Heather Counts Garrett
Practice Areas
Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts
Tax Planning & Controversy
Corporate Law & Business Transactions
Business Succession Planning
Trust Administration & Probate Estates
Guardianships & Conservatorships
Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
Asset Protection Planning
Tax Exempt Organizations
Experience
The Counts Law Firm, LLC Owner/Principal, 2009 – Present
Vincent Fontg & Hansen LLC
Of Counsel, 2006 – 2009
Heart of America United Way
Director of Planned Giving, 2005 – 2006
Spencer Fane Britt & Browne, LLP
Associate, 2000 – 2005
Bar Admissions
Missouri
Kansas
United States Tax Court
Education
University of Kansas School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2000
Missouri State University
Bachelor of Science in Accounting, 1996
(formerly Southwest Missouri State University)
Justus-Liebig Universitaet (Giessen, Germany)
Participant in International Student Exchange Program, 1995
Professional Associations & Activities
Missouri Bar Association – Member
Kansas Bar Association – Member
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association – Member
Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium Committee
– Director (2009 – Present)
–
Marketing Subcommittee Co-Chair (2010-11)
Estate Planning Society of Kansas City
– Member
– Board of Directors (2009 – Present)
Speaking & Teaching
Ethical Issues for the Tax Practitioner – UMKC School of Law Continuing Legal Education - Recent Developments in Federal Taxes – 2011
Advanced Business Planning – UMKC School of Law Continuing Legal Education – Co-Chair of Program – 2010
Planning for the Seriously Ill – Missouri Bar Continuing Legal Education – Annual Estate & Trust Institute – 2010
Estate & Trust Issues for the LGBT Community – Kansas Bar Association – LGBT Legal Issues – 2009
UMKC School of Law – Adjunct Professor – Estate Planning for Retirement Benefits (2008 – Present)
Navigating the Law’s Highest Duty: Serving as a Trustee without Becoming a Defendant – Missouri Bar Continuing Legal Education – Annual Estate & Trust Institute – 2003
Community Involvement
Children’s Mercy Hospital Donald H. Chisholm Planned Giving Council
– Member (2007 – Present)
Centurions (Greater KC Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program)
– 2007 Graduate
Kansas City Repertory Theatre – 2010 Gala Committee
– Food & Beverage Chair
Ronald McDonald House Charities – Planned Giving Committee
– Member (2009 – Present)
United Way of Greater Kansas City
– Ambassador (2010 Campaign)
The Women’s Foundation of Greater Kansas City
– Campaign Committee (2010 – Present)
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
– Volunteer Attorney Project – a
pro bono program of Legal Aid of Western Missouri (2010 – Present)
Distinctions
Raymond Rice Foundation Scholar at University of Kansas School of Law
Graduated
Summa Cum Laude from Missouri State University
Presidential Scholar at Missouri State University
Personal
Heather is a native of Salina, Kansas, and has been a resident of the Kansas City area for eleven years. She currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband, David Garrett.
Neither the Supreme Courts nor the Bars of Missouri or Kansas review or approve certifying organizations or specialist designations.
