Controversial as it may be, the question should be asked…is it wise for Missouri Seniors to own pets? According to a 2011 Harris Poll, 62% of Americans own a pet. Estimates published by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) indicate there are a staggering 70-80 million dogs and 74-96 million cats owned in the United…
“A man should not leave this earth with unfinished business. He should live each day as if it was a pre-flight check. He should ask each morning, am I prepared for lift-off?” Diane Frolov and Andrew Scheider, Northern Exposure, All is Vanity, 1991. According to the legal resource FindLaw.com, approximately 55% of American do not…
One question asked of all seniors entering a residential care facility is “did you or your spouse ever serve in the military?” If the applicant responds “yes,” then the facility may be eligible for up to $2,837.00 per month from the Department of Veterans Affairs towards the cost of his or her care. The benefit…
Abraham Lincoln once said: “Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” Seniors hear this call to action and play a critical role in elections. They vote more consistently than any…
For some well-prepared seniors, downsizing is an inevitable part of life that they planned for long ago. Those parties may relish the idea of selling most of their belongings to seek out warmer climates or senior housing options where meals are prepared, lawns are maintained, and similarly aged friends are readily available for games and…
Every week, clients approach our firm in hopes of saving their heirs the need to probate their estate…after all, you worked your entire life to acquire assets and likely want them to pass to your loved ones without delay and expense. Here is one way to reduce the list of assets that require court involvement…
Todd Miller attended a 3-hour GAL educational seminar in Jefferson City, MO recently. This course is mandatory review for all attorneys serving as guardian ad litems in Mid-Missouri courts. “Guardians ad litem have extensive power and responsibility. Their duties are greatest in cases involving children, where they investigate, attend to the child’s emotional and legal…
The Missouri Durable Power of Attorney Law is set forth in Chapter 404.700 through 404.735 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. A power of attorney is a legal document wherein you voluntarily, and with informed consent, and in the presence of witnesses, give another person powers to address your property and finances. Although you may select multiple parties to…
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…
But for a few exceptions, the majority of homes and real properties are worth less than they were ten years ago. That is the bad news. The good news is that a soft real estate market is the perfect opportunity to review, appeal, and potentially reduce property taxes. Among all cost-control measures, lowering a property…
