If you have yet to create an estate plan, there is no time like the present to get started. A well thought out estate plan can accomplish a number of important goals, including creating a framework for the division of your estate assets upon your death, protecting you and your family in the event of your incapacity, and ensuring that your loved ones are provided for when you are gone. The estate planning attorneys at Amen, Gantner & Capriano, Your Estate Matter, LLC understand how important it is to choose the right attorney to work with you on your estate plan. As such, we are honored to be the estate planning law firm of choice for so many of our friends and neighbors in Kirkwood, Missouri.
The History of Kirkwood, Missouri
Following both the cholera outbreak that killed a tenth of the residents of downtown St. Louis, and the fire that destroyed much of the buildings and infrastructure that same year, plans began for the creation of a new community close to St. Louis. Kirkwood was the culmination of those plans. As the first suburban municipality built outside boundaries of the City of St. Louis, as well as the first planned suburb west of the Mississippi River, Kirkwood has long been known as “Queen of the St. Louis Suburbs,” an honor Kirkwood has proudly accepted. With the construction of the Missouri Pacific Railroad into the area, Kirkwood also allowed people to live outside the city and work in the city. Kirkwood’s relationship to the railroad can be shown in the fact that the suburb was named after James Pugh Kirkwood, the engineer in charge of locating, surveying and building the railroad. The train station was built in 1893 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is the only station stop that Amtrak makes in the St. Louis metropolitan area outside the central city. The downtown business district, which is home to many restaurants and shops as well as the Kirkwood Farmers’ Market, and a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Ebsworth Park Foundation are also listed on the NRHP. .
Kirkwood, Missouri Today
Kirkwood is located just outside the city limits of St. Louis, Missouri and is home to just over 27,000 residents. Residents of Kirkwood enjoy a unique blend of history and modern amenities. As the first planned suburb west of the Mississippi, residents and visitors can see the area’s history in the numerous buildings listed on the National Registry of Historic Places as well as during celebrations such as the Greentree Festival. Held every September for over 50 years, the festival offers arts and crafts for kids and foods from many diverse cultures.
The Kirkwood High School Pioneers and Webster Groves Statesmen alternate as hosts of the annual Turkey Day Game. As the longest-running football high school Thanksgiving Day rivalry west of the Mississippi, the 100th anniversary game was played in 2007. The winner of the Turkey Day Game receives the Frisco Bell, while the loser gets the Little Brown Jug.
If you are looking for fresh fruits and vegetables, the Kirkwood Farmers’ Market, founded in 1976, is the place to be with more than 300 local businesses contributing to the market. If you have children, don’t miss the Magic House, St. Louis’s children’s museum. Originally opened in 1979, the Museum receives over 500,000 visitors annually and has been visited by more than 10 million people since its opening. The Magic House was ranked by Zagat as America’s top travel destination based on child appeal.
Amen, Gantner & Capriano in the Kirkwood, Missouri Community
The estate planning attorneys at Amen, Gantner & Capriano are proud to be part of the Kirkwood, Missouri community. Our goal is to create lifelong relationships with our clients who live and work in the Kirkwood community because estate planning, when done properly, is a lifelong process. As you move through the various stages of your life, and your estate becomes more complicated and complex, changes will need to be made to your estate plan in order to keep up. We hope to be there with you to ensure those changes are accounted for in your estate plan.
Some estate planning strategies and tools, such as probate and tax avoidance, should be part of your estate plan from the beginning, others will be added along way as they become necessary to meet your changing needs and goals. When you marry, for instance, it may be time to incorporate incapacity planning into your overall estate plan. When you experience the joy of parenthood for the first time it may be time to incorporate and asset protection strategies as well as strategies aimed at protecting your minor children into your estate plan. Looking to the future, toward your “Golden Years,” we will make sure your estate plan includes Medicaid and retirement planning components to ensure that you are financially secure and well prepared for your retirement years. Finally, your plan should also be individualized to include components that apply to you and your specific needs, such as special needs planning, business succession planning, or pet planning. The estate planning team at Amen, Gantner & Capriano, Your Estate Matters, LLC would be honored to be your choice to help you with your unique estate planning needs.
Contact Us
If you have additional questions or concerns about estate planning, or wish to get started with your plan, contact the experienced Missouri estate planning attorneys at Amen, Gantner & Capriano, Your Estate Matters, LLC by calling (314) 966-8077 to schedule an appointment.
