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Wills & Probate

Experienced Kansas Wills Attorney

A will is essential at every stage of your life, providing you with the opportunity to distribute your property, establish care for your children and otherwise express your wishes for what will happen upon your death. A will is necessary if you intend to leave property to someone who is not your blood relative, e.g., a domestic partner, a friend or a charity. If you die without a will, the court determines how your property is distributed, who cares for your children and even what happens to your beloved pet — and the decisions the court makes might not reflect your desires.

Wills and estates attorney Charles J. Andres has 18 years of experience, and can assist by drafting a valid will to ensure your intentions are honored.

Changing your will

As your life evolves, so may your estate plan. You may need to update your will throughout your life. Attorney Andres drafts valid codicils that address changes in your financial situation, marital status, parenthood status, philanthropic interests and general lifestyle decisions.

Creating an optimal estate plan

Drafting an effective will requires more than filling in a form. If a court determines that your will is invalid, your desires will not be honored upon your death. Charles J. Andres meticulously drafts your will and considers all aspects of your estate plan. He reviews your family arrangements, financial situation and philosophical goals to guide you in making the best estate planning decisions, and drafts your will accordingly.

The process of probate

Most executors have rarely if ever probated a will and know little about the process. Attorney Charles J. Andres can guide you through the complex probate process, including:

Filing the will with the Kansas probate court

Developing the best strategy for fairly and expeditiously probating the estate

Finding and collecting assets

Closing and opening bank accounts

Transferring assets from the deceased to the estate

Paying estate taxes

Valuing, managing, preserving and liquidating the estate

Locating beneficiaries

Hiring experts, when appropriate

Probate disputes

Even in apparently straightforward estate cases, there are sometimes disputes between beneficiaries. Attorney Andres’ professional courtroom presence can calm the emotionally-charged process of probating a challenged will or disputed executor or judicial decision. When it is in the best interests of the client to preserve cordial familial relationships, he is adept at mediating these disputes. When necessary, he assertively defends his client’s beneficiary rights within the Kansas probate court.

Contact a thorough estate planning lawyer.

Charles J. Andres, Attorney at Law serves clients in Olathe and throughout Kansas. Call the firm at 913-782-8298 or contact attorney Andres online to schedule an appointment.