Karen is a principal in Gray Plant Mooty’s Trust, Estate & Charitable Planning practice group. She advises individuals and couples from a variety of backgrounds and family situations (traditional and nontraditional) on estate planning issues and concerns. Karen works with clients in all areas of estate planning and probate and trust administration. She frequently prepares wills, trust agreements, antenuptial agreements, and domestic partnership agreements with a view toward helping her clients safeguard their interests and that of their families. Karen also has experience in charitable gift planning and in the area of individual income tax preparation.
Although Karen originally hails from Buffalo, New York, she has lived in the Twin Cities area for more than twenty years. After receiving her teaching degree, she spent six years teaching history and English in private schools in New Hampshire and Minnesota. Karen also worked as a paralegal for the State of Minnesota for nearly ten years, solidifying her interest in the law.
Karen is a frequent contributor to and editor of the practice group’s newsletter, Estate Planning Matters!
Publications
- “Gifting in 2011 and 2012,” Gray Plant Mooty Estate Planning Matters!, coauthored with Katherine S. Rodenwald, Summer 2011
- “2010 Matters!,” Gray Plant Mooty Estate Planning Matters!, Fall 2010
- “Choosing a Trustee," Gray Plant Mooty Estate Planning Matters!, Summer 2009
- “The Increased Exemption Creates Opportunity,” Trusts & Estates, March 2009
- “Six Quick Picks for 2006,” Gray Plant Mooty Estate Planning Matters!, coauthored with Julie A. Frommelt, Spring/Summer 2006
- “Retirement Accounts: Estate Planning, Taxation, and Beneficiary Issues,” Gray Plant Mooty Estate Planning Matters!, coauthored with Robert E. Harding, Fall/Winter 2004-2005
- “Maintenance For Estate Planning—Do You Need A Tune-Up?,” Gray Plant Mooty Estate Planning Matters!, coauthored with Robert E. Harding, Spring/Summer 2004
- “Minnesota Estate Taxes: A New Estate Planning Wrinkle,” Gray Plant Mooty Estate Planning Matters!, coauthored with Richard A. Moore, Jr., Winter 2002-2003
- “Review Your Estate Plan Now: Why Changes in Tax Laws Might Produce Unintended Property Divisions,” Gray Plant Mooty Estate Planning Matters!, coauthored with Richard A. Moore, Jr., Winter 2002-2003
- Case Note: “Contracts—The Employment at Will Doctrine: Can Oral Assurances of Job Security Overcome the At-Will Presumption?” Rudd v. Great Plains Supply, Inc., 526 N.W.2d at 369 (Minn. 1995), 23 William Mitchell Law Review, 465 (1997)
Presentations
- “You're the Executor of an Estate, Now What?" Gray Plant Mooty Estate Planning Seminar, September 20, 2007
- “Top Ten Reasons to Have a Trust," Gray Plant Mooty Estate Planning Seminar, October 11 & 18, 2006
- "Wills, Guardianship Issues and Trusts for Children," Gray Plant Mooty Estate Planning Seminar May 17, 2006
- "Health Care Directives: An Estate Planning Perspective," Gray Plant Mooty Health Law Conference, July 21, 2005
- "Understanding Revocable Trusts, Wills and Health Care Directives," Financial Fitness First Sunday Presentation, Calhoun Beach Club, May 1, 2005
Education
- William Mitchell College of Law, summa cum laude, 1999
William Mitchell Law Review, editor - University of New Hampshire, M.A. in teaching, 1984
- University of Notre Dame, undergraduate degree in history, with high honors, 1982
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Minnesota Women Lawyers
- Hennepin County Bar Association