Ingrid M. Johnson

I'm an estate planning attorney and I focus my practice on wills and trusts, probate and trust administration, and business succession planning.

I have an excitement and curiosity for law that has led me into multiple practice areas.  I started my practice as a litigator trying cases relating to contract disputes and employment law.  I briefly tried my hand at family law and eventually transitioned into transactional law with a focus on corporate governance and negotiating contracts. While I now focus on estate planning, this work often involves the other areas of law I have practiced.  I enjoy estate planning work because it's about your life and the life of your loved ones. I enjoy getting to hear your stories and helping you create a legacy to live on for your loved ones.

My Approach

I have found that my previous experience in multiple areas of law has enriched my estate planning practice because estate planning can touch so many aspects of a client's life.  Corporate law could come into play if a farm would be best managed in an LLC. I've seen what happens when beneficiaries disagree and litigate so I know what issues can arise and how we can work to avoid them. Even my work in the employment area comes in handy when dealing with retirements accounts or other employee benefits in an estate plan.  I believe my experience allows me to give you practical and well-rounded advice.  You are doing a great service to those you leave behind by creating a plan for your estate, and I want to make every effort to make sure your legacy is protected.

More about Me

I come from a family full of lawyers so I guess you could say it's in my genes. I'm from Austin, Minnesota and went to college in Decorah, Iowa. I graduated summa cum laude from Luther College in 2014 with a B.A. in English and Political Science. I earned my J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School in 2018, graduated in the top 5% of my class, and became a member of the Order of the Coif. While in law school, I worked on the Colorado Technology Law Journal and served as a judicial extern for Justice Boatright on the Colorado Supreme Court. During my third year of law school, I moved back to Iowa and completed two visiting semesters at the University of Iowa College of Law. I was admitted to practice law in Iowa in 2018. I volunteer with the Midwest Innocence Project, helping exonerate the wrongfully convicted, and am a member of the Polk County, Iowa State, and American Bar Associations. I am also a member of the Des Moines Estate Planners Forum,  Mid-Iowa Estate and Financial Planners and Polk County Women Attorneys.  

My Specialties

• Estate Planning
• Estate and Trust Administration
• Business Succession Planning
• Premarital Agreements