John Harris is an associate at McCrindle Law, having joined the firm in 2001. John is engaged in the general practice of law which includes but is not limited to the following areas of practice: education law, elder law, estate planning, wills, trusts, probate law, and agricultural law.
John represents parents and children who are in need of special education and/or other related services or who have a disability which requires accommodation. John’s representation includes helping parents and their children establish or modify an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or an Education Health Plan.
John assists clients with the medical, legal and financial issues related to aging. Depending upon each client’s unique situation this assistance may include: Title XIX/Medicaid planning and qualification; establishment of guardianships, conservatorships, and directives for the disposition of one’s remains; drafting of Miller Trusts, living wills, medical and financial Powers of Attorney, as well as standby guardianship petitions.
John believes that estate planning is a life-affirming process and that each client’s plan should reflect their goals and values. After an interview process which results in an estate plan, John will draft the necessary documents in order to implement the client’s plan. These documents may consist of but are not limited to trust agreements, wills, philanthropic devices, and various other tax planning documents.
John also devotes a significant amount of his time to the post-death administration of estates and trusts both in the court system and outside the formal probate process.
John assists Iowa farmers and landlords with entity formation, succession planning, land transfers via auction sales or contract sales or by planned giving, manure management plans, lease drafting or terminations and other matters related to agriculture.
Before graduating from law school, John attended Iowa State University where he earned degrees in accounting and psychology. He began his career working with elementary-age children in a residential facility and later worked with adults who suffer from mental illness in a supported community living program. His experiences as a social worker strengthened his commitment to justice for all and sharpened his empathy for people with disabilities and other challenges.
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, 1986
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, 1989
Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, Juris Doctor, with honors, 1996
Hamline Journal of Law and Policy
Member, Grundy County Bar Association
President, Grundy County Bar Association (2000-2001)
Member, The Black Hawk County Bar Association
Member, The Iowa Bar Association
Board Member, Seeds of Hope (1998-2002 and 2005-present)
Past President, Grundy Center Lions (1999-2000)
Past President, Grundy Center Kiwanis (2000-2001)
Member, Downtown Waterloo Kiwanis Club (2002-present)
Member, Cedar Valley Walleye Club, (2002-present) President (2004-2006)
Board of Directors, The Job Foundation (2011-present)
Member, Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church