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William N. Kirk was born in Norton, Kansas and joined Gould Cooksey Fennell in 2004 where he now co-chairs the Estate Planning and Tax Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of sophisticated estate and tax planning, probate and trust administration, and complex business transactions.
Mr. Kirk received his Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, from the Washburn University School of Law in 1990. Graduating first in his law school class, he earned eleven American Jurisprudence Awards for receiving the highest grade in nearly one-third of his law school courses, including wills and estates, trusts, taxation, contracts, real property, corporations, partnerships, and ethics. In addition, he served as the Notes Editor of the Washburn Law Journal and was a member of the Washburn Moot Court Council. Mr. Kirk earned an LL.M. in Estate Planning from the University of Miami School of Law where he was named an Estate Planning Fellow because of his academic achievement and potential for excellence in the field of estate planning.
Following graduation from the Washburn University School of Law, Mr. Kirk joined the corporate business department of Foulston & Siefkin L.L.P., the largest law firm based entirely in the State of Kansas, where he focused his practice on complex business and securities transactions. In 1996, he left the private practice of law and became a principal and executive officer of a family-owned, multi-unit restaurant company located in Palm Beach County, Florida. In 2002, Mr. Kirk commenced his studies in taxation and estate planning at the University of Miami School of Law and became a member of the Florida Bar.
Mr. Kirk is a Past President of the Indian River County Estate Planning Council and Past Director of the Planned Giving Council of Indian River. He is a member of the Indian River County Bar Association and of the Taxation and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law sections of the American Bar Association and the Florida Bar.
Apart from the practice of law, Mr. Kirk is also involved in various civic and charitable organizations. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Indian River County, and acts as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for United Way Foundation of Indian River County. He also serves on various advisory councils, including the Professional Advisors Council of the Indian River Community Foundation and The VNA Foundation Planeed Giving Active Council. He has also served in various leadership roles for the St. Edwards Cub Scout Pack 512 for eight years, including Den Leader, Cubmaster and Pack Committee Chairman.
| William Nelson Kirk: | Member at The Gould Cooksey Fennell, P.A. |
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979 Beachland Blvd. Vero Beach, FL 32963-1688 |
| Website: | http://gouldcooksey.com/teammembers/william-n-kirk/ |
| Phone: | 772-231-1100 |
| Fax: | 772.231.2020 |
| Office Hours: |
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| Offices: |
Gould Cooksey Fennell, P.A.
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| Association name | Position name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indian River County Bar Association | Member | N/A |
| American Bar Association, Taxation Section | Member | N/A |
| American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section | Member | N/A |
| Florida Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section | Member | N/A |
| Indian River County Bar Association | Member | N/A |
| American Bar Association, Taxation Section | Member | N/A |
| American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section | Member | N/A |
| Florida Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section | Member | N/A |
| Florida Bar Association, Taxation Section | Member | N/A |
| Florida Bar Association, Taxation Section | Member | N/A |
| Florida Bar Association, Taxation Section | Member | 2002 - 1900 |
| Planned Giving Council of Indian River | Director | 2007 - 2010 |
| Indian River Estate Planning Council | President | 2009 - 2010 |
| United Way of Indian River County | Board of Directors | N/A |
| Indian River Community Foundation | Professional Advisors Council | N/A |
| VNA Foundation Planned Giving | Active Council | N/A |
| United Way of Indian River County | Board of Directors | 2011 - 1900 |
| Indian River Community Foundation | Professional Advisors Council | 2011 - 1900 |
| VNA Foundation Planned Giving | Active Council | 2011 - 1900 |
| United Way of Indian River County | Board of Directors | N/A |
| Indian River Community Foundation | Professional Advisors Council | N/A |
| VNA Foundation Planned Giving | Active Council | N/A |
| United Way Foundation of Indian River County | Chairman of the Board of Directors | N/A |
| United Way Foundation of Indian River County | Chairman of the Board of Directors | 2012 - 1900 |
| United Way Foundation of Indian River County | Chairman of the Board of Directors | N/A |
| Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle Award | Indian River Estate Planning Council | 2015 |
| AV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2014 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2012 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2011 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2010 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2009 |
| LL.M. Esate Planning | University of Miami | 2003 |
| Estate Planning Fellow | University of Miami School of Law | 2002 |
| Washburn Law Journal | Washburn University School of Law | 1988 |
| Washburn Moot Court Council | Washburn University School of Law | 1987 |
| Phi Kappa Phil | Kansas State University | 1986 |
| Blue Key Honor Society | Kansas State University | 1985 |
| American Jurisprudence Award | Washburn University School of Law | 2024 |
| American Jurisprudence Award | Washburn University School of Law | 2024 |
| American Jurisprudence Award | Washburn University School of Law | 2024 |
| American Jurisprudence Award | Washburn University School of Law | 2024 |
| School name | Degree | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas State University | BS - Bachelor of Science | 1986 |
| Kansas State University | BS - Bachelor of Science | 1986 |
| Washburn University School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1990 |
| Washburn University School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1990 |
| University of Miami School of Law | LL.M - Estate Planning | 2003 |
| University of Miami School of Law | LL.M - Estate Planning | 2003 |
| Case name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| In re: Termination of Trust | Petitioner's requested relief granted. |
| In re: Termination of Trust | Petitioner's requested relief granted. |
| State | Number | Status | Acquired | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KS | Authorized to practice law | 1990 | 11/13/2021 | |
| FL | 619531 | Member in Good Standing | 2002 | 04/25/2019 |
| Publication name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Indian River Coummunity Foundation Newsletter | Providing Solutions for Advisors and Clients | 2012 |
| Kansas Municipal Law Annual | Kansas Open Meetings: An Executive Session Primer | 1991 |
| Kansas Municipal Law Annual | Kansas Open Meetings: An Executive Session Primer | 1991 |
| Conference name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| CPA Roundtable Luncheon (Scheduled for December 2009) | Using Alternative Valuation Date for Funding Estate Tax Exemption and Marital Deduction Shares in a "Zero Tax" Estate Plan | 2009 |
| Title | Company name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | Foulston Siefkin LLP | 1990 - 1995 |
| Associate | Foulston Siefkin LLP | 1990 - 1995 |
| Executive Vice President and General Counsel | HeatWave Incorporation | 1996 - 2002 |
| Executive Vice President and General Counsel | HeatWave Incorporation | 1996 - 2002 |
| Partner | Gould Cooksey Fennell, P.A. | 2004 - 1900 |
| Partner | Gould Cooksey Fennell, P.A. | N/A |
| Partner | Gould Cooksey Fennell, P.A. | N/A |
| Co-Chair, Estate Planning and Tax Group | Gould Cooksey Fennell, P.A. | N/A |
| Co-Chair, Estate Planning and Tax Group | Gould Cooksey Fennell, P.A. | 2012 - 1900 |
| Co-Chair, Estate Planning and Tax Group | Gould Cooksey Fennell, P.A. | N/A |
