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Areas of Practice
Education
Undergraduate: Northwest Missouri State University
Law School: UMKC Bar Admissions MO – 2003 KS – 2004 |
Experience
Michelle Burge joined the firm in 2016 and brings sixteen years of experience practicing exclusively in the areas of fiduciary litigation, probate and trust administration, estate planning, appellate practice, and adult and minor guardianships in both Kansas and Missouri. She has tried cases on both sides of the state line enforcing beneficiary rights and pursuing actions against fiduciaries, as well as defending fiduciaries against the same types of accusations. Handling both the claims of aggrieved beneficiaries and the defenses of fiduciaries has given her insight and perspective on the roles of each side that has proven beneficial when forming a legal strategy or exploring options for resolution. Ms. Burge has dealt extensively with families as conflicts arise while dealing with the disability or loss of a loved one and enjoys looking for resolutions and creative solutions to family strife in the midst of crisis and grief. Ms. Burge has also had the opportunity to work on numerous probate and trust issues at the appellate level, having briefed and/or argued several cases to the appellate courts in both Kansas and Missouri involving trust construction, spousal rights, standing, marital agreements and contract breaches as they relate to estates and trusts. She has also enjoyed working within the local bar and sharing insights and experiences with her colleagues on matters related to probate and trust law. She has been a frequent speaker on issues of probate and trust litigation throughout her entire practice. Ms. Burge has presented with local Judges on practical issues related to probate process and procedure, as well as having presented with her colleagues on issues ranging from cases heard at the appellate level to the legal implications and regulations regarding the dispositions of dead bodies and right to die issues. Ms. Burge has three active children. She is heavily involved in their school and parish community at St. Elizabeth’s in Waldo working with everything from recycling to fundraisers to serving as a volunteer lunch lady. Ms. Burge has been involved with and coached youth sports long before she had children and continues to do so through St. Elizabeth’s and the YMCA. She has volunteered with the Missouri 3 & 2 Baseball Organization and has worked as a social media coordinator to keep youth baseball fun, positive, and thriving in Kansas City. Ms. Burge tries to stay active herself as well, and enjoys nature, animals, kids and being outside. Affiliations
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