Biography

Probate Commissioner Amy B. DeGraeve was appointed to the bench on October 29, 2021, by the judges of the 16th Circuit Court.

At the time of her appointment, Commissioner DeGraeve was an attorney with The Counts Law Firm, LLC.   In her law practice she specialized in fiduciary litigation, trust and probate estate administration, estate planning, income tax planning, business succession planning, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, guardianships and conservatorships.

Prior to employment at the Count Law Firm, she was an attorney with Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP, Lathrop & Gage LLP, and Vold & Morris. 

Commissioner DeGraeve graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2001 with a B.A. degree in Language and Literature.  She earned her Juris Doctor degree from UMKC Law School in 2004, and a Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.) degree in 2006. 

She has served on the Jackson County Probate Procedures Manual Revision Committee.   She is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Probate and Estate Planning Committee.  She has also served as a member of the Children’s Mercy Hospital Donald H. Chisholm Planned Giving Council.

Commissioner DeGraeve was appointed to serve a four-year-term and was sworn in January 2022.