Before Donald Swaim passed the New Mexico Bar in 1983, he had already spent seven years with the Internal Revenue Service and three years working as a Certified Public Accountant. That sequence, IRS examiner, then CPA in practice, then attorney, produced a credential profile that is uncommon at any level of the tax bar: Swaim holds the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization recognition as a specialist in both Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Law and Taxation Law simultaneously, is listed in Best Lawyers in America in two categories, and carries a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating for 2025. Kathleen Carlow brings an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Denver and two years at the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Together the attorneys at Swaim, Carlow & Ames represent more than fifty years of combined legal experience in New Mexico tax and estate planning.
Overview
Swaim, Carlow & Ames, P.C. operates from Suite F at 4830 Juan Tabo NE in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The firm operates under its formal professional name, though it also maintains a web presence at thetaxgypsies.com/ and estateplannersnm.com/. The estateplannersnm.com domain reflects the firm’s primary identity within the New Mexico market.
The firm has served New Mexico clients for over twenty years, building what it describes as a reputation as a leader in estate planning in the state. That claim is supported by credentials: Donald Swaim’s dual specialization recognition from the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization is not easily obtained, and his history as a former chairman of both the NM State Bar Legal Specialization Committee for Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate and the Taxation Section of the State Bar of New Mexico reflects involvement in shaping how the state’s bar approaches these practice areas.
The attorneys at the firm approach each engagement with the recognition that estate planning, tax law, and business succession are not separable disciplines. The decisions a business owner makes about corporate structure affect their estate tax exposure. The decisions a family makes about trust structures affect their income tax treatment. The firm’s staffing, with two tax-focused attorneys and a team covering the full range of planning and transactional work, reflects this integrated view.
Practice Areas
Estate Planning is the firm’s core offering. Plans are described as customized to each client’s unique circumstances. This covers wills, trusts of various types, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and the broader strategy of asset transfer across generations. The firm’s depth in tax law allows estate plans to account for estate and gift tax exposure in addition to the basic transfer mechanics.
Tax Law is handled by attorneys with unusual depth. Donald Swaim’s prior IRS experience gives him insight into how the agency approaches estate and gift tax audits and examinations. The firm handles tax law matters including estate and gift tax planning, partnership and LLC tax matters, and tax issues arising from business transactions.
Business and Succession Planning assists business owners in structuring the transition of ownership in a manner that coordinates with their estate plan and minimizes tax consequences. This requires simultaneous attention to corporate law, tax law, and estate planning, which is precisely where this firm’s multi-credentialed approach provides advantage.
Probate Law and Trust Administration covers the administration of estates and trusts following death, representing personal representatives and trustees through the administration process.
Wills and Powers of Attorney are fundamental estate planning documents prepared for clients at all asset levels.
Guardianship and Conservatorship matters are handled for clients who need to establish protective legal arrangements for incapacitated adults or minors.
Corporate, Partnership, and LLC Formation covers business formation and commercial transactions, handled as part of the firm’s business law practice.
Nonprofit Law is included within the firm’s corporate practice for organizations seeking nonprofit corporation status and related compliance.
Real Estate Matters fall within Kathleen Carlow’s practice scope.
Attorney Profiles
Donald E. Swaim is a Shareholder and Certified Public Accountant.
Education: B.A., Angelo State University, 1973; J.D., University of New Mexico, 1983.
Prior career: Seven years with the IRS; three years as a CPA in practice before becoming an attorney.
Bar admissions: New Mexico; Colorado; Texas; U.S. Tax Court; U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Specialization: New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization Recognized Specialist in Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Law and in Taxation Law.
Recognition: Listed in Best Lawyers in America in Tax Law and Trusts and Estates; Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating 2025.
Memberships: American Bar Association; New Mexico Society of CPAs; American Institute of CPAs; Kingdom Advisors; New Mexico Estate Planning Council; New Mexico Planned Giving Council. Former chairman of the NM State Bar Legal Specialization Committee for Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate; former chairman of the Taxation Section of the State Bar of New Mexico.
Languages: Fluent in Spanish.
Kathleen Carlow is a Shareholder.
Education: J.D. with distinction, University of Iowa College of Law; LL.M. in Taxation, University of Denver.
Prior experience: Two years with the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department handling property and commercial tax matters.
Bar admissions: New Mexico; U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.
Recognition: AV-rated attorney (2023).
Carlow has over a decade of experience in commercial matters, probate, estate planning, and real estate. Contact: [email protected].
Joel P. Ames is a Shareholder.
Bar admissions: New Mexico. Additional credential details are not publicly available.
Practice areas include estate planning, powers of attorney, wills, guardianship and conservatorship, probate law, taxation, trust administration, and business and succession planning.
Peter J. Armijo is an Attorney with the firm.
Bar admissions: New Mexico. Additional credential details are not publicly available.
Location and Service Area
Office: 4830 Juan Tabo NE, Suite F, Albuquerque, NM 87111. Phone: 505-581-0022.
Email: [email protected].
Websites: thetaxgypsies.com/ and estateplannersnm.com/
The firm’s primary service area is New Mexico. Donald Swaim’s additional bar admissions in Colorado and Texas extend service capacity to clients with multi-state legal needs.
Parking and accessibility details for the Albuquerque office are not publicly specified.
Client Focus
Swaim, Carlow & Ames serves individuals and families across the asset spectrum, business owners requiring succession and tax planning, and fiduciaries managing estate or trust administration. Donald Swaim’s Spanish fluency extends the firm’s accessibility to Spanish-speaking clients in New Mexico and the broader Southwest.
Whether initial consultations are provided without charge is not publicly specified.
FAQ
What makes Swaim, Carlow & Ames different from other New Mexico estate planning firms?
Donald Swaim holds dual Board of Legal Specialization recognition in both Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Law and Taxation Law from the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization, a combination that is uncommon. His prior IRS career and CPA credential add practical depth beyond standard legal training. Kathleen Carlow holds an LL.M. in Taxation and has state tax authority experience. The firm has over fifty years of combined attorney experience.
Does the firm handle Spanish-speaking clients?
Yes. Donald Swaim is fluent in Spanish.
Does the firm handle tax matters in addition to estate planning?
Yes. The firm handles estate and gift tax planning, partnership and LLC tax matters, and state tax issues. Donald Swaim is a former IRS employee and a Certified Public Accountant in addition to being a licensed attorney.
Does the firm handle business formation and corporate law?
Yes. In addition to estate and tax planning, the firm handles corporate, partnership, and LLC formation, commercial transactions, and nonprofit corporation matters.
Is the firm admitted to practice outside New Mexico?
Donald Swaim is admitted to practice in New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, and before the U.S. Tax Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Kathleen Carlow is admitted in New Mexico and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.
Closing
Swaim, Carlow & Ames represents a concentration of tax and estate planning credential depth that is unusual for an Albuquerque firm of its size. Donald Swaim’s pre-law IRS career, dual CPA and attorney status, and dual Board of Legal Specialization recognition, combined with Kathleen Carlow’s LL.M. in Taxation and state tax authority background, give the firm a foundation that most estate planning practices do not carry.