Probate Law

Overland Park Probate Attorney

At the law office of Gary D. Rappard, P.A., we help clients who have a parent or other relative who has died and has a probate estate. We assist clients with Kansas probate and Missouri probate, from the filing of the will with the Clerk of the Court to the final order of the Probate Court closing the estate. This includes explaining the probate law, preparing and filing all probate pleadings, giving all required notices, handling the resolution of claim disputes, court appearances, inventories, final accounts and final distribution of assets. We can explain the probate laws in ways that clients can understand. If you are looking for a probate lawyer in Kansas or Missouri, call us at our office in Overland Park to discuss your needs.

Estate Planning
We work with clients to help you provide for your family now, in the future should you become disabled, and after you are gone. Clients sometimes ask us what is the difference between an estate planning attorney and a living trust attorney. An estate planning attorney will often do both estate planning and a living trust. Preparing a living trust, or a revocable living trust, is often part of the estate planning for a client, but it is not the only part. A client may also need a will, power of attorney, living will, advanced directive, funeral and burial instructions, and other estate documents, to protect the client and his family. We help clients reduce their estate tax, death tax, inheritance tax and the cost of probate.

Asset Protection
We help clients who need information on asset protection, asset protection incorporation, and offshore asset protection, and avoiding lawsuits and litigation. In our litigious society, the risks to your estate may be increased. An asset protection attorney can help to protect your estate.

Lawsuits and Litigation
The most common and most tragic problems encountered in wills and probate arise when family members do not get along and attempt to bring other family troubles or grudges into the already complex realm of Probate. In most cases, when siblings or legatees get along or decide to
cooperate, Probate can be a relatively painless process.

Sometimes the process is complicated by a will contest or challenge. In some cases, court proceedings may be necessary to recover estate property being held by a relative or to recover possession to a family home from a relative residing there. In addition, there are many state statutes and local Court rules that may. Further, in some unfortunate cases, the person charged with administration of the estate may be less than truthful with the estate's heirs. In these cases especially, a prospective heir should seek the representation of a probate attorney or probate lawyer.

We assist clients in many area cities including Overland Park, Leawood, Prairie Village, Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee, Kansas City, Gardner, Spring Hill, DeSoto, Paola, Lawrence, Baldwin, Ottawa, and many more. We assist clients in areas including Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Miami County, Douglas County, and many more.

Attorney at Law

Gary Rappard is a practicing attorney in Overland Park, Kansas selected for Who's Who in American Law and awarded the highest rating from the most respected lawyer rating service in the world, Martindale-Hubble Law Directory. He is licensed to practice law before federal and state courts in Kansas and Missouri. He is a current member of the Kansas and Missouri Bar Associations.