Family & Business Owner Estate and Succession Planning in Lenexa, Leawood, and Overland Park
You Can't Bubble-Wrap Your Kids. But You Can Make A Plan
It happened on a Friday night...
Sophie, 10, and Eli, 4, were with their babysitter in Lenexa while their parents, the Parkers, enjoyed a show at the New Theatre & Restaurant in Overland Park. But when a drunk driver ran a red light on Metcalf, everything changed.
Both parents were rushed to Overland Park Regional Medical Center in critical condition. The babysitter couldn’t reach them and, panicked, called 911. Police arrived and started asking tough questions: Who has legal authority to care for the kids? Who’s allowed to take them tonight? Without clear answers, the next call would’ve been to Kansas Child Protective Services—and the children could’ve spent the weekend or longer in foster care.
There might have been no bedtime prayers. No familiar routines. No homemade meals. No faith life. No hugs. No love. Just strangers and survival. Sophie would have tried to be brave, but when she saw Eli crying at night, she would have broken too.
Fortunately, that never happened.
Because the Parkers had created an ER Kids Protection Plan with KC Legacy Law, when officers arrived, they found signed emergency guardianship documents and instructions naming the family’s close friends, whom Sophie and Eli knew and liked, as temporary guardians. No court orders. No state custody. Just a smooth handoff to people who knew their children, loved them, and could comfort them through the scariest night of their lives.
Years later, Sophie still remembers that night—not as trauma, but as a memory. What stuck with her most was how calm everything felt once help arrived. Her parents’ plan protected her then.
That memory came rushing back during her first year of college, when she met Barbara—a girl whose parents died when she was 10. When Barbara turned 18, she received a $1 million inheritance with no guidance and no limits. She began spending recklessly, chasing things that didn’t last, and eventually turned to substances that caused real harm.
Sophie was grateful. She knew that if her parents had died, they had pre-selected a trusted guardian—not just to raise her and Eli, but to help them make wise decisions with their inheritance. The Parkers never planned for the accident. But they did plan for their kids—and that made all the difference.
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Why Young Healthy Families Need Estate Planning
What happens to your young kids if both parents pass away?
Without a plan, a judge decides.
Even if you’ve told your sister she’d raise the kids, that’s not legally binding. A court could appoint someone you would never have chosen—or even place your kids in temporary foster care while they figure it out. Estate planning lets you decide who steps in, so your children are cared for by the people you trust most. At KC Legacy Law we offer an ER Kids Protection Plan, so your children are never raised by someone you wouldnt.
Who makes medical and financial decisions if you are hospitalized?
If you don’t choose someone, the court will.
If you’re in a serious accident or become ill, someone needs to pay the bills, talk to doctors, and manage your life while you recover. Without proper legal documents, your family may have to go to court just to get permission. Doctors and staff wont even be able to talk with your family. It may take weeks to get access to your apartment to feed your pet. A simple plan ensures the right person is ready to step in—without drama or delay.
Who decides who will raise your kids?
You do—if you plan ahead.
If you don’t name legal guardians, a judge will make the decision. They’ll do their best, we hope, but they don’t know your values or your kids. Naming a guardian in your estate plan ensures your children are raised by someone who shares your beliefs, parenting style, and love for your family.
Who will guide my kids if they get an sizable inheritance?
A plan lets you protect your kids from too much, too soon.
Even a modest life insurance policy can feel like a fortune in the hands of an 18-year-old. Without a trust, your kids could get full access to that money at 18—free and without limit with no oversight or guidance. A plan lets you choose a trusted adult to manage their inheritance and guide them through major life decisions until they are ready and for the reasons you think are important..
I don't own an estate. Why do I need an estate plan if I do not own much?
Estate planning isn’t about wealth—it’s about people.
You don’t need to be rich to need a plan. If you have kids, a bank account, a car, or even a life insurance policy, those things need to be handled if something happens to you. The real purpose of estate planning is to keep your family out of court, out of conflict, and in the care of people you choose.