Articles

Written by: Raymond Chandler TL;DR A Missouri small estate affidavit provides a simplified prohttps://polarisplans.com/missouri-probate/bate process for qualifying estates, but not every estate is eligible. Whether you can use one depends on factors such as the value of the probate estate,…

Written by: Anne Harris TL;DR Missouri probate laws determine how a person’s estate is administered after death, including which assets go through probate, who inherits property, and the responsibilities of the personal representative. Understanding these laws can help families avoid…

Written by: Marcus Tecarro TL;DR Protecting a surviving spouse involves much more than deciding who inherits your assets. A well-coordinated estate plan can help ensure your spouse has access to financial accounts, authority to make important decisions if you’re incapacitated,…

Written by: Attorney Scott Stork TL;DR Understanding what happens in probate court in Missouri can make an overwhelming situation feel much more manageable. Probate is generally required when assets cannot transfer automatically after someone dies, and the process often takes…

Written by: Attorney Raymond Chandler TL;DR Losing a spouse is overwhelming, and probate often becomes one more responsibility during an already difficult time. The good news is that not every asset goes through probate, and Missouri law provides a clear…

Written by: Attorney Anne Harris TL;DR Not all trusts do the same thing. A revocable living trust avoids probate but generally does not protect assets from Medicaid eligibility rules and may not protect assets from Missouri’s Medicaid Estate Recovery Program,…

Written by: Attorney Marcus Tecarro TL;DR Elder law is not the same as estate planning, and the difference matters most before a health crisis, not after. In Missouri, Medicaid reviews financial transactions made during the five years before an application,…

Written by: Attorney Scott Stork TL;DR Professionals know they need an estate plan but keep putting it off. Without one, Missouri’s intestate succession laws decide who inherits, and a court, not the family, decides who raises minor children. A will…

Written by: Attorney Raymond Chandler Quick Summary You probably know someone who went through it. A parent who needed a nursing home and nobody had a plan. A sibling whose assets disappeared before Medicaid kicked in. A family that spent…

Written by: Attorney Anne Harris Quick Summary You didn’t expect to be making these decisions alone. One day you were half of a team. Now you’re the one fielding phone calls from banks, advisors, and well-meaning family members, all of…