Attorney, Shareholder: Christopher J. Burns
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Practice Summary
Christopher J. Burns is a Shareholder at Henson & Efron, P.A. and heads up the Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration Practice Group. Christopher practices in estate planning, antenuptial (prenuptial) agreements, business succession planning, elder law, and estate administration. Christopher’s estate planning and business succession planning assistance includes the planning and preparation of wills, revocable trusts, family cabin trusts / LLCs, irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), qualified domestic trusts (QDOTs), family limited partnerships (FLPs), grantor trusts (GRATs), intentionally defective grantor trusts (IDGTs), charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), charitable lead trusts (CLTs), private foundations, health care directives, financial powers of attorney, special needs trusts, supplemental needs trusts, and beneficiary designations for life insurance and retirement plans. Christopher’s elder law practice includes helping families with special needs through guardianships and conservatorships. Christopher also devotes a significant portion of his practice to the administration and taxation of trusts and estates (including contested estate and trust matters).
Christopher frequently speaks to individuals and professional groups about estate planning, business succession planning and estate administration. Christopher has taught new lawyers annually the basics of estate planning. Christopher has always been active in the community. His service has been recognized by his alma mater and a radio station when it named him their “Hero of the Week.” His community and civic efforts have also been recognized by Woodbury Magazine.
In addition to his pro bono efforts and other civic involvements, Christopher was appointed by the Governor to the Board of the Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation. Christopher is also a former columnist for Good Age newspaper, a past mentor to St. Thomas Law School students and a past member of the Woodbury Economic Development Commission and past Chair of the Woodbury Business Development Commission. In 2010, Christopher was elected by his hometown to serve on the Woodbury City Council. He began his service to his community on the Council in January 2011. Christopher is also active in the management of Henson & Efron, P.A., currently serving as an elected member of the Compensation Committee and as co-chair of the firm’s Accounts Receivable Committee. In addition, Christopher has been featured in the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Rising Stars issues of Minnesota Super Lawyers (formerly Minnesota Law & Politics) magazine. Christopher and his family are active members of their church, and Christopher enjoys reading, writing, politics, running, bicycling, coaching, and spending time with his wife and children.
Representative Experience
- Business Succession Planning
- Estate Planning
- Elder, Guardianship and Conservatorship Law
- Gift and Estate Taxation
- Trust and Estate Administration
- Trust and Estate Litigation Appeals
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
Professional Memberships
- Planning Committee Member, Minnesota CLE Probate & Trust Law Section Conference, 2011-2012
- Board Member, Lutheran Social Service Foundation, 2010-present
- Council Member, Cornerstone Council of the St. Paul Community Foundation/Minnesota Community Foundation, appointed 2009-present
- President, Minneapolis and St. Paul Financial and Estate Planning Councils (now known as Twin Cities Financial and Estate Planning Council), 2007-2008, 2008-2009
- Member, Twin Cities Financial and Estate Planning Council, 2001-present
- Member, Minnesota State Bar Association, 1999-present
- Member, Hennepin County Bar Association, 1999-present
- Member, Christian Legal Society, 2009-present
- Past Chair, Hennepin County Bar Association’s Probate and Trust Law Section
- Member, Washington County Bar Association
- Past Member, Minneapolis Rotary (#9), 2001-2007
- Past Member, Society of Financial Service Professionals
Professional / Academic Honors
- *AV® Preeminent peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Featured in the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Today’s Spotlight
- Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Super Lawyers-Rising Stars Edition 2006-2012
- Featured in Woodbury Magazine article regarding Christopher’s community and education work
Publications / Speaking Engagements
- Author and Co-Presenter, “Driving Miss Daisy: Which Charitable Vehicle Do You Suggest?,” CPE seminar, 2011
- Presenter, “Estate Planning for the Family Cabin,” St. Croix Advisors, June 2011
- Co-Author and Co-Presenter, “Raiders of the Life Insurance Trust: Holy Grail or Temple of Doom?”, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education – Probate and Trust Law Section Conference, June 2011
- Co-Author, “Shifts in the Estate Tax Landscape: The 2010 Tax Relief Act,” Bench & Bar of Minnesota, April 2011
- Presenter, “Preparing Your Estate Plan,” Edward Jones, Spring 2011
- Presenter, “Non-Traditional Estate Planning – Brady Bunch to Modern Family,” AdvisorNet, Spring 2011
- Presenter, Estate Planning for Mid-Career and Pre-Retirement Professionals, Ft. Snelling federal employees seminars, 2002-2011
- Presenter, “Estate Taxes in 2011 & Beyond,” Thrivent National Sales Telephone Conference, Spring 2011
- Presenter, “Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts,” Thrivent National Sales Meeting, Fall 2010
- Co-Author and Presenter, “Estate Planning for the Family Cabin,” Fall 2010
- Featured Co-Presenter, “Estate Planning and the Use of Trusts,” Ameriprise Affluent Client Seminar Series, April 2010
- Presenter, “Estate Planning in Uncertain Times,” Association of Lutheran Development Executives (“ALDE”), April 2010
- Co-Author, Federal Estate Tax client newsletter
- Author, “Insurance: An Investment to Remember”
- Guest Appearance, KARE-11′s On Live on the topic of estate planning considerations for pet owners, April 2008
- Guest Appearance, WCCO-TV’s 4 News on Sunday on the topic of estate planning, December 2007
- Guest Appearances, WCCO-Radio on various estate planning topics, 2007
- Co-Author and Co-Presenter, “Planning Techniques for Disabled Individuals With a Focus on Supplemental Needs Trusts,” CPE seminar
- Presenter, “You Can’t Take ‘It’ With You – How You Can Leave ‘It’ Behind,” Farmers Insurance Advanced Life Training Luncheon; Cardinal Pointe Cooperative; Woodbury Lutheran Church; CPE Seminar; and other seminars
- Co-Author and Co-Presenter, “Estate Planning: It’s Never Too Late!” CPE seminar
- Columnist, Good Agenewspaper, 2006-2008
- “Going to the chapel, prenup in hand,”
- “Leaving on a jet plane? Leave an estate plan behind,”
- “Feeling sandwiched?”
- “Getting professional help from a geriatric care manager,”
- “Death and taxes often go together,”
- “First steps in a tough time,”
- “Elvis or elevator music? Making funeral plans in advance,”
- “When I die…”
- “Estate planning and charitable giving go hand in hand.”
- Author and Presenter, “A Practical Look at the New Conservatorship Claims Statute,” MAGiC Journal
- Co-Author and Co-Presenter, “So You Think Your Client Needs a Trust,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education – Probate and Trust Law Section Conference
- Author, “Wills: Don’t Die Without One”
- Co-Author and Co-Presenter, “How to Draft a Simple Will,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education – New Lawyers Experience, 2003-2010
- Co-Author, “Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education – Probate and Trust Law Section Conference
- Co-Author, “Estate Tax Marital Deduction: A Minnesota Attorney Handbook,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
Community Activities
Educational
- Recent Chair and Past Member, Board of the Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation
- Past Panel Member, Blue Ribbon Educator Awards Panel sponsored by the Center for Academic Excellence
- Volunteer and Presenter, Gathering of Champions and Academic All-Star Students
- Past Mentor, St. Thomas Law School students
- Member, Dean’s Council, University of Wisconsin, River Falls, College of Business and Economics
City of Woodbury
- Woodbury City Council Member
- Past Commissioner, Woodbury Economic Development Commission
- Past Chair, City of Woodbury’s Business Development Committee
Education
- J.D. cum laude, Syracuse University College of Law, 1999
- B.A., University of Wisconsin, River Falls, 1995
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