Kara Gansmann devotes her entire practice to elder law and estate planning in the Wilmington office of Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law).  Kara is especially well-suited for this practice thanks to her strong interpersonal skills, her diplomatic demeanor, and pragmatic approach to problem-solving.  She brings a solid sense of collegiality to her work with both clients and professionals, alike.

In private consultations, Kara counsels individuals and families on tactics for estate planning, asset protection, and long-term care planning.  Kara drafts Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Trusts, including Pet Trusts, Revocable and Irrevocable Living Trusts, and Special Needs Trusts. Kara also advises clients on eligibility for public benefits like Veterans’ Aid & Attendance and prepares applications for Medicaid and Special Assistance.

In the courtroom, Kara represents clients in trust and estate administration matters, Will caveats, guardianship/incompetency proceedings, and fiduciary litigation.  Kara also represents clients in administrative hearings for denials of public benefits such as Medicaid.

Kara leads a team of experienced professionals who also focus on elder law needs.  The team’s paralegals assist clients in matters ranging from probate to caregiver agreements to promissory notes or real estate deed transactions intended for asset protection. Kara’s team also includes a certified geriatric care senior advisor, who assists with placement in care facilities.  Kara’s entire team understands the urgency and stress associated with seniors’ needs.

Prior to joining CSH Law, Kara served as a staff attorney on an appellate court in Houston, Texas.  There, she managed all aspects of complex civil and criminal appellate matters and drafted over 200 judicial opinions for court justices in over six years.

Kara frequently presents on elder law issues to community organizations, churches, and neighborhood associations across Southeastern North Carolina.  She is a prolific writer on legal issues affecting seniors.  Kara volunteers for and actively supports local and state organizations that benefit seniors’ lives.

Kara hails from a small town in North Carolina, where she grew to appreciate the value of a hand-shake, hard work, and the trust placed in someone’s word. As a proud North Carolina native, she’s happy to raise her family in her home state where her favorite people call her wife, mom, daughter, sister, niece, and cousin.

Representative Matters

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the attorney’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or a law firm’s past results.

  • Obtained guardianships on behalf of out-of-state and in-state clients to protect family members with dementia
  • Obtained guardianships on behalf of clients to protect family members with mental illness
  • Obtained Medicaid-compliant annuities to assist community spouses
  • Obtained Medicaid eligibility and approval for single clients and married clients
  • Obtained an Order in estate administration that required an executor to return to the estate legal fees, commissions, and other administrative costs estimated to be in excess of $100,000 based on inaccurate inventories and accountings filed during probate.
  • Assisted in successful defense on appeal of a trial court’s dismissal of legal malpractice claims against an attorney on grounds that the attorney was judicially immune as a quasi-judicial officer when he served as a court-appointed commissioner to oversee the partition sale of real property owned by the a plaintiff as a co-tenant.

Articles, Presentations, and Publications

  • Presenter, “Durable Powers of Attorney Insights” and “Advanced Directive Tips: making Healthcare Wishes Explicit,” for National Business Institute’s CLE “Estate Planning: Top 7 Tools to Know” (June 17, 2019, Wilmington, North Carolina)
  • Presenter, “Medicaid: New Rules in Benefits, Eligibility, and More” for National Business Institute’s CLE  (June 12, 2019, 90-minute, nation-wide webinar)
  • Featured in NC Lawyer, “Renaissance Woman: World Traveler, Lawyer, Writer, Volunteer Kara Gansmann Can’t Be Stopped,” by Russel Rawlings (August 2018)
  • Presenter, “Documenting Long-Term Care, Incapacity, and End-of-Life Decisions,” for National Business Institute’s CLE “Step-by-Step Guide to Drafting Wills and Trusts” (June 18, 2018, Wilmington, North Carolina)
  • Author of manuscripts, “Marshalling Assets: Key Complications,” and “Creditors’ Claims Frustrations,” presented by Andrew W. Olsen for the National Business Institute’s CLE, “Top Challenges in Estate Administration” (May 10, 2018, Raleigh, North Carolina)
  • Author of manuscript, “Medicaid Planning Strategies,” presented by Andrew W. Olsen for the North Carolina Bar Association Elder Law & Special Needs Basics CLE (October 27, 2017, Cary, North Carolina)
  • Presenter, The New North Carolina Power of Attorney Act, Cranfill Sumner Firm Seminar (November 9, 2017, Raleigh, North Carolina)
  • Author of manuscript, “Medicaid Estate Recovery” presented by Andrew W. Olsen for National Business Institute’s CLE “Medicaid Update 2017” (November 7, 2017, Raleigh, North Carolina)
  • Author, How Seniors Can Afford Long Term Care Without Spending Their Life Savings, Business North Carolina (August 2017)
  • Author of manuscript for CLE “What are Trusts? Main Trust Principles” as presented by Andrew W. Olsen for National Business Institute’s CLE “Trusts from A to Z” (June 30, 2017, Wilmington, North Carolina)
  • Kara is a regular contributor to the Greater Wilmington Business Journal Insights column.
  • Author, A Retailer’s Guide to Use of Video Surveillance Evidence to Defend itself in Litigation, The Retailer magazine (2017)
  • Presenter, Liability Issues with Free-Speech Rights in the Workplace, Cranfill Sumner Firm Seminar (October 2016, Raleigh, North Carolina)
  • Author, The Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Corporations to Opt Out of Contraceptive Mandate in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014)
  • Author, Government Speech. It’s What’s for Dinner, 82 N.D. L. Rev. 519 (2006)

Media

 


TESTIMONIALS

Can’t say enough positive things about Kara Gansmann and the Wilmington office team."
J.C.L. 8/15/2017
Your work and that of your associates is much appreciated!"
M.S. 11/26/2018
It was extremely easy and pleasant to work with you and your team. You LISTENED to me and HEARD what I wanted. Your suggestions regarding improvements to the estate documents were on point and appreciated. Most of all, I appreciated the timeliness of the work. It was done on time and the team got it right the first time. Thanks again. "
S.M. 7/31/2018
Thank you for your help and efficiency probating my husband’s estate. You and your team have been incredibly helpful and very supportive during this difficult time. "
E.W. 2/20/2019
Kara, thank you so much for the packet of wills and assorted forms that I picked up yesterday. We really enjoyed working with you; you had great ideas and excellent insight into what we wanted and needed. It was a pleasure doing business with Cranfill Sumner. "
E.L. 3/13/2019
I am so glad you prepared my estate plan. I knew when I attended your presentation you would be a person I would enjoy working with and that certainly was the case. So much thanks and kudos to you! "
C.N. 3/15/2019
I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done. It means the world to me. I really appreciate you giving me the confidence to complete everything. I finalized everything today and I’m done! "
A.L. 3/19/2019
I have enjoyed working with you and have greatly appreciated all of your time, thoroughness, and understanding!!! Your professionalism, care, and diligence set you apart."
A.H. 11/10/2019
It was certainly our pleasure and good fortune to have such good legal representation on Mom's behalf in this matter. We are very pleased with the overall outcome and your commitment to successfully wade through the myriad of details and voluminous governmental "red-tape" wrapped around this matter to bring this to conclusion. Our fingers are crossed that we will not require further services, however, if we do, I will be calling on you again to work your magic."
J.W. 8/31/2020

Most Recent Posts

  News

Kara Gansmann Serves as Co-Planner for NCBA Symposium

elder couple walking on beach

Kara Gansmann, a Partner based in the Wilmington office of Cranfill Sumner LLP, served as a co-planner for the 24th Annual Elder Law & Special Needs Law Symposium of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA). The conference was held in Charlotte on Feb. 20-21. … Read More

  Post

Senior Planning Checklist

When preparing for the future, seniors and their families can follow this check-list to ensure their needs have been addressed.… Read More

  News

Kara Gansmann Co-Plans Elder Law CLE

Keyboard with an "information" button instead of "enter" button

Kara Gansmann served as co-planner for the 2018 Basics of Elder Law & Special Needs Law CLE seminar sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association. The event was held Oct. 12 at the North Carolina Bar Center in Cary.… Read More

  News

Kara Gansmann Featured in North Carolina Lawyer

North Carolina Bar Association Logo

Elder Law and Estate Planning attorney Kara Gansmann is featured in the latest edition of North Carolina Lawyer, a publication of the North Carolina Bar Association. “Renaissance Woman: World Traveler, Lawyer, Writer, Volunteer Kara Gansmann Can’t Be Stopped” discusses the journey that Kara Gansmann has taken on her career from flight attendant to attorney.… Read More

  News

Kara Gansmann Featured in “Pre-Planning for Peace of Mind” Discussion

Binders

Kara Gansmann, an Elder Law and Estate Planning attorney at Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner), is featured in the latest Insightful Discussion in the online edition of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal.  In “Pre-Planning for Peace of Mind,” Kara discusses the importance of pre-planning estate matters.… Read More

  News

Kara Gansmann Featured in NCBA Newsletter

North Carolina Bar Association Logo

Kara Gansmann was featured in the May 2018 Gray Matters, the newsletter from the North Carolina Bar Association Elder Law & Special Needs Section. “Pro Bono Corner: Putting the Perks of Pro Bono Work Into Your Elder Law Practice” discusses the importance of pro bono work among elder law attorneys.… Read More

  News

Kara Gansmann Co-Plans NCBA CLE Event

Kara Gansmann | Appellate Law Attorney Wilmington

Kara Gansmann, an Elder Law and Estate Planning attorney at Cranfill Sumner LLP, served as co-planner for the Veterans’ Legal Issues CLE conference on May 18. The event was a joint CLE event for the Military & Veterans Law and Elder & Special Needs Law Sections of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA).… Read More

  News

Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Featured in Insightful Discussion

Keyboard with an "information" button instead of "enter" button

Kara Gansmann and Rebecca Knudson recently participated in an Insightful Discussion for the Greater Wilmington Business Journal. The article, “Legal Advice for Business and Personal Matters,” allowed Wilmington-area attorneys to answer reader questions about legal matters.… Read More

  Post

National Elder Law Month

law

In recognition of May as National Elder Law Month, Kara Gansmann discusses the importance of Elder Law in her latest… Read More

  News

Kara Gansmann Featured in NCBA E-Bar

Kara Gansmann | Appellate Law Attorney Wilmington

Kara Gansmann, an Elder Law and Estate Planning attorney with Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner), was featured in the April 24 edition of the North Carolina Bar Association E-Bar.  The E-Bar highlighted Kara’s April 16 Insights article, “NC Seniors Will Receive New Medicare Cards But Remain Susceptible to Fraud,” which originally appeared in the online edition of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal.… Read More

  News

Kara Gansmann’s Insights Article Featured in NCBA E-Bar

Glasses on Stack of Paper Work

Kara Gansmann’s latest Insights article was featured in the March 13 e-bar by the North Carolina Bar Association. “Use a Pet Trust to Ensure Your Pet’s Care” explains how a trust can ensure a pet’s care after its owner has passed or is no longer able to manage its care.… Read More

  News

4ALL Statewide Service Day

paper people chain

Attorneys from the offices of Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 11th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 2.… Read More

  News

Kara Gansmann Plans 22nd Annual Elder & Special Needs Law Symposium

Kara Gansmann | Appellate Law Attorney Wilmington

Kara Gansmann recently served as planner for the 22nd Annual Elder & Special Needs Law Symposium that was held Feb. 22-23, 2018 in Pinehurst. Kara is a co-planner for the CLE Committee of the NC Bar Elder Law & Special Needs Section where she oversaw planning for this event as well as another CLE event.… Read More

  News

Kara Gansmann Published in Business North Carolina Magazine

Piggy Bank on Books

“How Seniors Can Afford Long Term Care Without Spending Their Life Savings,” an article by Kara Gansmann, was published in Business North Carolina Magazine’s 2017 Law Journal. Kara is an elder law attorney based in the Wilmington office of Cranfill Sumner LLP.… Read More

  News

Kara Gansmann Featured in NC E-Bar

Kara Gansmann | Appellate Law Attorney Wilmington

A recent Insights article by Kara Gansmann was featured in the North Carolina Bar Association E-Bar publication. The article, “What To Do With A Paper Savings Bond After Owner Dies,” was initially published in the online edition of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal.… Read More

  News

Kara Gansmann to Chair Carousel Center Board

"N-E-W-S" spelled out on blocks

Kara Gansmann, an attorney in the Wilmington office of Cranfill Sumner LLP, has been elected to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Carousel Center, Inc. for 2016-2017. Kara joined the organization’s board of directors in 2014.… Read More

  News

Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day

Jar of pennies with "Community Give Back" Printed on the side

Eight attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 9th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 4. The statewide event is sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation and the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA).… Read More