our funerals but trying to figure out the will or trust was overwhelming to us. We received an invitation in the mail to attend a seminar. After meeting with Chris we both agreed that Chris and his firm were whom we wanted to execute our Trust documents.”
kay–
“My wife and I took advantage of the free evening program put on by Gaughan and Connealy back in 2013 and later hired Chris Gaughan to do our estate planning. First thing that sold us was not only Chris's professionalism, but his knowledge and his passion for what he does. The process was very easy and thorough. Chris brought up scenarios/issues that were unforeseen but were important to have in our plans. ”
darryl–

Where We Are

OVERLAND PARK
4400 College Blvd, Ste 190
Overland Park, KS 66211
Phone: (913) 262-2000
Fax: (913) 904-1348

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Where We Are

KANSAS CITY
7280 NW 87th Terrace, Ste 210
Kansas City, MO 64153
Phone: 816-974-3030
Fax: (913) 904-1348

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Office Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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