Our Estate Planning Services

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The first step is just a telephone conversation with your attorney to discuss your family situation, assets and estate planning goals. After the initial telephone conversation, you will meet with your attorney to fully understand the options you have and make decisions on how to build your estate plan.  The meeting lasts about an hour. 

 A will is a legal paper that states who receives your property when you die. It is also where you name a guardian for any minor children. Each state has its own laws about wills. A will does not avoid the necessity of probate and must be “probated” to have legal effect, which can be both timely and expensive.  A  will  is also a matter of public record.   Some  property can be titled  in ways so that probate is not necessary.  Without a will to indicate your choice, a decision as to who receives your property is set by State law.   

 A trust is an agreement that determines how a person’s property is to be managed and distributed during his or her lifetime, and also upon death.   A trust is classified as a “living” trust when it is established during the grantor's lifetime and as a “revocable” trust when the grantor has reserved the right to amend or revoke the trust during his or her lifetime.  A Revocable Trust has the advantages of avoiding probate and being a private matter.    A trust becomes essential in the event of minor beneficiaries. 

A Financial Durable Power of Attorney assists in the management of an individual's financial affairs should he or she become incapacitated or disabled.   The individual creating the Durable Power of Attorney is known as the Principal and the person appointed as the legal representative of the Principal in such document is known as the Attorney in Fact. In such document the Attorney in Fact is granted legal authority to manage the financial or health care affairs of the Principal.

 Missouri law allows you to specify a particular individual, such as a family member or close friend, as your health care surrogate, known in Missouri as a Durable Power of Attorney – Health Care (DPOA). A DPOA is empowered to make decisions on your behalf when you are no longer able to do so. Unless otherwise stated, your Attorney in Fact can make all decisions that you could make while competent, including decisions about life-sustaining treatments. 

 Missouri law allows you to make a written declaration concerning your future health care, and specifically, what health care you should receive in the event you are close to death. This type of advance directive would allow you to state that it is your intent to allow your physician to withhold or withdraw medical procedures that would only prolong the dying process.