Shannon K. Barks

  1. People /

Shannon K. Barks

Shannon K. Barks

Partner

  1. People /

Shannon K. Barks

Shannon K. Barks

Partner

Shannon K. Barks

Partner

Kansas City

T: +1 816 374 3220

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Biography

Shannon Barks regularly represents clients in the following matters:

  • Planning for wealth preservation and preparation of estate planning documents
  • Planning for and implementation of sophisticated tax reduction strategies
  • Administration of complex estates and trusts
  • Expert witness
  • Charitable planning, creation and establishment of tax exempt organizations and private foundations
  • Advise tax exempt organizations
  • Business succession planning and tax planning for owners of closely held businesses
  • Premarital and postmarital agreement planning
  • Special needs trust planning
  • Trust and estate litigation
  • Estate related income tax planning

  • Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
  • Best Lawyers®, "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Overland Park, 2015; Kansas City, Missouri, 2018, 2020, 2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America©, 2011-Present
  • Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers, 2013-Present
  • Superlawyers Top 50 Women Lawyers in Missouri and Kansas – 2017, 2019
  • Martindale-Hubbell® "AV" Rating
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, "Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers," 2012-2014
  • Rose Brooks Center, Board of Directors, 2015
  • Wayside Waifs, Board of Directors, 2007-2014; Executive Committee, 2009-2013; Secretary, 2009-2010; Chair-Elect, 2011; Board Chair, 2012-2013
  • Children's Mercy Hospital Donald H. Chisholm Planned Giving Council, 2000-present, Executive Committee, 2006-present; Chair, 2009-2010
  • Safehome, Board of Directors, 2006-2008
  • Johnson County Arts Council, Shooting Stars Scholarship Award Program, Chairperson, 2006
  • Johnson County Arts Council, Board of Directors, 2005-2007

  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Board of Regents; Heart of America Region Chair; Missouri State Chair, State Law Committee; Program Committee
  • Chancellor, American College of  Trust and Estate Counsel, Heart of America Institute.
  • Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium, Board of Directors, 2018-2021
  • Kansas Bar Association
  • Kansas Bar Association, Real Estate Probate and Trust Committees; Executive Committee
  • Kansas Judicial Council, Probate Law Advisory Committee
  • Missouri Bar Association
  • Missouri Bar Association Estate Trust & Elder Law Institute Planning Committee (2016-2017)
  • The Missouri Bar, Probate and Trust Committee
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Johnson County Bar Association
  • Estate Planning Society of Kansas City, 1999-present; Director, 2013-2014; Asst. Secretary, 2015

Spoken Languages

  • French

Admissions

  • Missouri, 1991
  • Kansas, 1990

Education

The American College of Financial Services, Chartered Financial Consultant, 1998

The American College of Financial Services, Chartered Life Underwriter, 1997

University of Kansas, J.D., 1990

Wichita State University, B.A., 1987

Related Practice Areas

  • Private Client

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution

  • Corporate

  • Tax & Private Client

  • Fiduciary Disputes

  • Non Profit Organizations

Resources

Publications

  • Author, Chapters 3, 6, 18-20, Kansas Basic Will and Trust Drafting, Published by the Kansas Bar Association
  • Author, "No Contest Clauses in Kansas," The Journal of the Kansas Bar Association, September 2013
  • Co-Author, "Chapter 11-2013 Supplement Estate Planning Considerations," KBA Family Law Practitioner’s Guide
  • Article, "Waive Hello to New Charitable Remainder Trust Spousal Consent Rules," Children's Mercy Hospital's Estate Planning Matters, Fall 2005 Issue
  • Author, "Tax Advantaged Retirement Planning: Selling Life Insurance in the Roth IRA Market," Journal of the American Society of CLU & ChFC, July 1998 (Winner, Journal Author Award)

Speaking Engagements

  • "Discussion of General Powers of Appointments," 2nd Annual Trust and Estates Disputes Symposium, St. Louis, August 29, 2019
  • Life Insurance and Other Planning in the Era of the Potential Death of the Death Tax," Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium, April 2018
  • "No More Wandrying in the Dark: Illuminating Defined Value Clauses," ACTEC 2016 Mo-Kan Conference, December 2016
  • "Disclaimers," Estate, Trust and Elder Law Institute, Missouri Bar Association, August 2016
  • "Recent Developments in Federal Law Affecting Estates and Trusts," 2015 Annual Estate and Trust Institute, September 2015
  • "Valuation Discounts: When Restrictive Terms in Buy-Sell Agreements are Disregarded," ACTEC 2014 Mo-Kan Conference, December 2014
  • "Disclaimers," The Practical Guide to Probate and Estate Administration, February, 2012, January 2013, January 2014, February 2016, February 2017, February 2018
  • "Probate Procedure Under Chapter 59," Return to Green CLE, April 20, 2012
  • "Kansas Probate Administration – Decedents’ Estates," Johnson County Bar Association Law Practice Skills 101, October 27, 2011
  • "Portability: The New Estate Planning Fix?" Estate Planning Internship Program, October 20, 2011
  • "Modification and Termination of Trusts," 26th Annual Plaza Lights Institute, Kansas Bar Association, December, 2008
  • "Estate Planning Essentials," Moving Forward Together MS Conference and Expo - National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mid America Chapter, November, 2008
  • "Estate Planning for Non-Citizen Spouses," Douglas County Estate Planning Society, January 2008
  • "Small Business Workshop," Johnson County Community College, October 2007
  • "Finding the Best Baskets for Your Eggs," Kansas State Treasurer's Office, October 2005
  • "Practical Estate Planning Solutions," Kansas City Chapter, Women's Life Underwriter's Association, October 2005
  • "Missouri and Kansas Estate Tax after the Economic Growth and Tax Reconciliation Relief Act of 2001," Kansas City Chapter, Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, September 2005
  • "New Developments in Estate Planning," Johnson County Bar Association, October 2004
  • "HIPAA Privacy Regulations: How Do They Impact Estate Planning?" Douglas County Estate Planning Society, September 2004
  • "New Developments in Estate Planning," Kansas City Chapter, Society of Financial Service Professionals, September 2004
  • "State and Federal Legislative and Case Law Update - Estate Planning," Annual Plaza Lights Institute, Kansas Bar Association, December 2003
  • "Kansas Inheritance Tax and Succession Tax," Third Annual CLE Slam Dunk, Kansas Bar Association, February 2003
  • "Cutting Edge Estate Planning," Annual Estate and Trust Institute, The Missouri Bar, October 2002

Related Insights

Related Insights

Awards
Aug 17, 2023
The Best Lawyers in America® 2024
Awards
Aug 18, 2022
The Best Lawyers in America© 2023
Awards
Aug 19, 2021
The Best Lawyers in America© 2022
Awards
Aug 20, 2020
The Best Lawyers in America© 2021
Awards
Aug 15, 2019
The Best Lawyers in America© 2020
Awards
Aug 15, 2018
The Best Lawyers in America© 2019