Attorney
Chris Gaughan has been recognized as a Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer (2013, 2014, 2015), an award given to the top 5% of attorneys in Missouri and Kansas; a Missouri & Kansas Rising Star (2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012), an award presented to the top 2.5% of attorneys in Missouri and Kansas under the age of 40; and rated by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV Preeminent attorney (2013, 2014, 2015), a rating given to only 5% of all attorneys nationwide.
Known for his ability to provide a wide-range of custom estate planning services to his clients, with a primary focus on helping them provide for the security of their loved ones, reduce estate taxes, and minimize or avoid the costs and delays of probate, Mr. Gaughan prides himself on the lifelong relationships he forms with each and every one of his clients.
He is frequently invited to share his expertise and knowledge of estate planning with peers and financial professionals alike. Recently, he has presented on various estate planning issues for the National Business Institute, Rockhurst University, the Financial Service Professionals of Kansas City, Edward Jones, Morgan Stanley, Ameriprise Financial, and Country Financial. He is an established member of the prestigious American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, as well as the individual Missouri and Kansas Bar Associations.
A proud alumnus of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, Mr. Gaughan also earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rockhurst University and refers to his undergraduate degree for Estate Plans with complex tax planning.
Happily married for nearly a decade, Mr. Gaughan spends his spare moments frequenting local eateries with his wife, Kristin, watching 80’s films with his three young children, and smoking meat on his back patio.
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Lawyer Christopher Gaughan
Areas of Practice
Estate Planning
Wills and Trusts
Probate
Trust Administration
Personal
Chris has been happily married for seven years. He has three children, two sons and a daughter.
Bar Admissions
Missouri, 2004
Kansas, 2005
U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 2004
U.S. District Court District of Kansas, 2005
U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Missouri, 2007
Published Works and Presentations
A Crash Course in Medicaid and VA Aid & Attendance (2014)
VA Special Pension – An Alternative Way to Pay for Long Term Care (2014)
How to Integrate Estate Planning Into your Practice and Add Additional Value for your Clients (2014)
Disintermediation and its Impact on Estate Planning Attorneys and Financial Advisors (2014)
Everything You Wanted to Know About Estate Planning But Didn’t Know Who to Ask (2014)
Estate Planning 101 (2014)
Top Elder Care Strategies – Funding Sources for Long-Term Care (2014)
How-To Monetize Estate Planning for Financial Advisors (2013)
A Comprehensive Estate Planning Example (2013)
Family Limited Partnerships (2013)
Charitable Remainder Trusts (2013)
Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (2013)
Ownership Management (2013)
Value Management (2013)
The Statutory Basics (2013)
Intro to Wills in the Probate System (2013)
Transfers Using Revocable Living Trusts (2013)
Transfers Using the Probate System (2013)
Estate Planning for Young Families (2013)
Transfers Using Revocable Living Trusts (2013)
Estate Planning for Farmers and Ranchers (2013)
Basic Estate Planning for Financial Advisors (2013)
Transfer of the Decedent’s Property (2013)
Insurance Coverage Contract Language 101 (2011, 2012)
Litigating Insurance Coverage Claims: From Start to Finish – Ethical Considerations (2011, 2012)
Settling Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims (2010)
Insurance Ethics (2009)
Lien Claims (2009)
Keys to a Successful Settlement Conference (2009)
Missouri Tort Reform (2005)
Education
Chris received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rockhurst University in Kansas City. He then attended law school at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. During law school, he was a member of the Missouri Environmental Law and Policy Review, and received several awards related to his studies in insurance law.
Representative Cases
Secura Ins. v. Horizon Plumbing, Inc.,, 670 F.3d 857 (8th Cir. 2012)
United Fire & Cas. Co. v. Lewis,, 2011 WL 4352547 (W.D. Mo. 2011)
Argonaut Great Cent. Ins. Co. v. Valley Village, LLC,, 2011 WL 2292959 (W.D. Mo. 2011)
Colony Nat. Ins. Co. v. Cunningham,, 772 F.Supp.2d 1035 (E.D. Mo. 2011)
Pennsylvania Mfrs. Assoc. Ins. Co. v. Selective Ins. Co. of South Carolina,, 331 S.W.3d 721 (Mo. App. W.D. 2011)
United Fire & Cas. Co. v. Lipps,, 2009 WL 2143766 (E.D. Mo. 2009)
United Fire & Cas. Co. v. Fuhr Intern., LLC,, 2006 WL 3691256 (W.D. Mo. 2006)
Hardin v. Bonded Colectors, LLC, WL 1799201 (D.Kan. 2005)
Honors and Awards
Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer, 2013
Missouri & Kansas Rising Star, 2009 – 2012
Professional Associations and Memberships
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
Missouri Bar Association, Member
Kansas Bar Association, Member
Past Employment Positions
Franke Schultz & Mullen, Partner, 2004 – 2011
