ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY IN OLATHE, KANSAS
Comprehensive estate planning, probate, and trust services for Olathe families and businesses.- Home
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Since 1998, Gary Eastman has served 1,134 Johnson County families, creating 5,423 trusts and 1,257 wills with proven results including average estate tax savings exceeding $500,000 per client.
Olathe residents receive comprehensive estate planning from an attorney with 27 years of experience protecting families at every wealth level, from $100,000 estates to clients with net worth exceeding $1 million.
Our Leawood office serves Olathe families within 15-20 minutes from most neighborhoods. We help families avoid probate through revocable living trusts, protect children through guardian designations, minimize taxes through strategic planning, and guide executors through Johnson County probate administration right here at the Olathe courthouse.
We understand Olathe’s unique position as the county seat where all probate proceedings occur, the mix of established neighborhoods near downtown and newer western developments, and Kansas’s third-largest city’s diverse family needs.
Gary Eastman holds both a J.D. and M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Kansas, with 500+ complex transactions at Polsinelli (a top 100 AmLaw firm) ranging from $500,000 to over $100 million.
Whether you need guardian designations for growing families in western Olathe, business succession planning for companies along Santa Fe and K-7 corridors, probate guidance at the Johnson County courthouse right here in Olathe, or estate planning for established residents approaching retirement, you receive big-firm expertise with local accessibility at price points designed for middle-class families.
Comprehensive Estate Planning Solutions for Olathe
We provide complete estate planning solutions for Olathe families at every life stage. Young families protect children through wills and guardian designations. Dual-income couples minimize taxes on growing retirement accounts and home equity through strategic planning.
Business owners along Santa Fe and K-7 corridors secure succession plans protecting company value. Established residents approaching retirement preserve wealth through trust administration and probate avoidance. As Johnson County’s seat where all probate proceedings occur right here in Olathe, we provide both planning to avoid the courthouse and expert guidance when probate is necessary.
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 Olathe, Kansas
Your Olathe Estate Planning Attorney
Serving Olathe from Our Nearby Leawood Office
Our Leawood office is easily accessible from throughout Olathe, typically 15-20 minutes from most neighborhoods. With 27 years of experience serving Johnson County, we’re familiar with Olathe’s diverse communities from established areas near downtown to newer developments in western Olathe, and we’ve served 1,134 Johnson County families with the professional planning Olathe deserves.
Understanding Olathe’s Unique Role as County Seat
As Johnson County’s seat, Olathe is home to the District Court where all county probate proceedings occur. Whether you’re planning to avoid probate through trusts or need to navigate probate as executor, our familiarity with the Johnson County courthouse and local procedures provides valuable advantages. We’ve administered 143 probate estates, guiding executors through every step of the process right here in Olathe.
27 Years Serving Olathe and Johnson County Families
Since 1998, Gary Eastman has served 5,407 estate planning clients, including 1,134 families right here in Johnson County. Our Olathe clients include young families in western developments, business owners along Santa Fe and K-7 corridors, and retirees in established neighborhoods. Every estate plan is customized to your specific situation, whether your estate is $100,000 or over $1 million.
We return calls within 60 minutes during business hours (typically much faster), and most clients complete their estate plan within 4 weeks on average from initial consultation to signed documents. This responsive, efficient service has made us the choice for over 1,100 Johnson County families who want professional planning without delays or impersonal treatment.
Dual Credentials: Legal and Financial Expertise
Gary Eastman holds both a law degree and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Kansas, with additional experience handling 500+ complex transactions at Polsinelli, a top 100 AmLaw firm. This combination means you work with someone who understands both the legal structures of estate planning AND the financial implications of every decision. You receive sophisticated planning at accessible price points.
Coordination with Olathe Professionals
We work collaboratively with financial advisors, CPAs, and insurance professionals serving Olathe clients. Estate planning should coordinate with your financial and tax planning, and we ensure seamless integration with your existing professional relationships.
Comprehensive Estate Planning Services
We provide the full range of estate planning and related legal services for Olathe residents:
Estate Planning for Olathe Families
Protect your Olathe family with comprehensive estate plans including revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Whether you’re a young family in newer western Olathe developments or established residents in older neighborhoods near downtown, we create plans that protect your children, avoid probate, and ensure your wishes are followed.
Common Olathe scenarios we address: Young families with children needing guardian designations, dual-income couples with growing retirement accounts and home equity, business owners along Santa Fe and K-7 corridors needing succession planning, established residents approaching retirement with appreciated homes, and blended families from second marriages requiring specialized planning.
Learn more about Estate Planning →
Probate Administration in Johnson County
Guide Olathe executors through Johnson County probate proceedings at the courthouse right here in Olathe. As the county seat, all Johnson County probate cases are handled at the Olathe courthouse, making us particularly convenient for Olathe families navigating the probate process.
We help with: Johnson County District Court probate filings at the Olathe courthouse, Olathe real estate in probate estates, small estate affidavits for estates under $40,000, executor guidance for Olathe families, and estate administration coordination with local appraisers and accountants.
Learn more about Probate Administration →
Tax Planning for Olathe Residents
Minimize estate and income taxes for Olathe families. With many Olathe residents building substantial equity in appreciating homes and growing retirement accounts, strategic tax planning preserves more wealth for your family.
Tax planning for: Families with growing retirement accounts and IRAs, Olathe homeowners with appreciated property, business owners planning succession, families coordinating beneficiary designations to minimize taxes, and strategic charitable giving to reduce tax liability.
Learn more about Tax and Financial Planning →
Asset Protection for Olathe Professionals and Business Owners
Shield your wealth from lawsuits and creditors. Olathe’s diverse business community including healthcare professionals, business owners, and entrepreneurs needs asset protection planning appropriate to their professional liability exposure.
Protection for: Healthcare professionals and medical practices, Olathe business owners and entrepreneurs, professionals with liability exposure, real estate investors with rental properties, and families wanting to protect assets from creditor claims.
Learn more about Asset Protection →
Trust Management and Administration
Support for Olathe trustees fulfilling fiduciary duties. Whether you’re a first-time trustee after a parent’s death or managing ongoing family trusts, we provide comprehensive guidance through the trust administration process.
Trustee support for: Olathe residents named as successor trustees, families administering trusts with local real estate, first-time trustees needing guidance, trust tax preparation and compliance, and beneficiary distribution planning.
Estate Planning Issues Unique to Olathe
County Seat and Probate Court Location
Olathe’s unique position as Johnson County’s seat means all county probate proceedings occur at the District Court right here in Olathe, regardless of where in Johnson County the deceased lived. This makes us particularly convenient for Olathe executors and families navigating probate, and underscores the importance of proper planning to avoid probate entirely.
Key considerations: Familiarity with local courthouse procedures, convenience for Olathe executors, understanding of Johnson County probate timelines, strategic planning to avoid the process entirely through trusts.
Growing City with Diverse Neighborhoods
Olathe’s rapid growth creates distinct planning needs for families in newer western developments versus established residents in older neighborhoods near downtown. Newer homeowners often have young families and growing equity, while established residents may have significant appreciation and retirement planning needs.
Planning considerations: Guardian designations for young families, estate planning coordinating with mortgages and growing home equity, appreciated property planning for long-term residents, retirement planning for older neighborhoods.
Home Appreciation and Equity Building
While Olathe’s median home value (~$285,000) is more modest than some Johnson County cities, many residents have seen substantial appreciation over 10-20 years of ownership. Homes purchased for $150,000-$200,000 now worth $300,000-$400,000 represent significant family wealth requiring protection.
Key considerations: Probate avoidance for family homes, step-up in basis planning, transfer-on-death deeds, ensuring homes pass smoothly to heirs, protecting equity from nursing home costs.
Guardian Designations for Growing Families
Olathe’s strong school system and family-oriented community attract young families with children who need guardian designations as a critical estate planning priority. Ensuring children are cared for by trusted individuals if something happens to parents is essential.
Planning needs: Legal guardian nominations, financial guardians for inherited assets, educational fund management, ensuring guardians share your values and parenting philosophy, backup guardian designations.
Business Ownership Along Growth Corridors
Olathe’s business community along Santa Fe, K-7, and I-35 corridors includes retail, healthcare, professional services, and small manufacturers. Business succession planning ensures these enterprises survive beyond the founder.
Key considerations: Business entity structure, buy-sell agreements, succession planning for family businesses, coordinating business and personal estate planning, protecting business value for heirs.
Retirement Planning and Downsizing
Many established Olathe residents approach retirement considering downsizing from larger family homes, managing retirement account distributions, and planning for potential long-term care needs. Estate planning should address these transitions.
Planning strategies: Trust planning for retirement assets, long-term care considerations, powers of attorney for financial and healthcare decisions, Medicaid planning when appropriate, coordinating pension and Social Security planning.
Educational Values and School District Considerations
Olathe’s strong public school system is a major draw for families. Estate planning should ensure educational continuity and funding for children if something happens to parents, including guardian selections aligned with educational priorities.
Key considerations: Guardian nominations keeping children in current schools, educational trust provisions, 529 college savings plan coordination, ensuring trustees understand educational priorities and funding needs.
Blended Families and Second Marriages
Like many growing communities, Olathe has many blended families from second marriages needing careful planning to protect both current spouses and children from prior marriages. Standard estate plans often don’t address these complex dynamics.
Planning tools: QTIP trusts balancing spouse and children’s needs, prenuptial estate planning provisions, clear documentation of intentions, structured distributions ensuring fairness, preventing family disputes after death.
Tailored Service for Your Olathe Family
Convenient Office Location
Our Leawood office at 4901 W 136th Street is easily accessible from anywhere in Olathe. With 27 years serving Johnson County and 1,134 local families, we understand Olathe’s communities from downtown to western developments.
| From | Driving Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Olathe (Santa Fe & Park) | 15 minutes | 7 miles |
| East Olathe (119th & Ridgeview) | 12 minutes | 5 miles |
| West Olathe (151st & Mur-Len) | 20 minutes | 10 miles |
| North Olathe (College & Cedar Creek) | 18 minutes | 9 miles |
| South Olathe (151st & Black Bob) | 22 minutes | 11 miles |
See Our Proximity to Olathe
We’re located in Leawood, convenient from every Olathe neighborhood. The map below shows our office location and its proximity to Olathe.
Flexible Meeting Options
We understand Olathe families have busy schedules. We offer evening and weekend appointments by request, virtual consultations when appropriate, and efficient processes that respect your time and budget. We return calls within 60 minutes during business hours and complete most estate plans within 4 weeks on average.
Convenient Office Amenities
Parking: 45 free parking spaces including 6 dedicated ADA-accessible spaces
Accessibility: Ground-level access, fully ADA compliant
Professional Environment: Private conference rooms ensuring confidentiality for sensitive family discussions
Johnson County Probate Court & Legal Resources
The Probate Court is Right Here in Olathe
As Johnson County’s seat, Olathe is home to the District Court where all Johnson County probate proceedings occur, regardless of which city the deceased lived in. This makes the probate process particularly convenient for Olathe executors and families, and underscores our familiarity with the local courthouse and procedures.
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
Location note for Olathe residents: The courthouse is in downtown Olathe, making it convenient for local executors to attend hearings, file documents, and meet with court staff.
Typical Johnson County Probate Timeline
Understanding the probate process helps Olathe executors and families plan appropriately. While every estate is unique, here’s the typical timeline for Johnson County probate:
| 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 |
Important note: Estates with business interests, multiple properties, or family disputes may require 12-18+ months. Proper estate planning through trusts avoids probate entirely.
Avoiding Probate for Olathe Estates
Even though the courthouse is conveniently located in Olathe, avoiding probate through proper planning saves time, money, and maintains privacy for your family. Probate is public, time-consuming, and can cost thousands in court fees and attorney costs.
Probate avoidance strategies: Revocable living trusts (most comprehensive), transfer-on-death deeds for real estate, beneficiary designations on financial accounts, joint ownership with right of survivorship, and proper asset titling.
Why Olathe Executors Choose Us
Even with the courthouse conveniently located right here in Olathe, serving as executor carries significant responsibility and potential personal liability. We provide complete guidance through Johnson County’s probate process, protecting you from executor liability while ensuring efficient administration. Our experience with 27 years of practice and 143 probate estates administered demonstrates deep understanding of local court procedures and efficient estate administration.
How We’ve Helped Olathe Families
Young Family with Children in Olathe Schools
An Olathe couple with two young children had a $320,000 home, $180,000 in combined retirement accounts, and two young children in elementary school. They had no estate plan and were concerned about what would happen to their children if something happened to both parents.
Our solution: We created a comprehensive estate plan including a revocable living trust to avoid probate, nominated trusted guardians for their children with detailed care instructions, established a trust structure protecting inheritance until children reached responsible ages, coordinated beneficiary designations on life insurance and retirement accounts, and created powers of attorney for financial and healthcare decisions.
Result: Complete peace of mind knowing their children would be cared for by people they trust, assets protected and managed responsibly, and probate avoided entirely for their family home and accounts.
Olathe Executor Navigating Probate at Local Courthouse
An Olathe resident was named executor of her mother’s estate and had no experience with probate proceedings at the Johnson County courthouse. The estate included a paid-off Olathe home worth $275,000, modest savings, and personal property.
Our solution: We guided her through the entire probate process at the Olathe courthouse, handled all court filings and creditor notifications, managed the estate inventory and appraisals, prepared required accountings and tax returns, coordinated the home sale with local real estate agents, and ensured proper distribution to beneficiaries.
Result: Smooth probate administration completed in 10 months, estate properly closed with court approval, and beneficiaries received their inheritances with all legal requirements satisfied. Our familiarity with the local courthouse made the process efficient.
Small Business Owner Planning Succession
An Olathe business owner along the Santa Fe corridor had built a successful retail business valued at $850,000 but had no succession plan or business protection in place. His family depended on the business income.
Our solution: We created a comprehensive succession plan including business entity restructuring for liability protection, buy-sell agreement with his business partner funded by life insurance, revocable trust ownership of his business interest to avoid probate, coordination with his CPA on tax-efficient strategies, and clear instructions for business continuation or sale.
Result: Protected business value for his family, clear succession plan ensuring business continuity, avoided probate on his most valuable asset, and peace of mind that his life’s work would benefit his family.
Established Homeowners with Appreciated Property
An Olathe couple who purchased their home 25 years ago for $145,000 now owned a home worth $380,000 plus $290,000 in retirement accounts. They wanted to ensure their adult children inherited the home without probate complications.
Our solution: We created a revocable living trust and transferred their home and accounts into the trust, established clear distribution provisions for their three children, created powers of attorney anticipating potential long-term care needs, coordinated beneficiary designations on retirement accounts to minimize taxes, and planned for step-up in basis to eliminate capital gains taxes on the appreciated home.
Result: Complete probate avoidance for their $670,000+ estate, tax-efficient transfer to children, protection if long-term care becomes necessary, and family harmony through clear documentation.
Blended Family Balancing Competing Interests
An Olathe couple (second marriage for both) with children from previous marriages needed to protect each spouse while ensuring their respective children ultimately inherited. Their combined assets included a $295,000 home, retirement accounts totaling $340,000, and life insurance.
Our solution: We created coordinated trusts ensuring the surviving spouse could remain in the home and had adequate income, while preserving assets for each spouse’s children from prior marriages. We drafted clear provisions preventing disputes, structured life insurance to equalize inheritances, and documented both spouses’ intentions in detail.
Result: Both spouses have peace of mind their children are protected, the surviving spouse is provided for, clear documentation prevents family conflicts, and estate administration will proceed smoothly without court disputes.
(Note: For privacy reasons actual names have been withheld. Some cases may be amalgamations of more than one case for demonstration purposes.)
Understanding Olathe’s Estate Planning Landscape
Olathe by the Numbers
| Metric | Olathe | Johnson County | Estate Planning Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | ~145,000 | ~600,000 | 3rd largest Kansas city, diverse needs |
| Median Household Income | ~$85,000 | ~$87,000 | Solid middle to upper-middle class |
| Median Home Value | ~$285,000 | ~$310,000 | Significant family wealth in homes |
| Bachelor’s Degree+ | ~48% | ~58% | Value professional guidance |
| Homeownership Rate | ~72% | ~68% | High property ownership rates |
| Age 65+ | ~13% | ~14% | Growing retirement planning needs |
| Households with Children | ~38% | ~35% | Strong need for guardian designations |
What This Means for Olathe Estate Planning
Kansas’s Third-Largest City and County Seat
Olathe’s size (145,000 residents) and role as Johnson County seat create unique opportunities and responsibilities. The courthouse location makes probate administration convenient for Olathe executors while underscoring the value of proper planning to avoid probate entirely.
Substantial Home Equity for Middle-Class Families
With median home values at $285,000 and homeownership at 72%, most Olathe families have significant wealth tied up in their homes. Many purchased homes 10-20 years ago for $150,000-$200,000 that are now worth $300,000-$400,000+, representing major family assets requiring protection.
Guardian Designations Critical for Young Families
With 38% of households including children (above the county average), guardian designation is a top priority for Olathe families. Parents want assurance their children will be cared for by trusted individuals who share their values if something happens to them.
Growing Retirement Accounts Need Planning
Olathe’s solid middle to upper-middle class income levels mean many families are accumulating substantial retirement assets in 401(k)s, IRAs, and pension plans. Proper beneficiary designation and coordination with estate plans ensures tax-efficient transfer to heirs.
Small Business and Entrepreneurial Community
Olathe’s business corridors along Santa Fe, K-7, and I-35 host retail, healthcare, professional services, and small manufacturers. Business succession planning ensures these enterprises survive beyond the founder while protecting family wealth.
Rapid Growth Creates Diverse Planning Needs
As Kansas’s fastest-growing major city, Olathe has both newer developments with young families and established neighborhoods with long-term residents. This creates diverse estate planning needs from guardian designations to retirement planning to appreciated property protection.
Educational Values and Strong School System
Olathe’s public school system attracts families who prioritize education. Estate planning should ensure educational continuity and funding for children through guardian selections aligned with educational values and trust provisions protecting inheritance for education.
Appreciation Creates Unexpected Estate Value
Many Olathe residents don’t realize their estate value. When combining home equity ($285K median), retirement accounts (often $150K-$400K), life insurance, and other assets, total estates of $500,000-$800,000 are common. This level of wealth requires professional planning, not DIY solutions.
Serving All of Johnson County from Our Leawood Office
While our office is in Leawood, we serve Olathe and all Johnson County communities with the same professional estate planning expertise. With 27 years of experience serving 1,134 Johnson County families, we understand each community’s unique characteristics and provide comprehensive planning tailored to your needs:
About Nearby Johnson County Communities
Overland Park - Kansas’s second-largest city, just north of Olathe. Overland Park’s diverse neighborhoods from Corporate Woods to South Overland Park create varied estate planning needs from young families to established professionals.
Lenexa - Growing business hub west of Olathe with entrepreneurial spirit. We provide business succession planning, entity formation, and integrated estate planning for Lenexa business owners.
Leawood - Our office location, serving Leawood residents with sophisticated estate planning and trust services. Leawood’s affluent community often requires advanced tax planning and multi-generational wealth transfer strategies.
Shawnee - Family-focused community northwest of Olathe with established neighborhoods. Estate planning priorities include protecting children through guardian designations and ensuring family homes transfer smoothly to heirs.
Prairie Village - Charming older community where many residents have seen significant home appreciation over decades. We help with estate planning for appreciated property and retirement planning for older adults.
Mission - Small, walkable community with diverse housing from apartments to single-family homes. We provide comprehensive estate planning for all life stages and budgets.
Explore All Johnson County Cities - View our complete Johnson County service area and learn about estate planning services in your specific community.
Frequently Asked Questions About Olathe Estate Planning
Q: What’s your track record with Johnson County families?
Over 27 years, we’ve served 1,134 Johnson County families, creating 5,423 trusts and 1,257 wills, and administering 143 probate estates. Our experience ranges from young families with guardian designation needs to business owners requiring succession planning to retirees managing complex estates. We return calls within 60 minutes during business hours and complete most estate plans within 4 weeks on average.
Q: Does the probate court being in Olathe make probate easier?
While having the courthouse in Olathe is convenient for executors, probate is still time-consuming, expensive, and public regardless of location. The process typically takes 6-12 months minimum with a mandatory 4-month creditor waiting period. Court fees, attorney costs, and executor time add up to thousands of dollars. The best strategy is avoiding probate entirely through proper trust-based planning.
Q: Do I need a trust or is a will enough?
It depends on your goals. A will alone guarantees probate at the Olathe courthouse. If you want to avoid probate, protect privacy, and ensure smooth asset transfer, a revocable living trust is the better solution. We’ve created 5,423 trusts and 1,257 wills for families throughout the region. For Olathe families with homes worth $285,000+ and retirement accounts, trust-based planning typically makes sense. We help you evaluate which approach fits your situation and budget.
Q: How much does estate planning cost in Olathe?
Estate planning fees are consistent throughout the Kansas City metro area. Basic packages (will, powers of attorney, healthcare directive) typically start around $1,500-$2,500. Comprehensive trust-based plans range from $3,000-$6,000 depending on complexity. This investment is minimal compared to our clients’ average estate tax savings exceeding $500,000, and it saves thousands in probate costs while providing invaluable family protection and peace of mind.
Q: My home has appreciated significantly. What does that mean for estate planning?
Home appreciation is common in Olathe - many residents purchased homes for $150,000-$200,000 that are now worth $300,000-$400,000+. This appreciation creates significant estate value requiring protection. The good news: beneficiaries receive a step-up in basis, eliminating capital gains taxes. Trust ownership or transfer-on-death deeds ensure the home transfers smoothly without probate.
Q: We have young children. What’s most important in our estate plan?
Guardian designation is critical. If something happens to both parents, proper legal documentation ensures your children are cared for by people you choose, not court-appointed strangers. Beyond guardians, you need trust provisions protecting inheritance until children reach responsible ages, life insurance ensuring adequate funds, and powers of attorney covering unexpected incapacity.
Q: I own a small business in Olathe. How does that affect my estate planning?
Business ownership complicates estate planning significantly. You need entity structure review, buy-sell agreements with partners, business valuation, succession planning, and coordination between business and personal assets. Without proper planning, your business could be forced into liquidation or tied up in probate, destroying value your family should inherit.
Q: Your office is in Leawood. Can you still help Olathe residents?
Absolutely. Our Leawood office is easily accessible from throughout Olathe, typically 15-20 minutes from most neighborhoods. We serve clients throughout Johnson County and understand Olathe’s unique position as county seat. Estate planning law is the same throughout Kansas, and we provide the same high-level service to all clients.
Q: Do you work with my Olathe financial advisor or CPA?
Yes. We regularly coordinate with financial advisors, CPAs, and insurance professionals serving Olathe clients. Estate planning should integrate with financial and tax planning, and we work collaboratively with your existing team to ensure comprehensive solutions that address all aspects of your financial life.
Q: What if I can’t afford estate planning right now?
Estate planning is more affordable than most people think, and the cost of NOT having a plan far exceeds the cost of creating one. Probate costs, family disputes, and improper asset distribution can cost your family tens of thousands. We offer solutions at various price points to fit most budgets. Contact us today to discuss affordable options for your family.
Q: How often should I update my Olathe 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.
Q: What happens if I die without an estate plan in Olathe?
Your estate goes through probate at the Olathe courthouse under Kansas intestacy laws. The court decides who inherits (not you), appoints guardians for minor children (potentially not who you’d choose), and the process takes 6-12+ months with all proceedings public record. Court fees and attorney costs reduce what your family receives. Proper planning avoids all of this.
Q: We’re a blended family. Can you help with that?
Yes. Blended families require careful planning to protect both the current spouse and children from prior marriages. We use specialized trusts (QTIP trusts) ensuring the surviving spouse is provided for while preserving assets for each spouse’s children. Clear documentation prevents family disputes and ensures your intentions are honored.
Easy Access from Anywhere in Olathe
Our Leawood office is convenient from every Olathe neighborhood. Here are routes from different Olathe areas:
From Downtown Olathe (Santa Fe & Park area)
- Head north on Santa Fe Street
- Continue to 119th Street
- Turn right (east) on 119th Street
- Continue to Nall Avenue
- Turn right (south) on Nall Avenue to 136th Street
- Our office is on the right
- Drive time: 15 minutes
From West Olathe (151st & Mur-Len area)
- Head north on Mur-Len Road
- Turn right (east) on 135th Street
- Continue to Nall Avenue
- Turn right (south) on Nall Avenue to 136th Street
- Our office is on the right
- Drive time: 20 minutes
From East Olathe (119th & Ridgeview area)
- Head west on 119th Street
- Continue to Nall Avenue
- Turn left (south) on Nall Avenue to 136th Street
- Our office is on the right
- Drive time: 12 minutes
From Another Location?
Get turn-by-turn directions from your exact Olathe address:
Office Details
Address: 4901 W 136th St Suite 240, Leawood, KS 66224
Phone: (913) 908-9113
Parking: 45 free parking spaces, including 6 dedicated accessible spaces
Accessibility: Ground-level access, ADA compliant
Don’t Leave Your Olathe Family’s Future to Chance
Every day without an estate plan puts your family at risk. If something happened to you tomorrow, would your children be cared for by people you choose? Would your spouse know how to navigate probate at the Olathe courthouse? Would your hard-earned home equity and retirement accounts transfer smoothly to your family?
For over 27 years, we’ve helped 1,134 Johnson County families protect what matters most. We’ve created 5,423 trusts and 1,257 wills, administered 143 probate estates, and helped clients achieve average estate tax savings exceeding $500,000. Our experience ranges from $100,000 estates to clients with net worth exceeding $1 million, with proven expertise at every wealth level.
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 life in Olathe and provide for your family. Don’t let lack of planning force your family through expensive probate at the courthouse, leave guardian decisions to judges, cost your loved ones thousands in unnecessary court fees and delays, or leave your family uncertain about your wishes. Proper planning protects your family from probate delays, ensures your children are cared for by people you trust, and gives your loved ones clear direction when they need it most.
With Gary Eastman’s 500+ complex transactions at Polsinelli (a top 100 AmLaw firm) involving deals from $500,000 to over $100 million, combined with his dual credentials (J.D. and M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Kansas), you receive big-firm sophistication with local accessibility. We return calls within 60 minutes during business hours, complete most estate plans within 4 weeks on average, and provide the professional service Olathe families expect at price points designed for middle-class budgets.
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 for your Olathe family.
Serving Olathe families and businesses • Estate Planning • Probate • Trust Administration • Tax Planning • Asset Protection
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