Estate Planning and Wills in Shawnee, Kansas

 

Make thoughtful decisions about the people you want to provide for and the wishes you want your family to understand.

 

Joshua Harden at Memento Mori Law helps individuals and families prepare and review wills as part of a coordinated estate plan. Based in Shawnee, Kansas, the firm serves Johnson County, the Kansas City area, and clients throughout Kansas and Missouri. Consultations are available in person in Shawnee or virtually through Google Meet, with secure online intake.

 

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Give Your Family Clear Direction

 

A will records important instructions for the property it governs and allows you to name the person you want to administer your estate. Parents can also address their preferences concerning the care of minor children. These decisions deserve a conversation about your family and circumstances.

 

A useful plan considers more than who receives your possessions. Who should serve if your first choice cannot? Are there beneficiaries whose inheritance needs special attention? Have marriage, divorce, a new child, or a death changed your wishes?

 

Josh helps you work through those questions and consider how a will should fit with beneficiary designations, property ownership, and other planning documents.

 

What We Can Discuss

 

• Preparing your first will or reviewing an existing one.

• Choosing an executor or personal representative and a backup.

• Providing for a spouse, children, or other beneficiaries.

• Identifying planning concerns involving minor children or blended families.

• Coordinating a will with trusts, powers of attorney, and health care documents.

• Completing the signing arrangements appropriate for your documents.

 

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A Convenient Process With Personal Guidance

 

Begin with a consultation about your goals. Secure intake allows you to organize family and asset information at home. Josh reviews your instructions, discusses unresolved choices, and prepares documents tailored to your circumstances. Web consultations make it easier to ask questions and review drafts without repeated office visits.

 

Learn about estate planning from home.

 

Common Questions

 

Does a will automatically avoid probate?

 

No. A will provides instructions for administering property within its scope; it does not by itself remove that property from probate. Ownership arrangements and beneficiary designations also matter.

 

Should I choose a will or a trust?

 

The answer depends on your property, family, and goals. Josh can discuss the role of each rather than assuming every client needs the same documents.

 

Can I begin online?

 

Yes. You can begin with a web consultation. Consultation and document execution are separate steps. For conventional written wills, Kansas and Missouri require at least two competent witnesses, with specific signing and presence rules. Joshua will explain the execution requirements for your documents. Sources: K.S.A. 59-606; Mo. Rev. Stat. section 474.320.

 

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Explore Our Resources

 

• Do I Need a Will or a Living Trust?

• What Happens If I Die Without a Will?

• Can I Write My Own Will?

• Who Should I Name as Executor of My Will?

 

Begin With Your Questions

 

Whether you are preparing your first will or revisiting an older plan, start with a conversation about the people and priorities that matter to you.

 

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