Tomorrow, we celebrate the independence of our country. While it is obvious that the freedoms we enjoy were purchased by the blood of those who fought, lawyers were the unsung patriots in 1776. Without lawyers, the fight for freedom may not have even started. Unsung Patriots Here are some interesting facts to consider: 1. Four…

Today is National Cookie Day, yet another in a long string of made up holidays. Chocolate chip cookies seem to be the favorite. The word “cookies” is the ninth most searched term on the Betty Crocker website. Kids of all ages love cookies. Cookies can sometimes soothe the emotional hurt of a bad day. We…

October is SIDS awareness month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 3,700 infants die each year in the United States in what are described as sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUID). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which accounted for 1600 deaths in 2016, is the leading SUID. The CDC defines SIDS as “the…

This week is National Court Reporting and Captioning Week.  Court reporters are a key player in legal proceedings, which require an exact record of what was said. The court reporter is responsible for producing an accurate and complete legal transcript of courtroom proceedings. A legal transcript is the record of every spoken word and who spoke it…

New Missouri law in 2018 changes the minimum wage rate, adoption rights and the ability to seal criminal convictions. This post will highlight these high profile changes. New Missouri law Raises Minimum Wage For 2017, the minimum wage in Missouri was $7.70 an hour. Effective January 1, 2018, new Missouri law increases the minimum wage…

The Missouri source of funds rule helps the divorce court divide property. Missouri law provides that property acquired prior to marriage is presumed the separate or pre-marital property of each spouse. Likewise, property acquired during a marriage is presumed to be marital property belonging to both spouses. The characterization of property as separate or marital…

Benjamin Franklin was quoted as saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition, defines this quote as meaning that “a little precaution before a crisis occurs is preferable to a lot of fixing up afterward.” Many people will start a new business…

Several people are wondering if a ballot selfie is legal in Missouri. Election day is here, and voting is an important duty for the American citizen. Since we, as a society, tend to document everything we do with the “selfie”, a ballot selfie seems reasonable. But is it legal? A Ballot Selfie is Likely Illegal…

Love your lawyer day is today, November 4, 2016. It is unlikely that another made up holiday will change the public perception of lawyers in general. In a 2015 article, Mark A. Cohen writes, “Literature is rife with lawyer bashing dating back hundreds of years. But the numbers suggest that their unpopularity has grown in…

July 6, 2016, is the last day to register to vote for the upcoming Missouri primary elections in August. October 12, 2016, is the last day to register before the general election in November. As trial lawyers, the attorneys of Kennedy, Kennedy, Robbins & Yarbro, LC, are frequently at the courthouses around the Southeast Missouri.…