In the realm of estate planning, ensuring that your assets are transferred smoothly to your loved ones after your passing is a paramount concern. One valuable tool in this endeavor is the beneficiary deed, a Missouri approved legal instrument that allows for the efficient transfer of real estate upon the owner’s death. While beneficiary deeds…
Yes, probate is necessary unless prior to death the decedent established an estate plan that caused him or her to avoid owning property that must be administered through probate. Once an estate is opened or created in the county where the decedent last resided, probate disputes often arise during the administration of a deceased person’s…
Preparing for the end of your life is one of those things you know you should do, but have you done it? According to a recent survey by Caring.com, a senior living referral service, only 4 in 10 American adults have a Last Will and Testament or a living trust. Maybe you are one of…
When created properly, a power of attorney, (hereinafter, “POA”), is a legally binding estate planning document that provides its creator (principal or grantor) the important ability to appoint one or more people to act on their behalf in areas such as managing property, making medical decisions, or addressing financial affairs. Alarmingly, approximately 50% of American…
By now you should be considering the establishment of an estate plan. Yes you…even you need an estate plan. While the term “estate” may sound ostentatious and unnecessary to many, the truth is every Missouri senior adult can benefit from an estate plan regardless of their wealth. An estate plan simply communicates the grantor’s wishes…
Americans love their pets. The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) reports that approximately 85 million American households have one or more dog, cat, bird, or horse, representing approximately 157 million pets. That number excludes specialty and exotic pets like fish, rabbits, rodents, reptiles, poultry, and livestock. Pets are often cherished, loved, and treated like family…
As a wise consumer, you will soon be meeting with an attorney to discuss an estate plan and when you do it is likely you will discuss the use of a trust. A living trust is a legal arrangement you establish during your lifetime to protect assets and direct distribution after your death. It is…
Legal disputes with contractors occur often and in some instances these disputes can involve your most expensive asset…your home. Liens and encumbrances involving contractors can be avoided if you choose contractors wisely. The choice of a reputable contractor is especially important for those on limited budgets, pensions and those receiving state and federal subsidies. The…
The Pew Research Center reports that among parents with adult children in the U.S., 61% of them say they have helped an adult child financially in the preceding 12 months. Among those who have helped an adult child financially, with errands, housework or home repairs, or with child care, nearly nine-in-ten (89%) say it is…
This article is written with senior adults, their family members, and their loved ones in mind because the signs of elder abuse are difficult to detect by the senior adult and even more difficult to detect by their loved ones and family members who have limited access or infrequent contact with the senior adult. A…
