As you begin the process of establishing an estate plan, there are many important decisions you and your attorney will make. Arguably, one of the most important decisions involves identifying who will receive your estate assets and in what manner you want assets to pass when you die. Whether you create a revocable living trust,…
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…
The establishment of a solid estate planning package is essential, even for the rich and famous. Although adored by fans and showered with swag at ceremonies like the Oscars, celebrities as a whole seem no different than the average American when it comes to making estate planning mistakes. Just like many people who lack celebrity…
In the wake of a recent, controversial event occurring in St. Louis, Missouri involving attorneys Mark McCloskey and his wife Patricia McCloskey, who displayed guns in an attempt to protect their home and lives from trespass and harm, this article does not seek to express a political position on gun ownership and possession. Instead, it…
A guardianship proceeding is a legal process of determining a person’s capacity and the ability he or she has to make decisions regarding his or her health, safety and welfare. The person at issue is generally referred to as the Respondent until a final determination is made. Once he or she is determined to be…
Is it a criminal act in Missouri to leave an animal unattended in a hot or cold car? Is it a criminal act in Missouri to break into a vehicle to save an animal from a hot or cold car? Who among us may break into a vehicle to save an animal without fear of…
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, pet ownership is very popular in the United States. The AVMA 2012 U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook indicates 36.5% of all households own a dog; 30.4% of all households own a cat; 3.1% of all households own a bird; and 1.5% of all American households own a…
