Carolyn Thompson unabashedly credits Jesus Christ with her firm’s success

“I help people find their legacy; not just in terms of financial means, but also in regards to their beliefs and values that can be shared for generations to come.”    

This is what Carolyn Thompson, 39, of Thompson Law, P.C., does every day. The firm provides basic estate planning, advanced estate planning, elder law/Medicaid planning, long- term care planning, trust administration and probate. The firm also handles asset protection, wealth preservation, charitable giving, special needs, and business planning and business succession.  

Thompson said the estate planning process is highly individualized.

“Each family has their own story. We get the opportunity to make a difference in every family we meet,” Thompson said. “The work we do up front can be the difference between whether a family stays together or falls apart over earthly possessions.”

Thompson said she likes to sit down with people and really get to the heart of their issues; every case is a story all its own.

This can be especially true if a family is disjointed. Thompson said she encourages people not to make any legal decisions that will shut a door permanently, but to leave the door open just a crack.  “You  never know when God’s going to open it again. Jesus is always waiting with open arms on the other side,” she said.

Thompson grew up in the farming community of Parkston. She earned a bachelor’s of science degree in management and accounting at Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D.  

Going through classes at Northern State, she first learned about estate taxes and how significant they can sometimes be. This caused her to think about all the farmers she knew growing up in Parkston. It was on her heart to become educated and help these farmers plan ahead as much as possible.

She passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountants exam in May 1992, and then went on to earn her law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law, where she received and maintained a full scholarship. She was active in many law school activities, including serving as president of the Client Counseling and Negotiations Board. 

Her commitment to organizations like that carries on today. Thompson is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. 

Each state is allowed only one representative for their state, and Thompson is honored to hold South Dakota’s seat. The organization provides education, support and networking to all estate planning lawyers, thereby helping them provide the highest possible service to their clients.

Thompson Law, P.C., is located just south of 57th and Western Avenue in Sioux Falls. Upon walking into the building, one is immediately greeted by a well-worn Bible and several devotionals in the waiting room.

“Clients will often underline their favorite verse or passage in the Bible,” Thompson said. “I love to hear about clients who will read just what God needs them to hear. Sometimes they’ll come to the desk and say, ‘Can you make a copy of this for me please? This is exactly what I needed today.’”  

Thompson’s firm has a lending library composed of many books on faith and spirituality, such as Christian motivation and business practices. She said there is something special about being able to put a recommended book into her clients’ hands, rather than just suggesting they go read it.

A Christian all her life, Thompson says her faith has seen many milestones that have brought her closer to Christ.

“My oldest son’s birth was a faith milestone, for instance,” she said.

But Thompson said her faith has grown exponentially in recent years.

“I’ve learned to surrender and accept Christ’s love, and to see myself as He sees me. That is what matters in life.”

She smiled as she talked about how freeing God’s love has been for her, and how she wants to share it with others so they can know the same freedom.  Thompson said she will never be done growing, never be done getting to know the Lord, and that she takes comfort in the knowledge that God is a better lawyer, mother, employer and friend than she can be.

“I don’t have to try to measure up. God has chosen me worthy, so whose other opinion do I need?” she said.

Thompson credits Christ for all things, including her firm’s success and accomplishments.

“All things are in His time and His calling,” she said. “I’ve learned to correct myself when I try to take the reins.”

She said she has been blessed and commented, “God will often call you to do the harder thing, whatever that is. As long as we follow His call, we are not responsible for the result.”

She also credits her coworkers and employees for the success of her business.

“I really have an amazing team, and we all work well together,” she said. “God has blessed me with an amazing energy and a little bit of tenacity. As I work with clients, I customize each plan to fit their family’s specific situation.”

Prior to forming Thompson Law, P.C., Thompson was a partner at the Sioux Falls law firm of Boyce, Murphy, McDowell and Greenfield, LLP.

She formed Thompson Law, P.C., in 2003 and is the proud mother of sons Taylor, 11, and Will, 6, and a daughter Rachel, 7.

Thompson Law can be reached by calling (605) 362-9100 or online at www.cathompsonlaw.com.