Jeffrey L. Wagoner is a founding partner at WM Law and a compassionate estate planning attorney serving the greater Kansas City area. With a legal career shaped by life experience, military service, and deep Midwestern roots, Jeff is committed to helping individuals and families protect what matters most—their loved ones, their legacies, and their peace of mind.
Raised in Clinton, Missouri, Jeff knows what financial uncertainty looks like. After losing his family’s farm as a teenager and experiencing personal loss early in life, he developed a deep understanding of how important it is to plan for the future—not just financially, but personally. That understanding shapes every conversation he has with clients.
Whether he’s drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or guiding families through long-term care decisions, Jeff takes a personal, down-to-earth approach. His goal is to make estate planning clear, affordable, and meaningful for people at every stage of life.
A Navy veteran and former commanding officer, Jeff brings discipline, leadership, and empathy to his practice. He is also the founder of the Kansas City Automotive Museum, reflecting his passion for community and connection to Kansas City’s history.
Jeff lives in the area with his wife, Pilar, and enjoys spending time with their family—and talking cars any chance he gets.
Jeffrey L. Wagoner – Here to Help.
Jeff’s a car guy… which explains all those diecast models in his office. He’s also the founder of the Kansas City Automotive Museum and serves on the board of directors for this new non-profit automotive history museum in Kansas City.
But, if you ask Jeff what his favorite car is, he won’t mention exotic or expensive. Instead, he’ll say, “I would love to have the 1938 Ford coupe my dad drove as a professional dirt track racer in the 1950s. My grandfather’s garage sponsored dad’s race car. If I could track down that car, it would be a great connection to both of them. They’ve both been gone a long time.”
A retired Navy Flyer, Desert Storm veteran and former commanding officer of several units, Jeff was multiple awards during his service. While in the Navy, in San Diego, he met his beautiful wife, Pilar. “She was a student planning on going home to Spain after finishing her undergraduate degree,” Jeff told us, “but I talked her into coming with me back home to Kansas City.”
With hard work, Jeff was able to go to college at MIZZOU and law school at UMKC (University of Missouri-Kansas City). He gives a lot of the credit for his success to his mom, “My mom is an amazing person, I don’t know how she made it through everything she has and still managed to send three of her four kids to college.”
Jeff’s love of that 1938 Ford demonstrates why it is important to him that his clients have a good estate plan. Jeff talks about that car as a connection to his father and grandfather who shaped his life. He understands that the legacy we leave behind is far more than just the stuff that our loved ones pack up and carry out of our houses when we are done. Our legacy is the connection we have and the impression we leave on those we care about. The “what” of our legacy is important, but the “who” is paramount. Jeff works to make sure the “what” and the “who” are both represented in your estate plan.
Jeff knows that two of the biggest hurdles to a good estate plan are: (1) fear of the expense and (2) fear that it will be difficult and time consuming. “Our firm has realized that neither of those should deprive someone from the protection of an estate plan,” Jeff said. “We offer flat fees with affordable payments to overcome the first hurdle, and our process lets you sit down with a lawyer for a first workup without bringing anything but you. All you have to do is call us, we are here to help.”
