Michael Whitsitt | Westwood Family Law Lawyer

In 2011 we handled a paternity/adoption case in which we were able to restore to the father his paternal rights and void the adoption of his year old son by third parties. We are currently working on a Child in Need of Care case in which the State wants to terminate parental rights, and my daughter, Rachel, seems to be on target to redeem the mother, our client, while the father's parental rights may be terminated.

The keys to my building a successful practice are honesty, preparation, diligence, perseverance, communication skills and energy. I have always tried to be economical for the client, though I know I am not cheap.

Honesty, preparation, diligence, perseverance, communication skills and energy, it seems to me are the things which one should look for in a lawyer.

Local knowledge can be, but seldom is, the key to successful resolution of a case. Most often, that local knowledge can be learned in a particular case, with proper preparation.

I seldom provide a "free" telephone consultation. If the client retains, usually that phone consultation becomes part of any billing we provide. If the client does not retain, then that phone consultation was probably free. That phone consult usually helps me determine whether I can represent the potential client, and allows the potential client to determine whether or not he or she will come in and retain.

The qualities I mentioned above differentiate me from many other lawyers in this community, but certainly not from all of them, because many good lawyers have the above qualities.

The most rewarding aspect of my job is getting for each client the result that he or she needed. Actually, just getting the job done for them.

I serve on the Johnson County Grievance and Ethics committee, work with the Joshua Center in KCMO as a part of a business networking group, play as much golf as I can, and help my daughter, Rachel, establish her practice of law with me. I like to read to grade school kids, or have them read to me in the Upper Room program in KCMO, and am about to become a grandfather for the first time. I love to get outside and get any kind of exercise that I can, as often as I can.

• -Admitted to practice, U.S. District Court of Kansas and U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
  -Member of the Kansas Bar Association, Johnson County, Kansas, Bar Association, and the Johnson County, Kansas, Ethics Committee

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