Kansas City · MO · Vetted Directory

Top Estate Planning Lawyers in Kansas City

A good estate plan is a gift to the people you leave behind, and Kansas City has experienced lawyers who build them every day. Maybe you need a will, a living trust to avoid probate, powers of attorney, or a plan that protects young kids or a family business. Missouri has no state estate tax, allows transfer-on-death beneficiary deeds for real estate, and handles probate through the Jackson County Probate Division of the 16th Judicial Circuit. Below are vetted Kansas City firms that handle wills, trusts, and estate planning.

No
Missouri estate tax
TOD deeds
Allowed in Missouri
Jackson Co.
Probate Division
18+
Age to make a will

Updated June 6, 2026

When you actually need an estate planning lawyer in Kansas City

Almost every adult benefits from at least a basic plan, and the people who think they are too young or do not have enough are often the ones whose families pay the price later. A Kansas City estate planning lawyer makes sure your will is valid under Missouri law, decides whether a trust would save your family the time and cost of probate, names guardians for minor children, and sets up the powers of attorney and health-care directives that matter if you are ever incapacitated. Online forms can miss Missouri-specific rules and leave gaps that surface at the worst time.

The need grows sharply if you own a home, run a business, have children from more than one relationship, or want to keep family matters private and out of court.

Talk to a Kansas City estate planning lawyer if any of these describe your situation.

  • You do not have a will, or your will is years out of date.
  • You own a Kansas City home and want to spare your family probate.
  • You have minor children and need to name guardians.
  • You own a business and need a succession plan.
  • You want to set up a living trust to keep things private and out of court.
  • You need powers of attorney and a health-care directive.
  • You have a blended family and want to protect specific people.
  • You care for a family member with special needs.
  • You recently divorced, remarried, or had a child and need to update everything.

How a Kansas City estate plan usually comes together

It is more straightforward than most people fear. Step 1: an initial meeting where the lawyer learns about your family, your assets, and your wishes, usually an hour or so. Step 2: the lawyer recommends a plan, often a will-based plan or a trust-based plan, and explains the difference in plain terms. Step 3: drafts come back for you to review, typically within a couple of weeks. Step 4: you sign with the formalities Missouri requires, including the right witnesses and notarization. Step 5: the lawyer helps you 'fund' a trust by retitling assets into it, which is the step people most often skip and most need. A basic plan can be done in two to three weeks; complex estates take longer.

What this typically costs in Kansas City

$250–$450/hr
Typical estate attorney rate
$300–$1,000
Simple will, flat
$1,500–$3,500
Full trust-based plan
No
Missouri estate tax

Most Kansas City estate planning is handled as a flat fee so you know the cost up front. A simple will-based package often runs $300 to $1,000, while a full trust-based plan with a living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health-care directives commonly runs $1,500 to $3,500 for an individual or couple, more for complex estates or business succession. Hourly estate rates in Kansas City generally fall between $250 and $450. Because Missouri has no state estate tax, most local planning is about avoiding probate and protecting family, not minimizing state death taxes. Ask each firm for a flat-fee quote and exactly what documents it includes.

What is specific about Missouri and Kansas City estate planning

  • No Missouri estate tax. Missouri does not impose its own estate or inheritance tax, so most Kansas City planning focuses on avoiding probate and protecting your family rather than dodging a state death tax. Very large estates may still face the federal estate tax.
  • Beneficiary (transfer-on-death) deeds. Missouri lets you record a beneficiary deed that passes real estate directly to named people at death, outside probate, while you keep full control during life. It is a simple, powerful Missouri tool a local lawyer can set up.
  • Probate runs through the county. Kansas City estates are administered in the Probate Division of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court in Jackson County (or Clay, Platte, or Cass County depending on where you live). A living trust can avoid most of that process.
  • Will formalities. A Missouri will generally must be signed by someone 18 or older and witnessed by two competent witnesses. Getting the formalities wrong can invalidate the whole document.
  • Missouri and Kansas line. The metro straddles two states, so if you own property on the Kansas side, your lawyer needs to plan for both states' rules.

Kansas City firms that handle estate planning

Updated June 6, 2026. Verified across Super Lawyers, Martindale, Justia, Avvo, and firm records. We do not accept payment for placement. Where a firm's aggregate client rating is not yet compiled, we say so rather than invent one.

1

The Binder Firm

Estate planningKansas City, MissouriEstate-focused practice

A Kansas City firm focused on estate planning, wills, and trusts for individuals and families. A good fit for clients who want a practice concentrated on estate work rather than a general firm that dabbles.

Consultation Available WillsTrustsProbate
Request Free Consult
2

Lynch Sharp & Associates

Estate & elder lawKansas City, MissouriEstate-planning firm

A Kansas City estate-planning and elder-law practice handling wills, trusts, and probate. A good fit for older clients and families balancing estate planning with long-term care and elder-law concerns.

Consultation Available TrustsElder LawProbate
Request Free Consult
3

Hartmann Law Office LLC

Estate planningKansas City, MissouriBoutique practice

A Kansas City estate-planning practice that drafts wills, trusts, and complete estate plans. A good fit for individuals and couples who want personal, accessible counsel for a straightforward plan.

Consultation Available WillsTrustsEstate Plans
Request Free Consult
4

Spencer Fane LLP

Estate & trustKansas City, MissouriLarge full-service firm

A large Kansas City-headquartered firm with an estate, trust, and tax practice that handles sophisticated planning and business succession. A strong fit for high-net-worth families and business owners with complex estates.

Consultation Available TrustsTaxBusiness Succession
Request Free Consult
5

Polsinelli PC

Wealth planningKansas City, MissouriLarge national firm

A large national firm founded in Kansas City with a private-client and wealth-planning group for trusts, tax, and estate matters. A strong fit for clients with significant or complex estates who want deep planning resources.

Consultation Available TrustsWealth PlanningTax
Request Free Consult

Talk to a Kansas City estate planning lawyer — free.

Tell us briefly what you want to put in place. We route a confidential request to a best-fit Kansas City firm in this directory. No obligation.

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Estate Planning in Kansas City — FAQ

Do I need a will or a trust in Missouri?
Most people need at least a will, powers of attorney, and a health-care directive. Whether you also want a living trust depends on your goals. A trust can keep your estate private and avoid the time and cost of Missouri probate, which is valuable if you own a home or want a smooth transfer. For smaller or simpler estates, Missouri tools like a transfer-on-death beneficiary deed may accomplish a lot without a full trust. A Kansas City lawyer can tell you which fits.
How much does an estate plan cost in Kansas City?
A simple will-based package is often a flat $300 to $1,000. A full trust-based plan, with a living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health-care directives, commonly runs $1,500 to $3,500 for an individual or couple, more for complex estates or business succession. Hourly rates generally fall between $250 and $450. Most estate lawyers quote a flat fee so you know the cost before you start. Ask exactly which documents are included.
Does Missouri have an estate or inheritance tax?
No. Missouri does not impose its own estate tax or inheritance tax, so for most Kansas City families the goal is avoiding probate and protecting loved ones rather than minimizing a state death tax. Only very large estates face the separate federal estate tax, which has a high exemption. Your lawyer will tell you if your estate is near that federal threshold.
How can I avoid probate in Kansas City?
There are several Missouri tools. A living trust holds your assets and passes them to your beneficiaries without probate. A transfer-on-death beneficiary deed passes real estate directly at death. Payable-on-death and transfer-on-death designations work for bank and investment accounts. Which combination is right depends on what you own. A Kansas City estate lawyer maps your assets and sets up the ones that keep your family out of the Jackson County Probate Division.
What happens if I die without a will in Missouri?
Your estate passes by Missouri's intestacy statute, which sets a fixed order of who inherits, usually your spouse and children, and it may not match what you wanted. The court also decides who administers the estate and who raises minor children, through a probate process that takes time and money. A will, and often a trust, lets you make those choices yourself instead of leaving them to a Missouri statute and a judge.

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