Carolyn A. Thompson founded Thompson Law, P.C. in 2003 in order to create an estate and business planning law firm that helps pass on the legacy, values, and stewardship of its clients. Carolyn has sought out, developed and trained attorneys who are dedicated to listening to a client’s life story, including their goals and concerns. She and her team are committed to creating a customized estate or business plan to address the individual circumstances of each client.

Carolyn describes herself as an entrepreneur with the heart of a teacher who happens to practice law in the beautiful world of keeping families families, farms farms, and businesses businesses. The goal of the Thompson Law, P.C. team is to positively impact families for generations to come.

Thompson Law, P.C. is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, a national organization focused on serving the needs of estate planning attorneys and helping them deliver the highest possible service to their clients. The Academy is an exclusive organization whose members must complete ongoing, extensive education requirements in advanced business and estate planning.

Carolyn A. Thompson, a South Dakota native, became a Certified Public Accountant in 1992. She then earned her law degree from the University of South Dakota, where she received and maintained a full-tuition scholarship. This broad foundation of knowledge has proven invaluable as she counsels clients with a wide-range of estate and business planning needs. Carolyn is licensed in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. She is a member of the South Dakota Bar Association, the North Dakota Bar Association, the Minnesota Bar Association, the Iowa Bar Association, Wealth Counsel, the Sioux Falls Estate Planning Council, Prairie Family Business Association, and the Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

Kelly Benson began her career in law as a legal secretary while finishing up her undergraduate degree at Indiana University.  She went on to earn her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Nebraska.  Along with her J.D., she also gained her Mrs. when she met and married a fellow Husker Law Student, Travis.  When not helping clients through the Probate and Trust Administration process, Kelly enjoys long talks and walks with her family, friends, and Lord. She is also privileged to parent three daughters and two sons and cheer them on in their many academic, sports, music and theater activities.

 “Your ordinary contact with God takes place where your fellow men, your yearnings, your work and your affections are.  There you have your daily encounter with Christ.”  ~St. Josemaria Escriva

Andrew J. Knutson has focused his practice for the last 10 years in the areas of Trusts, Wills, Estate and Elder Planning, Asset Protection, and Business law.

Andrew devotes time to writing and speaking on important issues in these areas.  Notably, he has written and presented several legal education seminars for the State Bar of South Dakota, including “Federal Income Taxation of Estates and Nongrantor Trusts,” “Formation of Limited Liability Companies and Corporations,” and “From Start to Finish – A Basic Estate Planning Guide.” He also recently presented “Trusts Used for Tax Reduction” for the National Business Institute.

Andrew currently serves as co-chair of the Business Law Committee for the State Bar, where he coordinates with other attorneys to draft legislation and educate lawyers on developments in business law.  He has been selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers every year for the last six years.  On the practical business side, he has owned and operated a successful small business for the last eight years with his wife.

Andrew graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law where he was a Law Merit Scholar. During law school, he was a research assistant to Professor Sheldon Kurtz, helping research and edit a book on Wills, Trusts, and Estates. Andrew earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

It has been said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Doug loves helping people protect their families, their values and their wealth.

Doug is one of six children, born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He graduated from Washington High School, The University of South Dakota with degrees in Political Science and Philosophy, and The University of South Dakota School of Law in 1988. Doug has been practicing law in South Dakota since 1988. Doug has served South Dakota’s courts as a judicial law clerk, the people of Minnehaha County as a deputy state’s attorney, and the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe as a tribal prosecutor. In private practice, Doug served a variety of clients in a broad field of practice until being drawn to estate planning, elder law and business succession planning.

Doug was the founder and principal of Thesenvitz & Mickelson, LLP for 18 years until one day he got a call from Carolyn Thompson. Doug believes that call was an answer to a very specific prayer of his. He joined Thompson Law, P.C. on May 1, 2018. Now Doug serves families and individuals with wills, trusts, probates and trust administration. He also advises family business clients on a variety of business matters, including formation, maintenance and succession.

“Helping you plan for your family and their protection and future, as well as preserving your family’s harmony, legacy and wealth is my passion. So, now I don’t really work. I help people make their lives better, and that is what I love to do.”