Top Best Estate Lawyers | 18165 Available

Christopher Burns is a Shareholder at Henson Efron and chairs the Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Practice Group. Christopher practices in estate planning, antenuptial (prenuptial) agreements, business succession planning, elder law, and estate administration. Christopher’s estate planning and business succession planning assistance includes the planning and preparation of wills, revocable trusts, family cabin trust / Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), qualified domestic trusts (QDOTs), family limited partnerships (FLPs), grantor trusts (GRATs), intentionally defective grantor trusts (IDGTs), charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), charitable lead trusts (CLTs), private foundations, health care directives, financial powers of attorney, special needs trusts, supplemental needs trusts, and beneficiary designations for life insurance and retirement plans.. Christopher’s elder law practice includes helping families with special needs through guardianships and conservatorships. Christopher also devotes a significant portion of his practice to the administration and taxation of trusts and estates (including contested estate and trust matters).. Christopher frequently speaks to individuals and professional groups about estate planning, business succession planning and estate administration. Christopher has taught new lawyers annually the basics of estate planning. Christopher has always been active in the community. His service has been recognized by his alma mater, by a radio station which named him their “Hero of the Week,” and by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a “North Star Lawyer” for his commitment in providing pro bono work to low income Minnesotans.  His community and civic efforts have also been recognized by Woodbury Magazine.. In addition to his pro bono efforts and other civic involvements, Christopher is currently serving as an Advisory Board Member of the Northern Division Salvation Army and was a member of the Woodbury City Council from 2010 to 2018. He is also a former columnist for Good Age newspaper, a past mentor to St. Thomas Law School students, and a past member of the Woodbury Business and Economic Development Commissions. He is also the Voting Director of the South Washington County Scholarship Committee.. Christopher is also active in the management of Henson Efron, as a member of the firm’s Compensation Committee. In addition, Christopher has been recognized as a Minnesota Super Lawyer® since 2014 and before that as a Minnesota Super Lawyer® Rising Star for seven years. He has been listed as a Best Laywers in America® since 2018. Christopher and his family are active members of their church, and Christopher enjoys reading, writing, politics, bicycling, coaching youth sports, and spending time with his wife and children.

Christine B. Courtney is the principal attorney of Courtney Law Office. She practices primarily in estate and incapacity planning, trust and probate administration, and elder law. Chris represents clients of all incomes and backgrounds and seeks to partner with them to resolve their legal matters.. Chris is practiced at listening and responding to complex family dynamics. She works with clients to determine the source of the emotional and legal issues. Then, Chris works in partnership with her clients to create a plan that meets the client’s goals and ensures financial safety for clients. She developed her ability to manage these difficult family situations both in private practice and while practicing at a nonprofit, where she represented and advocated for victims of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Chris is a capable and efficient professional, determined to represent her client’s interests with skill and sensitivity.

The most important aspect of my practice is customer service. Customer service means responding to request quickly and efficiently. Customer service means easing a client’s mind.. I focus my law practice on estate planning and business planning.. Practical experience since 1985, either as a financial planner or as an attorney uniquely qualifies me to help people draft estate planning documents. I understand the desire my clients have to live well and properly utilize their assets during their lifetimes as well as my client’s desire to pass their assets to their heirs with a minimum of confusion and expense.. I have participated in the complete lifecycle of businesses from startup organization; to growth or recovery; to the sale of the business to a new generation or to an outside buyer. My experience uniquely qualifies me to assist business owners to realize their dreams.. I feel an attorney’s job is to listen to any question and provide an answer.

Alex Galle-From, attorney, grew up in Duluth, MN. Alex took up viola at age 4, has a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music and is a graduate of the U of Minnesota Law School where he held the Dean’s Distinguished Scholarship and a full tuition merit scholarship and was on the “A” Dean’s List. Alex was a certified student attorney and student director at the University’s Insurance Clinic, where he negotiated the Clinic’s highest settlement to that date. Alex also studied at Uppsala University in Sweden, earning an LL.M. in International Taxation. Before law school, Alex for four years worked as a freelance violist and restaurant manager. Alex also has been a ski instructor and coached softball. Alex’s outside interests include travel and team sports e.g. softball, flag football and ultimate frisbee.