Attorney makes her mark with legal advice for women

Kristen Marks, far right, celebrates her son, Drew's, fishing tournament victory this past summer with husband Andrew and daughter Jill. A local attorney is making her 'mark' addressing the unique legal needs of women, and she has found a very receptive market.

Kristen Marks has achieved the tradem arked nickname "My Pink Lawyer" as a result of her advocacy and specialty working with moms and parents.

Q. Tell me a little about yourself.

A. I've been married to Andrew for 14 years and we have 2 great kids, Jill and Drew. Andrew and I moved here right out of law school (he's also an attorney) and we love it here. It's a great place to raise kids.

Q. Tell me about your business, "My Pink Lawyer™'. What do you specialize in and who do you work with mostly?

A. I work with moms and parents to help them protect what's most important to them—their children and families—through estate planning— i.e. their Wills, Trusts, Probate and Minor's Guardianships.

Q. Isn't 'estate planning' just for those with lots of money or those hitting retirement age?

A. Not at all. The truth is that every adult, no matter your age, your net worth or family situation, needs an estate plan of some sort. If you don't put it in writing, the State or a Judge who doesn't know you or your family will likely be making decisions for you about who inherits your property, who should raise your kids, etc.

Q. Can't I prepare my own Will?

A. You could but that doesn't mean that the Will will actually work for your family when it's needed because the documents themselves are just one part of the estate planning equation. Your Will or Trust must also integrate with your overall estate plan which includes the titling of your assets, your beneficiary designations, your family dynamics, etc. A qualified estate planning attorney will look into all those details for you and make sure that your plan is solid and does what's it's supposed to do when your family needs it.

Q.Ok, I'm curious. Why the name, "My Pink Lawyer?"

A. Part of my background includes the building of a successful Mary Kay business. I even drove the famous Pink Cadillac for a while. When I started my own law practice I thought 'My Pink Lawyer' was catchy and fun and really embodied my passion for supporting and empowering women and also who I am as a person and a professional. At first, the name was just a whim but I had such

positive feedback with it, the name stuck. As I tell people, I don't care if you don't remember my name, just remember the name of my business, My Pink Lawyer!

Q. I understand you publish a weekly e-newsletter.

A. I send out a weekly enewsletter to my subscribers which is fun and entertaining while still providing great content and education. I've recently published several newsletters on celebrity Wills and probate that people have found very interesting. Anyone may sign up to receive them on my website, mypinklawyer.com, and you may opt out at any time too.

Q. What makes your practice different?

A. I find that many people, especially women, find it intimidating to talk to attorneys. I strive very hard to take the intimidation out of the planning process with a down-to-earth personable approach. I think clients see me as someone they can relate to with the same desire to protect and care for their kids and family.

Q. Any final word of advice for us?

A. Remember that the planning we do is not for us; it's for our loved ones who will be the ones to benefit or suffer from the planning we chose to do, or not do, for them while we were able to do so.