About Me

I’m Trey Hanna, the founder of The Hanna Law Firm, a small firm giving very high service to a small group of clients.  I’m a third-generation Kansas City lawyer.  I specialize in helping clients manage family wealth and building my skills and expertise in the three types of law that are described on this site.  They overlap and fit together, like subparts of one realm of a client’s life.  I'm fascinated by them and strive to deepen my expertise every day.

I devote my practice to Kansas clients and the laws of Kansas (any county).  My office is in Lenexa [Johnson County], KS.

Most of my clients are referred to me by friends and satisfied former clients.  My clients become my friends, and they carry my cell phone number.  They know they can get me evenings and weekends, if needed, and that I’ll make house calls or hospital calls when truly needed.   Below is a bit more about me.

Well-Rounded Resume, in Four Phases

I’ve learned an incredible amount over four complementary phases of my career.  First, I was a junior associate in one of KC’s biggest law firms.  Next, I was in-house counsel in the legal department of a huge Kansas corporation.

Then, I spent nine years of public service as a senior assistant to the state attorney general.  I headed up the “Charitable Trusts and Non-Profit Corporations Unit.”  We enforced the rules and regulations of charitable trusts, helped trustees learn how to comply in good faith, and provided guidance on trust management issues.  (I also did civil prosecutions of scammers, cheats, and frauds in the Consumer Protection Division.  Very “white hat,” chasing the bad guys, defending innocent victims.  It was hard work, but fun.  We never lost.)

Next, I spent six years as a trust officer at a huge trust company (U.S. Trust), managing families’ wealth, including their commercial real estate (CRE) holdings.  I learned all about trust management and trust administration.

Ever since then, I’ve been in the private practice of law, helping clients with estate planning, family wealth, probate administration, and trust administration (see descriptions on other pages of this site).

As for educational history, I was elected a member of The Missouri Law Review (1989) and a member of The Missouri Journal of Dispute Resolution (i.e., negotiation, mediation, arbitration, etc.). (1988).  I graduated in the top 15% of my law school class.

I’m a Frugalist

I love leverage, including leveraging financial resources for maximum impact.  I hate waste, especially wasting money (or watching clients do so).  I love teaching people how to achieve these things.  I love the huge leverage that’s possible in good estate planning, asset protection planning, or in administering the assets left by others at death.  I really love helping people maximize the long-term positive impact of whatever amount of money they might leave behind for loved ones.  It's more powerful than you think, but only if done right.

Great at Explaining All of This to Clients

Although it may sound immodest, I must admit that I hear this a lot from clients:  “That makes perfect sense.  Thank you.  I understand exactly what we are going to do next and why.  You are so much better at explaining this stuff than the other lawyers I have talked to.”

Clients Are Friends

Nearly all my clients tend to become friends, and I’m told I’m far easier to get to know and relate to, and more likeable, than folks expect a lawyer to be.

Family Status

I’m happily married, no kids, but I have three great nephews.  My extended family are all in the KC area.  I love spending time with all of them.

Family History

I’m from third-generation Kansas City area families (on both sides), and I’m a third-generation KC lawyer.  My granddad, Forest Hanna (“the original”), was a prominent lawyer/politician.  My dad, Forest “Jr.,” was a judge in Jackson County, Missouri, for 30+ years, both as a trial judge and later on the Court of Appeals.  They taught me a lot about integrity, respect, diligence, and hard work, and the value of a good reputation, built over decades.  My granddad on the other side of the family spent an entire career in public service, becoming superintendent of the “Parks and Recreation Department” of Kansas City, Missouri.  (J.V. Lewis, honored with the renaming of “Lewis Road” in K.C., MO)

Teaching

I’ve served as a guest lecturer at UMKC Law School, training law students.  I’ve been a presenter at nationwide Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses, training other lawyers.

Official Court Appointments

I’ve been appointed “Commissioner” in the Probate Division, District Court of Johnson County, KS, to help the probate judge decide certain matters.

Memberships

I’m a member of the “Kansas City Estate Planning Society,” which is an invitation-only group of prominent or respected estate planning attorneys, professional trust officers, etc.

I’m a member of the Johnson County, Kansas Bar Association.  And of its “Probate Law Section.”  I’m also part of an informal study group of prominent probate law practitioners in Kansas.