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…
Okay sure, your life is calm now. Perhaps you are retired or nearing retirement. Perhaps your children are independent or nearing an age of independence. But soon enough you will be a senior adult with completely different legal needs than your younger self. While speeding tickets, dissolution of marriage and family law issues were paramount…
Elder abuse is often referred to as a silent problem; a problem that affects the dignity, security, and safety of some American seniors every day. Elder abuse includes various forms of abuse such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation, emotional abuse, and abandonment. According to statistics published by the National Council on Aging (NCOA),…
In part one of this two-part series, we discussed some of the important steps toward placing a loved one or friend in the care of a nursing home or residential care facility. As we previously discovered, this is a very challenging topic for nearly everyone and requires bravery, patience, teamwork, and sometimes the help of…
Following any dissolution of marriage, a wise person updates their estate plan. This step is particularly important if there are children or assets involved. Approximately one-half of marriages in the United States end in divorce, and for most people involved, it is one of the worst experiences of their lives. As a result, many participants…
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,…
Who Are They? In its 2015 National Lawyer Population by State report, the American Bar Association indicated there were 25,337 attorneys in Missouri. Before you think that indicates we have more than enough attorneys, please note the ABA also reported that 11,656 of those attorneys are “Idle Attorneys” or those who are licensed and on…
Digital assets are simply defined as content that is stored digitally. Some common types of digital assets include photos, music, videos, power point presentations, Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, logos and other branded graphics, audio files, PDF’s, and access codes to bank accounts, credit card accounts, investments, and the like. For some, these assets comprise a…
“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, 1789. Benjamin Franklin was correct. Death is inevitable for all of us. As a result, each Missourian should…
Our law firm regularly receives inquiries from potential clients asking for a “simple Will” and how much they cost. While I never discount why people call and ask for an inexpensive solution to their estate planning problems, and I always appreciate their desire to establish a Will using our law firm, the question is analogous…
