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Justin W. Whitney

Justin Whitney focuses his practice on estate planning, probate and trust administration, trust and estate litigation, tax planning, and drafting of trusts, wills and corporate documents. Justin prepares basic and complex estate planning documents and implements sophisticated planning techniques on behalf of his clients. He also assists high net worth individuals and closely-held businesses with business succession planning and tax planning, including the formation of corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, and structuring of corporate reorganizations and recapitalizations.

In addition to practicing law, Justin is licensed by the State of Kansas as a Certified Public Accountant. During law school, he completed an internship with the Hon. Julie Robinson at the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

Outside of his legal practice, Justin has pilot and flight instructor certificates, both with instrument ratings.

Events

Presentations

  • Presenter, "Estate Planning Update," Recent Developments in Federal Taxes, UMKC School of Law Seminar, January 27, 2024
  • Co-presenter, "Estate and Charitable Gift Planning with Retirement Assets and Closely-Held Businesses," Truman Heartland Community Foundation, October 26, 2023
  • Presenter, "The Art of Estate Planning: Mastering the Complexities for Your Clients," Enterprise Elite Mastermind Webinar, August 24, 2023
  • Presenter, "The Five Questions a Charity Should Ask When Presented with a Charitable Bequest," Mid-American Charitable Gift Planners, March 10, 2023 
  • Co-presenter, "Business Planning Strategies – Tips, Traps, and Common Mistakes in Estate Planning for Business Owners," Estate Planning Council of St. Louis, October 24, 2022
  • Presenter, "Trust Drafting – Tax and Non-Tax Considerations," Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium, Fundamentals of Estate Planning, October 20, 2022
  • Presenter, "Trust Litigation: The Who, What, Where and How," Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Probate and Trust Litigation CLE Program, November 12, 2021
  • Presenter, "Estate Planning Issue Spotting for Financial Advisors," September 20, 2021
  • Presenter, "Key Implications, Changes and Planning Strategies of the Tax Reform Bill," March 28, 2018
  • Presenter, "Estate Plan Issue Spotting for Financial Advisors", Financial Planning Association of Greater Kansas City, May 10, 2023

Publications

  • Author, "Estate Planning with Family Limited Partnerships," Estate Planning Journal, Vol. 49, No. 6, June 2022
  • Co-author, "Revocable Trusts: Kansas, Practical Law Trusts & Estates," Thomson Reuters, 2020
  • Co-author, "Power of Attorney (Kansas), Practical Law Trusts & Estates," Thomson Reuters, 2020
  • Author, "Trust Modifications, Trust Terminations and Valid Settlement Agreements, Kansas Probate & Trust Administration after Death," 8th Edition, Kansas Bar Association, 2018  
  • Co-author, "Estate Planning after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017," Ingram’s, 2018
  • Co-author, "Has Your Estate Plan Entered the Digital Age?," Ingram’s, 2018
  • Co-author, "Revocable Trusts: Missouri," Practical Law Trusts & Estates, Thomson Reuters, 2018
  • Co-author, "Power of Attorney (Missouri)," Practical Law Trusts & Estates, Thomson Reuters, 2018

Professional Affiliations

  • Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City Tomorrow Leadership Class, 2023-2024
  • Heart of America Fellows Institute, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
  • Kansas Bar Association
  • Missouri Bar
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Children's Mercy Planned Giving Council, Member

Honors

  • Selected among The Best Lawyers in America®, "Ones to Watch," 2023-2024
  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Heart of America Fellows Institute, 2021
  • Selected for Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" 2014-2019
  • Myron E. Sildon Excellence in Estate Planning Award, Kansas City Estate Planning Society
Photo of Justin W. Whitney
F: 913.451.0875

Assistant

Jana Stuart
913.451.5194

Court Memberships

  • Kansas
  • Missouri

Education

University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School, L.L.M. Taxation, 2015

Washburn University School of Law, J.D. cum laude, 2007

University of Kansas, B.S. Accounting, 2004; B.S. Business Administration, 2002