"Putting Children First"No matter what your needs, if they involve children, young and old alike, we are here to serve you. From adoptions and guardianships to wills and estate planning, McDowell Chartered serves every aspect of law that involves children, whether they are minors or adults.We are a service-oriented law firm and recognize that your needs are important and whatever they may be, we are here to help you. Many times legal problems can be eliminated just by asking the right questions and being able to obtain the correct legal advice. That's why we offer initial legal consultations at a reduced rate from our regular hourly rate.Our marvelous support staff and state of the art computerized legal research capabilities ensure that your questions will be answered promptly.

Ted E. Knopp has forty years’ experience in the practice of law, the counseling of clients and the resolution of disputes. Ted previously has represented a Sedgwick County township board in connection with a dispute among the Township board, the Township trustee, and the County attorney; has represented a rural water district in its efforts to protect its territory from City encroachment; and a professional association of surveyors. Ted has a real estate background and is familiar with the critical role of the County Clerks in maintaining property tax rolls and the assessment of property taxes. Ted has a real estate lawyer’s interest in keeping real estate productive and marketable. Ted has a personal interest in legislation that will facilitate the transfer of property of limited value without probate. Too many properties in small towns fall into disrepair and off the tax rolls because the property is not valuable enough to justify probate. There must be a way to pass these properties to a subsequent owner without waiting three years for tax foreclosure. Ted also is thoroughly familiar with the Constitutional due process requirements and the inadequacies in the property tax foreclosure process throughout the state. The procedure used in most counties to find and notify defendant owners that their property will be sold for unpaid taxes does not satisfy the “due process” requirements of the United States Constitution. Purchasers at tax sales are unable to resell the property due to these deficiencies and pay less at tax sale. This results in smaller recoveries on unpaid taxes and serves as a disservice to the citizen owners whose property is being sold for taxes. Ted has an interest in improving the tax foreclosure process in the counties in the state.