Estate Planning
Do I need A Will or Trust? When Should I Update an Estate Plan?
Sadly, people often don’t think about estate planning. They may not see the need for an estate plan because they don’t have a large estate facing estate taxes. Some people don’t want to think about their own death. By avoiding the topic, it may be that they feel that they can prolong or postpone their…
Read MoreEstate Litigation
The probate process in Missouri is generally more transactional in nature than adversarial. However, there are a few instances that can involve substantial estate litigation. One such example is a will or trust contest; another is a partition suit between beneficiaries. One might attempt to contest a will or a trust because the testator or…
Read MoreAre you ready to partition?
If you own real estate or personal property with another person, and you are unable to agree upon a fair and equitable division of the property, Missouri law allows for a partition suit to be filed so that the property can either be divided or sold by court order. Disputes like this can arise form…
Read MoreThings to Consider When Preparing a Power of Attorney
Having a Durable Power of Attorney is a good idea, but there are some important things to think about before seeing your lawyer. First of all, who should you name as your Attorney In Fact? The Attorney In Fact is the person who will be standing in your shoes to make decisions for you, so…
Read MoreEstate Planning After Divorce
After a divorce, most people are concerned about the property division and child custody provisions of their Judgment. Paying attention to these details will hopefully prevent any possible future conflict with your ex-spouse. Estate planning after divorce needs to be considered as well. This may not seem so obvious, but here are three things you…
Read MoreA Loved One Has Died, Now What?
When a loved one dies, grief is to be expected. Sometimes, however, you may also feel panic about what to do next. Some decisions must be made immediately, while others can be put off for a while, but how do you know what to do and when to do it? Here are some helpful tips:…
Read MoreWill contest – confidential settlement
Chris Yarbro settled a complicated will contest action in Bollinger County. Chris represented a friend and care giver of an elderly couple, who they nominated to receive their entire estate through a will. The original will had been lost, requiring the existence of the will, and the specific bequest, to be first proved in strict…
Read MoreMark Kennedy wins appeal; court clarifies who can re-file a wrongful death case after dismissal
The Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, reversed a decision of the trial court, preventing the family of Ethel Denton from refiling a wrongful death suit. The decision, in Denton v. Soonattrukal, clarifies Missouri law and provides that any member of a wrongful death “class” can refile a wrongful death case within the one year…
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