ABOUT NORTHLAND ELDER LAW
MEDICAID PLANNING, ESTATE PLANNING, NURSING HOME PLANNING, ASSET PROTECTION & MORE
CASSIE ROCHA
Owner & Elder Law Attorney
Cassie M. Rocha is a lifelong Kansas City Northland resident. She graduated from Liberty High School, and then from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. She then attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2015.
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From 2015 to 2021, Ms. Rocha practiced as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office where she pursued the interests of justice and advocated for victims on behalf of the State of Missouri. Ms. Rocha litigated 27 criminal and civil trials throughout her career as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and successfully argued a case before the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.
Ms. Rocha is a member of the Missouri Bar Elder Law Committee, Missouri Bar Estate Planning and Probate Administration Committee, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the Missouri Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (MONAELA), and a member of the Clay County Bar Association.
In her spare time, she likes to travel and spend time with her husband, daughter and her two dogs.
KARA BURGESS
Elder Law Attorney
Kara T. Burgess, Elder Law Attorney, is a lifelong Kansas City Northland resident. She graduated from Winnetonka High School, and then from Northwest Missouri State University, with a B.S. in Psychology. She then attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she received her Master’s degree in Psychology, prior to attending law school at UMKC School of Law.
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Ms. Burgess limits her practice to estate planning and protecting and preserving assets for the elderly through Medicaid planning strategies. She has personal experience dealing with aging parents and navigating the difficult process of finding care and financial assistance.
Ms. Burgess is a member of the Missouri Bar Elder Law Committee, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and the Missouri Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (MONAELA). In the past, she served as the Communications Chair for the Elder Law Committee and for MONAELA, and as Treasurer for MONAELA. She was the 2020 MONAELA Chapter President and serves in the role of Past President for 2021. Ms. Burgess currently serves as a board member for Help for Huntington’s Kansas City.
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Ms. Burgess has been practicing law in the Kansas City Northland for 37 years, with a general practice for the first 19, and focusing exclusively on Elder Law for the past 17 years. Her practice handles only Medicaid planning, Asset Protection and Estate planning.
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In 2015 Ms. Burgess was honored to receive the Northland Professionals in Aging Claude Pepper Award. This award is given in recognition of efforts to promote awareness and support for the aging, and to serving them with affection, advocacy and loyalty.
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Ms. Burgess serves all of the metropolitan Kansas City Missouri area, and Northwest Missouri, including Clay, Platte, Jackson, Ray, Cass, Buchannan, Andrew, Nodaway, Clinton, Caldwell, Livingston, Daviess, and other area Counties.
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In her spare time she enjoys a yoga practice, a lake house with her partner, and spending time with family, friends, and her daughter, who also graduated from UMKC School of Law.
AMBER MARX
Director of Operations
Amber Marx is a lifelong northwest Missouri resident. She graduated from Plattsburg High School, and then from University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism degree in Photojournalism. Ms. Marx previously worked at a local company as Chief Operating Officer where she was dedicated to running daily operations and prioritizing the needs of clients. She is passionate about helping people. In her spare time, she enjoys snapping photos and spending time outdoors with her family and friends.
CHRIS SILKETT
Office Assistant
Chris Silkett is a lifelong northwest Missouri resident. She graduated from Missouri Western State University in 1980 with a degree in business. Ms. Silkett was a small business owner in St. Joseph for 18 years, and for several years thereafter owned a residential management company in Kansas City North. Since 2010 she has been the firm’s Office Manager and Legal Assistant. Ms. Silkett is committed to providing prompt and courteous attention to all of our client’s needs. In her spare time, she enjoys golf and time at her lake house with family and friends.
KRISTI MORELOCK
Office Assistant & Care Coordinator
Kristi Morelock is a lifelong Kansas City resident. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1980 with a degree in Sociology. Ms. Morelock is a volunteer with Kansas City Hospice, providing respite relief for care takers of hospice patients. In addition, she volunteers with various organizations, including Youth Friends in the northland. She is the firm’s Care Coordinator and Office Assistant, and is committed to helping families with compassionate and professional service. In what little spare time she has available, she enjoys playing bridge, cooking, watching sports and working out.
ENZO
Office Dog at Northland Elder Law
Enzo is a brown and white 10-year-old Shih Tzu + Poodle Mix who is a part-time office greeter, any time she is allowed in the lobby. In her spare time, she enjoys playing with her Boxer brother, chasing squeaky toys and eating treats.