Blog

Facing a first, second, or third Missouri DWI? Learn how prior offenses affect penalties, driving privileges, and the steps to take before your court date.

Excluded from a Missouri trust? Jennings v. Miner explains when an inheritance interference claim may proceed and why choosing the right claim matters.

A 2026 Missouri appeals decision shows how a trust's no-contest clause can bar challenges to a trustee's real estate sale. What beneficiaries need to know.

A Missouri appellate decision explains how surveillance video, circumstantial evidence, and accomplice liability can support serious felony convictions.

Retired or retiring soon? Here is what married couples should revisit in an estate plan, including SECURE Act rules that changed what your children inherit.

A recent Missouri Court of Appeals decision shows that post-judgment strategy matters. Surrendering property without first securing a stay may be treated as acceptance of the judgment and can end an appeal before the appellate court reaches the merits.

A new Missouri appellate decision explains when long-term use of another person’s property may support a prescriptive easement—even if the user believed the route was public.

Creating a revocable living trust can be an important step in an estate plan. But signing the trust agreement is only the beginning. For the trust to control an asset, the asset generally must be connected to the trust through proper ownership, assignment, or beneficiary-designation documents. That process is commonly called “funding” the trust. An unfunded or partially funded trust may be an empty container: it has instructions about incapacity, management, and distribution but does not govern assets never transferred to it. Proper funding can prevent avoidable probate, delay, expense, and uncertainty.

When a parent or grandparent has owned income-producing commercial real estate for many years, that property often becomes one of the most valuable—and most emotionally significant—assets in the family estate. It is common for successful business owners to place commercial property into a revoca...

If you have been charged with violating an order of protection, resisting arrest, or another criminal offense in Missouri, one of the most important strategic decisions in your case is whether you should testify in your own defense. A recent Missouri Court of Appeals decision serves as an importa...

Learn who qualifies for Missouri sex offender registry removal, waiting periods, court procedures, and how to petition for relief.

When a Loved One Is in Crisis: Understanding Missouri's Mental Health Commitment Laws Few situations are more stressful for a family than watching a loved one suffer from severe mental illness, psychosis, delusions, mania, suicidal thoughts, or behavior that places themselves or others at risk o...

A recent Missouri Court of Appeals decision provides an important reminder for businesses, contractors, service providers, and property owners seeking to collect unpaid debts. In NW MO Tow & Recovery, Inc. v. Gillis, the court addressed a common question that arises in contract disputes: how long...

The Missouri Court of Appeals recently issued a decision that serves as an important reminder of how broadly Missouri law can define criminal responsibility in homicide cases. In State v. Curry, the court upheld a conviction for involuntary manslaughter in the second degree, even though the defen...

The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District recently issued an important decision clarifying the scope of Missouri's expungement laws. In a case involving a driver whose original DWI arrest was reduced to careless and imprudent driving through a negotiated plea agreement, the Court hel...

Families are often shocked to learn that challenging a trust in Missouri can come with a very serious consequence: complete forfeiture of an inheritance. A recent decision from the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District highlights just how strictly Missouri courts may enforce “no-contest” clauses in trust documents.

When a loved one passes away, disputes over “missing” assets are more common than many people expect. The recent case of Estate of Sue Ann Hughes (WD87892, Apr. 21, 2026), provides guidance on how courts evaluate these claims.

Most people assume a surviving spouse will automatically inherit from their deceased partner. That assumption is often correct—but not always. One of the most important and frequently misunderstood exceptions is spousal abandonment under Missouri law.

If you or a loved one is considering post-conviction relief in Missouri, a recent appellate decision highlights just how difficult it can be to obtain DNA testing after a conviction. In State v. Bolden, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District made clear that courts will strictly e...

  When a loved one passes away, families are often concerned about the time, cost, and complexity of probate. In Missouri, there are several procedures designed to simplify estate administration when the circumstances allow. One of the most underutilized—but highly effectiv...

Boundary disputes between neighbors often start with something small: a fence, a trail, brush clearing, or years of using land no one realized was disputed. But under Missouri law, those seemingly minor facts can become very serious. In a recent Missouri Court of Appeals decision, Bourbon v. Bens...

Protective orders can play a critical role in protecting individuals from harassment, stalking, and threats of violence. A recent decision from the Missouri Court of Appeals highlights how courts evaluate requests to renew protective orders—and under what circumstances those orders may be extende...

In a recent decision, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Southern District affirmed a Wayne County conviction for first-degree sodomy involving a minor in State of Missouri v. Jeffrey Lee Waller. The case highlights how Missouri courts evaluate evidence in sexual offense cases involving minor...

When someone is convicted of a serious felony in Missouri—especially first-degree murder—the appeal process is often the final opportunity to challenge the conviction or sentence. In State v. Williamson, decided January 27, 2026, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District affirmed con...

On February 10, 2026, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, issued its opinion in State of Missouri v. Derrie S. Williams, No. ED113255, affirming the denial of post-conviction relief under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 29.15. For individuals and families navigating serious felony convic...