ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES THROUGHOUT JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS
Comprehensive estate planning, probate, trust, and asset protection services for families and businesses across Johnson County.- Home
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Johnson County, Kansas is one of the most affluent counties in the Midwest, home to nearly 600,000 residents across diverse communities from Overland Park to Prairie Village. At The Eastman Law Firm, we provide comprehensive estate planning and legal services tailored to Johnson County’s unique blend of young professionals, established families, business owners, and retirees.
Located in Leawood at the heart of Johnson County, we’re easily accessible from every Johnson County city. We understand the local real estate market, business community, probate procedures at the Johnson County courthouse in Olathe, and the specific needs of Kansas’s most populous and prosperous county.
Whether you need a first estate plan for your young family, probate guidance as executor, sophisticated tax planning for substantial assets, asset protection for your business, or trust administration support, we provide the expertise Johnson County residents deserve.
Serving Communities Throughout Johnson County
Click any city to learn about our services in your community:
Overland Park
Kansas’s second-largest city with diverse neighborhoods from Corporate Woods to South Overland Park
Population: ~197,000 | Median Home Value: ~$340,000
Overland Park’s professional workforce, excellent Blue Valley schools, and robust business community create unique estate planning needs. We serve young families needing guardian designations, business owners planning succession, and professionals with stock options and substantial retirement accounts.
Common needs: Guardian designations for Blue Valley families, business succession planning, tax planning for high earners, real estate trust planning
Leawood
Affluent community known for luxury homes and excellent schools
Population: ~35,000 | Median Home Value: ~$525,000
Leawood residents often have substantial estates approaching or exceeding federal tax exemption thresholds. Sophisticated tax planning, multi-generational wealth transfer, and asset protection are priorities for this high-net-worth community.
Common needs: Estate tax minimization, trust-based planning, asset protection, charitable giving strategies, family limited partnerships
Olathe
Johnson County seat and home to the probate court
Population: ~145,000 | Median Home Value: ~$285,000
As Johnson County’s seat, Olathe is home to the District Court where all county probate proceedings occur. We help Olathe families with estate planning to avoid probate and represent executors when probate is necessary.
Common needs: Probate administration, estate planning for growing families, business succession, trust planning, real estate protection
Lenexa
Growing business hub with mix of residential and commercial development
Population: ~57,000 | Median Home Value: ~$315,000
Lenexa’s entrepreneurial spirit and business growth create demand for business succession planning, entity formation, and integrated estate planning coordinating personal and business assets.
Common needs: Business entity formation, succession planning, asset protection for business owners, commercial real estate planning
Shawnee
Family-oriented community with established neighborhoods
Population: ~67,000 | Median Home Value: ~$270,000
Shawnee families value stability, education, and community. Estate planning priorities include protecting children through guardian designations, avoiding probate, and ensuring family homes transfer smoothly to heirs.
Common needs: Family protection planning, guardian designations, will and trust preparation, beneficiary designation coordination
Prairie Village
Charming older community with tree-lined streets and appreciated homes
Population: ~22,000 | Median Home Value: ~$350,000
Prairie Village’s established neighborhoods feature homes purchased decades ago that have appreciated significantly. Many residents approaching retirement need estate plans addressing appreciated property, long-term care, and legacy planning.
Common needs: Estate planning for appreciated property, retirement planning, long-term care considerations, trust planning for older adults
Mission
Small, walkable community with diverse housing options
Population: ~9,500 | Median Home Value: ~$265,000
Mission’s compact, diverse community includes young professionals, families, and seniors in various housing types from apartments to single-family homes. Affordable, comprehensive estate planning serves all life stages and budgets.
Common needs: Affordable estate planning, first-time will and trust preparation, small estate solutions, powers of attorney
Other Johnson County Communities
We also serve Merriam, Roeland Park, Westwood, Mission Hills, Mission Woods, Fairway, and all other Johnson County cities. Every community has unique characteristics, but all Johnson County residents deserve comprehensive estate planning protection.
Serving All Johnson County Communities
In addition to the cities above, we serve every Johnson County community. Click any city below to learn about estate planning services in your area:
Comprehensive Estate Planning Services for Johnson County
We provide the full range of estate planning and related legal services for Johnson County families and businesses. Whether you’re in Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe, or any other Johnson County community, we offer:
ESTATE PLANNING →
Eliminate the "what-ifs" with a custom legal framework designed to bypass the delays of probate. You get a strategic plan, from living trusts to asset protection, that ensures your legacy transitions to your heirs without administrative friction.
WILL PREPARATION →
Prevent the court from making your family's decisions. A professionally drafted will provides the definitive roadmap for your estate, naming legal guardians and securing asset distribution so your instructions are followed exactly as intended.
POWERS OF ATTORNEY →
Maintain control over your medical and financial decisions even when you can’t speak for yourself. By establishing durable directives now, you bypass the need for expensive, court-supervised guardianship and empower a person of your choosing to manage your affairs without delay.
PROBATE ADMINISTRATION →
Hand off the legal and administrative weight of the court process. Instead of navigating complex filings and creditor notices alone, you get a clear path through the local probate requirements, ensuring the estate is settled accurately while protecting you from personal liability.
ASSET PROTECTION →
Safeguard your life’s work from future creditors and legal claims. By implementing specific structures like irrevocable trusts or business entities now, you insulate your holdings from external threats and ensure that the assets you’ve built remain available for your family’s future.
TRUST MANAGEMENT →
Keep your estate plan functional as your life and the law evolve. Whether you are navigating the complexities of current trust administration or need to modify existing documents to reflect new family dynamics, you ensure your legal structures stay relevant and fully enforceable.
TAX & FINANCIAL PLANNING →
Stop losing a significant portion of your legacy to unnecessary estate and inheritance taxes. By integrating tax-efficient strategies into your legal framework, you protect your beneficiaries from heavy tax burdens and ensure more of your hard-earned assets reach the next generation intact.
BUSINESS SUCCESSION →
Ensure the company you built survives your departure without triggering a liquidity crisis or family dispute. By codifying a clear transition plan now, you protect the value of your business and provide your successors with the legal authority they need to maintain operations and secure your family's financial future.
START YOUR PLAN →
Move from uncertainty to a concrete legal strategy. Schedule a consultation to review your current holdings and identify the specific structures needed to protect your family and your business across the Kansas City metro area.
Gary Eastman, J.D., M.B.A.
Serving Johnson County, Kansas
Experience, Expertise, and Personal Attention
Centrally Located in Leawood
Our Leawood office location places us at the heart of Johnson County, easily accessible from every community. Most clients reach us in 10-20 minutes regardless of which Johnson County city they call home.
We Understand Johnson County
Johnson County isn’t homogeneous. We work with diverse clients from young families in Olathe to high-net-worth individuals in Leawood, business owners in Lenexa to retirees in Prairie Village. Each community and demographic has different needs, and we tailor our services accordingly.
Experience with Johnson County Probate Court
When probate is necessary, all Johnson County estates are administered through the District Court in Olathe. We represent executors and administrators regularly at the Johnson County courthouse and understand local procedures, typical timelines, and how to navigate the system efficiently.
Dual Credentials: J.D. and M.B.A. in Finance
Gary Eastman holds both a law degree and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Kansas. This rare combination means you work with someone who understands both the legal structures of estate planning AND the financial implications of every decision. Johnson County’s affluent population benefits from this sophisticated approach.
Coordination with Johnson County Professionals
We work collaboratively with financial advisors, CPAs, and insurance professionals serving Johnson County clients. Estate planning should coordinate with financial and tax planning, and we ensure seamless integration with your existing professional team.
Understanding Johnson County’s Estate Planning Landscape
Johnson County by the Numbers
| Metric | Johnson County | Kansas Average | Estate Planning Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | ~600,000 | – | Large, diverse client base |
| Median Household Income | ~$87,000 | ~$64,000 | Above-average incomes require tax planning |
| Median Home Value | ~$310,000 | ~$180,000 | Significant real estate equity needs protection |
| Bachelor’s Degree+ | ~58% | ~34% | Educated population values professional planning |
| Homeownership Rate | ~68% | ~66% | Most families own property requiring estate plans |
| Age 65+ | ~14% | ~17% | Growing senior population needs elder planning |
| Households with Children | ~35% | ~30% | Strong need for guardian designations |
What This Means for Estate Planning
Higher Incomes = Greater Assets
Johnson County’s median household income of $87,000 (40% above the Kansas average) means many families accumulate substantial assets in retirement accounts, investment portfolios, and real estate. Strategic estate and tax planning preserves significantly more wealth for families.
Appreciated Real Estate
Johnson County real estate has appreciated substantially over the past 20-30 years. Families who purchased homes for $150,000-$200,000 now own properties worth $400,000-$600,000+. This appreciation increases estate sizes toward federal exemption thresholds, requiring sophisticated planning.
Educated Population Values Expertise
With 58% of residents holding bachelor’s degrees or higher (vs. 34% statewide), Johnson County residents understand the value of professional expertise and seek qualified attorneys for estate planning rather than DIY solutions.
Strong Business Community
Johnson County hosts corporate headquarters, thriving entrepreneurial ventures, and established family businesses. Business succession planning, entity formation, and integrated personal/business estate planning are essential services.
Families Need Guardian Protection
With 35% of households including children, guardian designation is a critical priority. Johnson County parents want assurance their children will be cared for by trusted individuals if something happens to them.
Retirement Planning Focus
Johnson County’s affluent population approaching retirement needs sophisticated planning addressing estate taxes, beneficiary designations on substantial retirement accounts, long-term care, and legacy planning.
Probate Administration in Johnson County
Johnson County District Court - Probate Division
All probate proceedings for Johnson County residents occur at:
Johnson County Courthouse
100 N. Kansas Avenue
Olathe, Kansas 66061
Probate Division Phone: 913-715-3750
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Parking: Public parking available adjacent to courthouse
Accessibility: Full ADA accessibility
Typical Johnson County Probate Timeline
| Phase | Timeframe | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Filing & Appointment | Month 1-2 | Petition filing, will validation, executor appointment |
| Notice & Inventory | Month 2-4 | Creditor publication, asset inventory, valuations |
| Creditor Claims Period | Month 4-8 | Mandatory 4-month waiting period (cannot be expedited) |
| Estate Administration | Month 8-10 | Debt payment, tax returns, asset management |
| Distribution & Accounting | Month 10-12 | Final accounting, distributions to beneficiaries |
| Closure | Month 12+ | Estate closure, executor discharge |
Total Timeline: Typically 6-12 months for straightforward estates; 12-18+ months for complex estates with business interests, disputes, or tax issues.
Kansas Small Estate Affidavits
Johnson County estates valued under $40,000 may qualify for simplified procedures avoiding full probate. We help executors determine eligibility and prepare small estate affidavits when appropriate.
Avoiding Probate in Johnson County
The best probate strategy is avoiding it entirely through proper estate planning. Revocable living trusts, transfer-on-death deeds, beneficiary designations, and joint ownership with right of survivorship all avoid probate while ensuring smooth asset transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do Johnson County residents pay Kansas state estate tax?
No. Kansas does not have a state estate tax or inheritance tax. Johnson County residents only face federal estate tax if their estates exceed the federal exemption ($13.61 million per individual in 2024, scheduled to decrease to approximately $7 million in 2026). Proper planning minimizes or eliminates federal estate taxes even for substantial estates.
Q: Where does probate happen for Johnson County residents?
All Johnson County probate proceedings occur at the Johnson County District Court in Olathe, regardless of which city you live in. Whether you’re in Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe, or any other Johnson County city, your estate would be probated in Olathe.
Q: How long does probate take in Johnson County?
Typical Johnson County probate cases take 6-12 months for straightforward estates. Complex estates with business interests, real estate sales, tax issues, or family disputes may take 12-18+ months. The process includes a mandatory 4-month creditor claim period that cannot be expedited.
Q: Can I avoid probate in Johnson County?
Yes. Revocable living trusts are the most comprehensive probate avoidance tool. Assets titled in your trust name avoid probate entirely. Other options include transfer-on-death deeds for real estate, beneficiary designations on financial accounts, and joint ownership with right of survivorship. We help Johnson County families choose the best approach for their situation.
Q: How much does estate planning cost in Johnson County?
Estate planning fees are consistent throughout Johnson County regardless of which city you live in. Basic packages (will, powers of attorney, healthcare directive) typically start around $1,500-$2,500. Comprehensive trust-based plans range from $3,000-$8,000 depending on complexity. Fees depend on your needs and asset complexity, not your location.
Q: My home has appreciated significantly. Do I need estate tax planning?
Many longtime Johnson County homeowners have seen substantial appreciation. If your total estate (home equity + retirement accounts + other assets) approaches $13.61 million per person ($27.22 million for married couples), estate tax planning becomes important. Even below these thresholds, trust-based planning provides probate avoidance and other benefits.
Q: I work in Johnson County but live in another county. Can you help me?
Yes. While we focus on Johnson County residents, we serve clients throughout the Kansas City metro area. Estate planning is governed by your state of residence (Kansas), not your work location, so we can assist Kansas residents regardless of where they work.
Q: Do you work with my Johnson County financial advisor or CPA?
Absolutely. We regularly coordinate with financial advisors, CPAs, and other professionals serving Johnson County clients. Estate planning should integrate with financial and tax planning, and we work collaboratively with your existing team to ensure comprehensive solutions.
Q: What makes Johnson County estate planning different from other areas?
Johnson County’s higher home values, above-average incomes, strong business community, and educated population create more complex estate planning needs than many Kansas areas. Clients often have substantial retirement accounts, business interests, appreciated real estate, and sophisticated planning requirements. We provide the level of service Johnson County residents expect and deserve.
Q: How often should I update my Johnson County estate plan?
Review your estate plan every 3-5 years or when major life changes occur: marriage, divorce, births, deaths, significant asset changes, business changes, or moves to different states. Tax law changes also trigger review needs. We proactively contact clients when law changes affect their plans.
Take the Next Step in Protecting Your Johnson County Family
Schedule Your Consultation
The first step is a conversation. Contact us today to schedule a consultation where we’ll discuss your situation, answer your questions, and explore how we can help. No pressure, no obligation, just clear information to help you make informed decisions about protecting your Johnson County family.
Explore Our Services
Learn more about our comprehensive services for Johnson County residents:
Estate Planning - Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and comprehensive family protection
Probate Administration - Guidance through the Johnson County probate process
Tax and Financial Planning - Minimize taxes and maximize wealth transfer
Asset Protection - Shield your wealth from lawsuits and creditors
Trust Management - Support for trustees fulfilling fiduciary duties
Choose Your City
See location-specific information for your Johnson County community, including directions, local insights, and estate planning considerations. Jump to city list ↑
Don’t Leave Your Johnson County Family’s Future to Chance
Every day without an estate plan is a day your family is at risk. If something happened to you tomorrow, would your children be cared for by the people you choose? Would your spouse know how to access accounts? Would your business survive? Would your Johnson County home go through expensive, public probate?
Estate planning isn’t about death. It’s about protecting the people you love, preserving what you’ve built, and ensuring your wishes are honored. It’s about giving your family the gift of clarity and security during the most difficult times.
You’ve worked hard to build your wealth and provide for your family in Kansas’s most prosperous county. Don’t let lack of planning undo everything you’ve accomplished. Proper planning protects your family from probate delays, minimizes taxes, shields assets from lawsuits, and ensures your legacy endures.
Johnson County families deserve estate planning that reflects their community’s values: education, family, financial responsibility, and excellence. Whether you’re in Overland Park’s Corporate Woods, a Leawood estate, an Olathe family home, or anywhere else in Johnson County, your family deserves comprehensive protection.
The best time to plan was yesterday. The second best time is today. Contact us now to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward complete family protection.
Serving Johnson County families and businesses • Estate Planning • Probate • Trust Administration • Tax Planning • Asset Protection
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