Easing the burden of grief

When dealing with the loss of a loved one, juggling the legal logistics of their estate isn’t always top of mind. But the team at Wallis Law Group specializes in easing what can be a tough transition.

In service of others

Located in central Edmond, Wallis Law Group is a boutique law firm that primarily practices in the areas of estate planning and probate.

“Our team focuses on creating confidence and peace of mind for our clients through proper planning and guidance,” said Kathy Wallis, the firm’s founding attorney. “Our clients are unique, real people with whom we work to build a long-term, trusting relationship.” 

And that relationship is critical when it comes to the firm’s areas of focus. Wallis Law Group guides clients through planning wills, trusts, directives, powers of attorney, and more—working to lessen the stress surrounding death for grieving loved ones. 

The firm also handles trust administration, probate, and guardianships, with additional experience in business and corporate law and mediation.

“I really believe that the work we do is our mission,” Wallis said. “It is my way of serving others in their time of need and helping them plan for their families.”

Planning for the inevitable

Wallis began her practice part-time in 2006, working out of her home. Just a year later, she turned full-time and grew her practice over the following decade. 

“Starting out with just me and growing to a team of employees and contractors has been a significant change. Yet, our mission and goal is to continue to focus on making everyone feel comfortable and welcome,” she said.

She knows, for most, death is a difficult topic, which is why she and her team lead with support and act as a trusted resource. The hard realities of death often go overlooked, so the firm is especially dedicated to educating clients on their best options while debunking myths surrounding the industry. 

“We get to meet the most incredible people and offer them assistance and guidance in an area with which they are often unfamiliar,” she said.

According to Wallis, many people think if they have a will their estate won’t have to go through probate, they’ll need millions of dollars to have a trust, or that everything will automatically go to their spouse—all of which she explained are not true.

“It takes proper planning for things to go smoothly, and that’s where we come in.”

A personal touch

Wallis, however, isn’t short of her own life experience on the subject, and she finds it helpful to draw on her past.

“Many of the things I discuss with our clients are events my husband and I have experienced personally: illness, death, hard discussions,” she said. “As hard as those experiences were for us, my professional knowledge helped us navigate through them and motivated me to help others do the same.”

This drive to help others doesn’t stop when the last client leaves for the day. The firm proudly supports Edmond Mobile Meals, where Wallis is currently serving her sixth year on its board of directors and has been a volunteer cook for over 15 years. 

“For me, success is living a life of love,” she said. “Most days, it’s hard to love everyone, even myself. But on the days I do, it’s a great day.”