Gaughan & Connealy

04/07/2026

It’s official: Casey Connealy is officially one of the Top 10 Estate Planning Attorneys in Kansas for 2026! 🏆
"Best of the Best Attorneys" gave him the award, and while we’re incredibly proud, we’re also a little worried this will go to his head. If you see him, please keep the compliments to a minimum...he’s already started referring to himself in the third person and we still need him to show up tomorrow. ☕💼
Congrats, Casey! (But seriously, don't mention it).

04/06/2026

Read more: www.midwestestateplan.com/that-would-never-happen-ruins-your-estate-plan/

🤝The Power Dynamic: On paper, naming your “organized” daughter to be in charge of your “messy” son’s inheritance makes sense. In reality, it creates a gatekeeper and a subject. That leads to resentment that can last a lifetime.
🤌The “Equal vs. Fair” Trap: If one child spent ten years helping you run the family business and the other moved away, leaving them “equal” shares of the company often feels unfair to both. Without a specific plan for control and buy-outs, it’s a recipe for a standoff.
✍️The Co-Trustee Deadlock: Parents often name two children as “co-trustees” to keep things balanced. In practice, this often leads to a stalemate. If they can’t agree on a repair for the family home or an investment move, the whole process grinds to a halt…and often ends up in court.
❤Choosing Based on Love, Not Skill: We love our cousins and siblings, but that doesn’t mean they know how to manage a complex trust or handle a difficult tax return. If a trustee is overwhelmed, the whole family feels the stress.

02/15/2026

🎉 14 Years of Gaughan & Connealy 🎉

Today marks 14 years since Gaughan & Connealy was founded on February 15, 2012.

In honor of the occasion, we’re sharing a throwback of Chris and Casey at 14 years old — long before law school, estate tax strategy, or explaining the difference between a will and a trust for the thousandth time.

From yearbook photos (and yes, very era-appropriate hair) to building a respected estate planning firm dedicated to protecting what matters most. Not a bad trajectory.

Fourteen years later, the mission remains the same: thoughtful planning, steady guidance, and doing things the right way.

Thank you to our clients and community for being part of the journey.

Here’s to 14 years — and many more ahead.

02/04/2026

A trustee isn’t just holding onto paperwork. They’re managing money, following legal rules, making judgment calls, and dealing with beneficiaries who may suddenly develop very strong opinions.

Before you name Uncle Bob because “he’s good with Excel,” it’s worth asking:
• Can they handle conflict?
• Can they stay impartial?
• Can they actually do the job — for years?

🔗 Read more about choosing the right trustee (and avoiding future drama) https://www.midwestestateplan.com/choosing-the-right-trustee-estate-plan/

01/27/2026

“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Peace doesn’t come from hoping everything works out.
It comes from deciding what matters, putting it in writing, and knowing your family won’t be left guessing.

That’s what a solid will or trust does:
✔ Your values, clearly stated
✔ Your people, protected
✔ Your wishes, respected

If peace of mind is the goal, planning is the path.

Next step: If your will or trust is outdated—or missing entirely—schedule a consultation and take this off your mental to-do list.

01/21/2026

Congratulations Casey Connealy on receiving the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas Distinguished Catholic Legacy Society Award. Casey was recognized for his dedicated service in offering planned giving presentations to parishes throughout the Archdiocese, as well as for his leadership on Holy Trinity’s Finance Council and his instrumental role in building our parish’s Legacy Society.

Congratulations to Holy Trinity parishioner and estate planning attorney Casey Connealy on receiving the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas Distinguished Catholic Legacy Society Award. Casey was recognized for his dedicated service in offering planned giving presentations to parishes throughout the Archdiocese, as well as for his leadership on Holy Trinity’s Finance Council and his instrumental role in building our parish’s Legacy Society.

As Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas noted, “Through his faith, service, and witness, Casey Connealy exemplifies the spirit of stewardship that sustains the Church today and strengthens it for tomorrow.”

Holy Trinity Parish is also proud to announce that our parish community has received the Deo Gratias Award, recognizing our commitment to thoughtful legacy planning and stewardship. CFNEK described Holy Trinity as having “a forward-looking vision rooted in gratitude. By making legacy giving a priority, the parish has helped parishioners see how their faith and values can endure far beyond their lifetimes.”

Casey Connealy and Holy Trinity Parish will be honored at an awards dinner on March 26, 2026.

You can read more about this award in the CFNEK's Annual Report.https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fa1b8d0e2c3b00268bcdd80/t/695eb70e08f68845fab923c9/1767814926560/Annual+Report+24-25+SPREADS.pdf

01/20/2026

We’re not miracle workers.
We don’t have magic wands.
And despite what some people think, we don’t live at the office.

But somehow… every person who walks through our doors leaves better off than when they came in.

Smarter about their options.
Calmer about their future.
Relieved they didn’t have to learn Latin to understand their estate plan.

We just sit down, ask good questions, explain things like normal humans, and make sure your plan actually works when it matters.

If you’ve met with us, thanks for trusting two people who still triple-check the copier.
If you haven’t yet, we promise to send you home better off—and only slightly more aware of how unglamorous lawyering really is.

— Chris & Casey

01/12/2026

Proof that estate planning is a contact sport.
Chris Gaughan is back in the office after shoulder surgery - "armed" with experience, wisdom, and exactly one functioning arm.
We’re glad to have him back and healing strong 💪

12/31/2025

Our most popular posts this year had a few things in common:
✔️ A little self-deprecating humor
✔️ A lot of heart
✔️ And a whole lot of people who trust us with the big stuff

Behind every post is a family who trusted us with their legacy.
Behind every laugh is a team that genuinely cares.
And behind every milestone is a promise we take seriously: to protect what matters most.
We’re incredibly grateful for this community, this team, and the privilege of doing meaningful work with people we actually like.
Here’s to more planning, more protection, more laughs… and hopefully fewer awkward professional photos.
💙
— Gaughan & Connealy

12/30/2025

We’re a small estate planning firm, which means: • Fewer meetings about meetings
• Very full calendars
• A lot of checklists
In 2025, that looked like:
✔ 7,000+ clients helped
✔ 32 community workshops
✔ 662 people educated
✔ One new office because… we needed it

Highly specialized. Fairly caffeinated. 100% focused.

12/18/2025

Families in 2025 aren’t exactly… simple.

Blended families. Second (or third) marriages. Exes. Aging parents. Kids with very different needs. Assets you didn’t have 10 years ago.

If your estate plan was created back when life was less complicated (or before streaming passwords were shared), it probably doesn’t match your reality anymore.

Estate plans should evolve as life does — not collect dust.

Next step: Make sure your plan reflects the family you have now, not the one you used to have.

❤️ Read more here: https://www.midwestestateplan.com/why-updating-your-estate-plan-in-2025-matters-more-than-ever/

12/01/2025

“Pursue peace of mind. If you get that, you’ve got it all.” – Eddie Murphy

Peace of mind sounds simple… until life hits you with:
• a surprise hospital bill
• a cousin who thinks they’re entitled to EVERYTHING
• or that moment you realize your “estate plan” is basically a folder labeled “Important???” on your desktop

Look—Eddie Murphy gave you the wisdom.
We’ll give you the plan.

Because peace of mind isn’t found in crystals, caffeine, or pretending “it’ll all work out.”
It’s found in actual legal documents that stop future drama before it starts.

Let us help you Eddie-Murphy your life:
Get peace. Get prepared. Get it together.
www.MidwestEstatePlan.com