Matthew Gardner
Life and Death Attorney - We plan during life and handle matters after death.
Born and raised in southern Iowa (don't hold that against me) on a farm just outside of Centerville. (Big Reds and Pancake Day). Undergraduate degree from THE Iowa State University. I still bleed cardinal and gold, but I can find a place to help even Hawkeye fans. Drake University to get the degree that allows me have the law license. I spent my initial 16 years at a local medium-sized law firm honing my skills before jumping out of the nest and starting my own firm in 2013.
I said this when my girls were younger and still remains true today now that they have both graduated from high school: my most important job is that of a father. Other than that, which covers a lot of different responsibilities, my job focuses primarily on the trust and estate (T&E) world. That focused path and experience has permitted me to be the chairman for the Iowa State Bar Association's Probate and Estate Planning Section (the largest section of the ISBA); become a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel; and become a member/director/officer of the Iowa Counsel of Trust and Estate Counsel.
I don't like to wear ties and I have a sense of humor (others may disagree that it is humor). I am informal but I do take my work seriously, as this is serious work. Discussing death and disability can be considered bleak, but we all need to plan. Ignoring isn't planning.
- Estate Planning
- Probate
- Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
- Business Law
- Business Contracts, Business Formation, Mergers & Acquisitions
- FaceTime
- Google Meet
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
- Free Consultation
- Iowa
- Supreme Court of Iowa
- Drake University
- J.D. (1997) | Law
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- Honors: Graduated with Honors
- Activities: Drake Law Review
- Iowa State University
- B.A. (1992) | Political Science
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- Honors: Graduated with Honors
- Activities: Mock Trial Club