Adams Jones Law Firm, P.A. has provided quality legal services to individual and business clients for more than 80 years. Founded in 1939 by Mark H. Adams and Charles E. Jones, Adams Jones has built a highly-regarded reputation among its clients, peers and the courts for problem-solving, legal expertise, diligence, and integrity. The firm’s primary practice areas are real estate, business, estates, other areas shown on our Practice Areas page, and the litigation and legal disputes arising in those areas.
Adams Jones consistently receives high marks for value of services from clients and referring lawyers.
Our firm is dedicated to:
State-wide Coverage with National and International Reach
Our primary office is in Wichita, Kansas, staffed by all our attorneys and support staff. We have satellite offices in El Dorado, Kansas, and Ulysses, Kansas. Adams Jones attorneys appear in court and provide services throughout Kansas in all of our practice areas. When matters require legal counsel in other states or countries, our affiliation with Meritas gives us ready access to quality counsel throughout the United States and internationally.
Whether you need stand-alone legal counsel or representation or a Kansas attorney as part of a litigation or multi-disciplinary team, Adams Jones has the ability and flexibility to provide it. We are available and experienced to serve as local counsel, provide legal opinions on Kansas issues in multi-state transactions, perform local due diligence, or serve as advisors or expert witnesses on Kansas law and practice.
See individual attorney biographies for these recognitions
Adams Jones Law Firm, P.A. is the Kansas member of MERITAS, a global alliance of over 7,000 lawyers serving in 170+ full-service law firms across more than 70 countries. Through MERITAS, clients seeking legal services can easily connect with pre-qualified legal expertise worldwide. Adams Jones and all MERITAS firms must consistently meet rigorous quality standards and a stringent code of ethics. MERITAS firms are also required to participate in ongoing recertification and client satisfaction evaluations. Clients who engage a MERITAS firm can be confident they will receive high quality legal work from firms that are deeply rooted in their local communities.
Founded in 1939
9 people in their team
From title disputes in Hugoton to mechanics' liens in Olathe, from hotel projects in Wichita to condemnation cases in Garden City and Topeka, the attorneys of Adams Jones Law Firm provide real estate law services where the Kansas flag flies. We do dirt!
BROKERS AND SALESPERSONS
Advise licensees of responsibilities under Kansas law, including the Real Estate Brokers’ and Salespersons’ License Act and the Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions Act.
COMMERCIAL LEASING
Work with a variety of commercial leases including office, warehouse, retail, and ground leases for commercial landlords and tenants.
COMMERCIAL PURCHASES AND SALES
Assist clients in completing real estate transactions through contract preparation, due diligence review, title examinations, and environmental review.
CONDEMNATION
Represent clients through the process of acquiring the assets or stock of another business entity, including drafting contracts, and business and tax advice.
CONDOMINIUM
Prepare condominium declarations and governing documents.
COVENANTS & RESTRICTIONS
Create community associations, covenants and restrictions for commercial and residential properties.
CREDITORS' RIGHTS
Represent commercial creditors and financial institutions in protecting and recovering assets and property in foreclosures, bankruptcy and workouts.
DEVELOPER INCENTIVES
Assist developers utilizing Community Improvement District funding, Tax Increment Financing, tax abatements and other development incentives. Financing. Prepare and review loan documents and security instruments for lenders and borrowers.
LAND USE / ZONING
Appear before the Board of Zoning Appeals and appellate bodies on land use issues for landowners and governmental entities.
LITIGATION / DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Resolve disputes for clients in the most appropriate forum available for their controversy, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. We believe our strong real estate practice gives us an edge when called upon to convince a decision maker of our client’s position. Cases have included enforcement of contracts, boundary disputes, nuisances, and brokerage commission claims. Available to serve as mediators and arbitrators of real estate disputes and expert witnesses in real estate cases.
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURES / WORKOUTS
Represent lenders in foreclosure of commercial properties, appointment of receivers, and collection of rents.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Represent quarry owners in leasing and selling rock quarries. Represent oil and gas operators, lease owners and contractors over lease operations.
TAX APPEALS
Prepare and process appeals of real estate tax valuations and assessments, including actions before the Court of Tax Appeals. Resolve issues with special assessments and improvement districts.
TITLE AND BOUNDARY DISPUTES
Represent landowners in disputes with adjoining neighbors over easements, fences, adverse possession, boundaries and trespass. Represent landowners, lenders and title insurers in title and lien priority disputes.
TITLE INSURANCE
Assist purchasers and lenders in securing appropriate title insurance coverage. Represent title insurance companies in claims.
Many cities and counties in Kansas regulate land use and development through zoning and subdivision regulations. Zoning disputes between neighbors can be among the most contentious. The right of the landowner to use land, the desires of other land owners to be protected from the impacts of neighboring land uses, and the desire of local governments to direct and control growth often come into conflict.
We represent developers, landowners, planning staff, planning commissions and county commissions in Kansas zoning and land use cases. Our work has included cases involving:
We advise on the gamut of zoning matters:
Adams Jones means business. We serve clients in a wide range of practice areas important to businesses and owners. Our focus is to understand the client’s business and apply our experience and skills to help clients plan, grow, and manage risk. Examples of areas in which we provide legal services to businesses are:
BUSINESS ENTITY FORMATION
Help clients identify the most appropriate business entity for the clients’ needs. Prepare documents to form and manage limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships, foundations, trusts, and joint ventures.
COMMERCIAL LAW
Assist clients in the sale and leasing of goods and services. Document security interests, notes, and other commercial paper.
ASSET AND STOCK SALES
Represent clients in planning for, negotiating and documenting asset and stock sales, including business and tax advice.
MERGERS / ACQUISITIONS
Represent clients through the process of acquiring the assets or stock of another business entity, including drafting contracts, and business and tax advice.
SUCCESSION PLANNING
Help clients plan strategically for business succession to the next family generation, to key employees, or to others.
BUSINESS CONTRACTS
Assist clients in preparing a wide range of contracts to help clients manage their businesses, including agreements relating to employees, distributorships, sales representatives, licenses and financing.
MEDICAL PRACTICES
Serve physicians, physician groups and other healthcare entities in business transactions and other matters involving healthcare issues. Represent physicians’ groups and physicians in matters regarding employment contracts.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Represent financial institutions in matters including loan documentation, asset recovery, human resources and litigation.
CREDITORS’ RIGHTS AND BANKRUPTCY
Pursue and protect the rights of creditors in Chapter 7, 11, and 12 bankruptcy cases filed by debtors.
LITIGATION / DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Pursue favorable resolution of a wide variety of business-related disputes, whether through formal litigation or arbitration or through informal negotiation or mediation. See our Litigation & Legal Disputes practice area page for more information. Some of our attorneys also serve as mediators and arbitrators.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Advise businesses with respect to trade secrets, nondisclosure, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, trademarks and service marks, and copyrights. Represent businesses in litigation for patent and trademark infringement, and business tort disputes.
PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY
Defend legal professionals and officers and directors in tort claims.
TAX
Advise businesses on tax planning. Represent clients in tax controversies and litigation.
The lawyers who try cases and handle legal disputes at Adams Jones have broad experience in state and federal courts and in hearings held before regulatory agencies. We are equipped to handle cases ranging from complex business litigation to disputes about zoning and easements and a wide variety of other disputes.
When a legal dispute arises we can provide a frank assessment of the rights and obligations involved to help clients decide whether litigation is warranted or should be avoided. Our litigation work includes disputes involving a wide variety of matters:
many business issues
fraud and misrepresentation
real estate
estates and trusts
financial institutions
insurance defense and claims
intellectual property
proceedings before governmental entities and agencies, including condemnation and property tax appeals
and many others
We have determined advocates with the skill, knowledge, and resources to formidably prosecute or defend our clients’ lawsuits. Our goals are the timely, efficient, and satisfactory resolution of disputes and effective management of our clients’ fees and costs.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Many disputes can be resolved without the need for a formal lawsuit in court. Doing so can minimize the time and cost involved, deal with the dispute privately, and sometimes preserve business or personal relationships. We are experienced in negotiation and alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation and arbitration.
Whether your estate is large or small, our estate planning group can help put in place a plan to carry out your wishes when the time comes. Dealing with the death of a loved one is never easy, and having a well-considered plan in place can give your family a sense of peace and comfort knowing that they can take time to grieve instead of dealing with potential family disputes or uncertainties.
PLANNING DOCUMENTS
We offer preparation of Wills, Transfer on Death documents, Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts, Asset Transfers, Family and Generation-Skipping Trusts, Charitable Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Living Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney for both Health Care Decisions and Financial Decisions, Guardianships, and Conservatorships. If you are not sure what kind of planning documents you require, our attorneys will be happy to assist you in evaluating your situation and recommending what best fits your needs.
MAINTENANCE DOCUMENTS
Life changes every day. Divorce, marriage, adoption, and birth of children can alter your estate plan. We offer services to prepare Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements, Trust Amendments, and Will Codicils to adjust to life events that could have an unintended impact on your original estate plan.
TAX PLANNING
Tax returns and potential tax obligations are important considerations. Our attorneys can help you understand the potential tax obligations you may face with your estate plan and determine how to minimize federal and state gift, inheritance, and estate taxes, for you, your spouse, and your children. We assist in preparation of federal estate and inheritance tax returns and gift and generation-skipping tax returns. We also provide assistance in resolving disputes with the IRS and Kansas Department of Revenue.
Probate Administration
If a person has not transferred their assets to a trust or to others before they die, their estate needs to go through probate. The court reviews the assets and debts belonging to the person and determines the distribution of those assets and payment of debts. The probate process can be straightforward, but can sometimes be lengthy and complicated, depending on the estate. We work to streamline the process, whether you are a beneficiary, fiduciary, guardian, conservator, trustee, executor or administrator.
TAXES
Taxes, or at least tax returns, are an important part of the process. We assist with federal and state gift taxes, inheritance taxes, and estate taxes, for you, your spouse, and your children. We assist with preparation of federal estate and inheritance tax returns and gift and generation-skipping tax returns. Or we can recommend qualified tax preparers to assist you with this process.
GUARDIANSHIP
If a loved one does not have the mental capacity to care for themselves or make decisions, a guardianship is an option. We help clients apply for the guardianship, understand their roles and responsibilities as a guardian, file any necessary documents with the court, and advise on care options.
CONSERVATORSHIP
An adult with an impairment may require assistance in managing their financial affairs, in which case a conservatorship is an option. A conservator is a person who manages and cares for the financial interests of another. We assist clients through the process of applying for the conservatorship, explain their roles and responsibilities, and assist with the preparation of reports required by the courts.
Trust Administration
Trusts are common estate planning tools. A trust is designed to prevent the need for probate proceedings and gives specific directions on how assets are to be distributed upon your death. A trust can be as simple as filing an accounting and writing checks to the beneficiaries, or it could be more complicated by having to sell real estate, conduct appraisals on collections, or operate or sell business interests. A trust may also be used to restrict or slow down distribution to beneficiaries by putting age restrictions or other qualifications in the trust. The trustee is responsible for making sure the terms of the trust are carried out and are sometimes given discretion in doing that. We can assist with every aspect of trust administration, including required accountings and reports, whether you are the trustee or a beneficiary.
Litigation & Legal Disputes
When disputes arise regarding an estate plan, a probate estate, a trust, a guardianship, or a conservatorship, we can advise about the rights and obligations involved and assist in resolving the dispute. Examples of types of disputes in this area include:
Issues regarding the validity of a will or trust, including from undue influence or competency.
Issues regarding rights and obligations under a will or trust.
Challenges to fiduciary actions, including by executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, and conservators.
Challenges to fiduciary fees.
Adams Jones assists clients regarding loans and secured transactions, throughout the course of the process—from loan creation to workouts of payment problems to enforcement. Examples of areas in which we provide these legal services are:
COMMERCIAL LAW
Assist clients in the sale and leasing of goods and services. Document security interests, promissory notes, and other commercial paper.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Represent financial institutions in loan creation and documentation, workouts for troubled loans, asset recovery and foreclosure, and other enforcement of creditor rights.
BANKRUPTCY
Pursue and protect the rights of creditors in Chapter 7, 11, and 12 bankruptcy cases.
