Beal & Whitener LLP

“The law is experience developed by reason and applied continually to further experience.” – Roscoe Pound

We represent clients who find themselves in court for reasons associated with criminal charges; probate proceedings such as guardianship, conservatorship, estate administration, or disputes involving trusts, wills and estates; juvenile court hearings; adoption; and certain types of civil disputes such as personal injury, civil fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty. You can learn more about our practice areas on this website. If we are not the right lawyer for you, we will endeavor to make a direct referral to a lawyer who can assist you with your case.

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Criminal, Civil, Probate, Eastern Missouri

Practice Areas

At Beal & Whitener LLP, we provide the following legal services.

Criminal Trials and Appeals

  • Federal Crimes
  • Assault & Battery
  • Homicide and Murder
  • Rape and Sexual Assault
  • Sex Crimes
  • Sex Offender Registry Cases
  • Robbery and Theft
  • Drug Crimes
  • Manslaughter
  • Impaired Driving 
  • DWI, DUI, DUID
  • Fraud Cases

Probate

  • Decedent Estate Administration
  • Adult Guardianship
  • Adult Conservatorship
  • Minor Guardianship
  • Minor Conservatorship
  • Trust disputes 
  • Fiduciary Litigation 
  • Will Contests 
  • Appeals 
  • Mediation

Juvenile Court

  • Juvenile Delinquency
  • Juvenile Status Offenses
  • Child Abuse and Neglect
  • Parental Rights Cases

Adoption and Foster Care

  • Private Adoptions
  • Foster Care

Mental Health and Involuntary Civil Commitment

  • Hospital Commitments
  • 96-Hour Hold
  • 21-Day Hearings
  • 90 Day - 1 year hearings
  • SVP Statute

Civil Litigation

  • Personal Injury
  • Negligence
  • Intentional Torts
  • Assault and Battery
  • Sexual Assault
  • False Imprisonment
  • Trespass 
  • Civil Fraud
  • Breach of Fiduciary Duty

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Criminal, Civil, Probate Lawyer

About Beal & Whitener LLP

"The business of the law is to make sense of the confusion of what we call human life - to reduce it to order, but at the same time to give it possibility, scope, even dignity." - Archibald MacLeish


Every person who comes before the Court deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and to have their case decided on the merits without prejudgment or bias. In each case we take on, big or small, we strive to represent our clients with advocacy, diligence, and honesty in the best tradition of the profession. We represent clients throughout eastern Missouri including St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Lincoln and Pike Counties, Warren, Audrain and Montgomery Counties, Franklin County, Washington County, St. Francois County, St. Genevieve County and many others. 

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Criminal, Civil, Probate Legal Team

Meet the team

Justice requires that people who find themselves in court for one reason or another receive a fair hearing. This means you should be able to have your case presented by a skilled advocate who will do so fearlessly, independently and with your best interest at heart. The sound administration of justice also requires that every attorney follow his duty to the court, and to the rules of professional ethics, even if this conflicts with his client’s interests. At Beal & Whitener we strive to represent every client in the best tradition of the profession.   

James E. Beal

Attorney

I received my law degree from Washington University in St. Louis and my undergraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago. I am licensed in Missouri and Illinois. My practice focuses on probate administration and litigation; children and families including juvenile court proceedings and serving as a GAL; and selected civil matters. I have tried multiple civil cases to a jury verdict; and dozens of bench trials in probate, family, associate and circuit civil. I have also resolved numerous cases through mediation, formal arbitration and negotiated settlement. I am a qualified civil and family mediator in Missouri. Email: james@bealwhitener.com

Joseph G. Whitener

Attorney

I received my law and undergraduate degrees from Saint Louis University. I am licensed in Missouri and concentrate my practice in state and federal criminal defense. I also represent respondents in sexually violent predator cases, being one of the few lawyers in Missouri to win one of these cases before a jury. I have successfully tried over 20 serious criminal cases to a jury, including first degree murder and numerous other Class A felonies, obtaining not-guilty verdicts or lesser offense than charged in the majority of those cases. Email: joe@bealwhitener.com

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Beal & Whitener LLP
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(314) 227-1014

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Location

120 S. Central Avenue Suite 160
St. Louis, MO 63105

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