O'Donnell Law Center : Lake of the Ozarks

Fighting for custody of your child is a detailed, complicated process. Obtaining custody of your child is not as cut-and-dried as some people may think. There are actually several different kinds of custody, each with its own rights and responsibilities. O'Donnell Law Center is here to help you understand the different kinds of custody and how to increase your chances of obtaining the custody you desire. Physical Custody A parent who has been awarded physical custody is allowed to have the child live with him/her most of the time. The parent who is not granted physical custody may be given visitation rights or parenting time so he/she may still have significant time with the child.  Many, many factors go into the judge's decision about who to award physical custody to.  Legal Custody A parent who has been awarded legal custody is allowed to be involved in the important decisions a parent or guardian is typically required to make regarding his/her child'...

It should come as no surprise that a criminal conviction has several undesirable consequences. In addition to hefty fines, individuals can face several years in prison if they are convicted of a serious crime. Fortunately, there are alternatives to serving a full prison sentence - probation and parole. Our criminal defense attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help you better understand the differences between the two. Probation A term of probation is one alternative to a prison sentence. Instead of being ordered to serve time in prison, individuals on probation typically must fulfill strict requirements, such as completing a certain number of community service hours, attending rehabilitation classes, submitting to drug and alcohol tests, and attending regular meetings with the probation officers to monitor progress. If a person on probation fails to satisfy their probation requirements, their probation may be revoked and a prison sentence may be imposed. T...

If you own a second home or condo at the Lake, leasing it to renters may be a great way to earn supplemental income to help offset your second mortgage payment. While there are several benefits to leasing your home, however, there are also several potential drawbacks. Before leasing your home, it's important to draft a solid lease agreement with the help of an attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks . If properly created, your lease agreement should help protect you and your property if and when issues arise at a later date. O'Donnell Law Center is here to offer a few important considerations for those of you thinking about renting out your second home. Things To Consider Before Renting Your Home The lease agreement is a legal contract between you and your renter.  Here are some typical components of a standard lease agreement. Length Of Lease Before drafting your lease agreement, it's important to decide how long you wish to have your home occupied. One year is a...

The point system associated with a Missouri driver's license is pretty straight forward. Every moving violation and some non-moving violations resulting in a conviction is worth a certain number of points, and if drivers accumulate too many points within a certain period of time, their license may be suspended or revoked. Fortunately,  traffic attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks may be able to help drivers reduce or avoid these undesirable consequences. Criminal Acts on the Road Missouri's point system works to track each driver's illegal transgressions. Many of the things most people think of as simply "bad driving" are actually considered criminal acts in the eyes of the law. The following are all examples of criminal acts that Missouri drivers commit almost every single day: Driving Without A License Driving Without Insurance Careless and Imprudent Driving Speeding Driving While Intoxicated With our experience in criminal defense and Mi...

A car accident at the Lake of the Ozarks  or elsewhere is stressful and overwhelming. If it's a bad accident, the stress is ten-fold. Our car accident attorney in Osage Beach, MO is here to help you recover the maximum amount of damages possible for your case, but it's important to make sure the proper steps have been followed in order to set yourself up for success. If you have been in an accident, make sure you follow the following steps: TIP #1:  Move Your Vehicle Out Of The Road When possible, the very first thing you should do is get yourself and all involved vehicles out of the way of oncoming traffic as quickly as possible. If you remain in the roadway, you risk being hit by other vehicles and increasing the damages/injuries associated with your accident. TIP #2:  Call 911 The next thing you should do is call 911 and request the presence of emergency authorities. If the accident and resulting injuries are severe, you may need an ambulance and/or ...

Serious personal injury caused by the negligence of another can be devastating. While of course the legal process cannot heal your wounds, it can sometimes help to ease the recovery process by providing financial compensation to help cover the expenses and lost income that often result from an injury. At O'Donnell Law Center , our personal injury lawyer at the Lake of the Ozarks and our team of dedicated legal professionals can help you with every step of the process, including: Obtaining medical records  Evaluating your accident Making an appropriate demand for compensation for your injuries Bringing your claim to litigation if no settlement is reached An Overview Of Premises Liability Accidents This week, we want to specifically look at one unique aspect of personal injury law - premises liability accidents. Employers, retailers, and manufacturers all have a legal responsibility to ensure that their commercial properties are safe for their customers, and failure...

It doesn't matter whether you are guilty of the alleged crime or not; when you are facing criminal charges, your very future is at stake regardless of whether or not you actually committed the crime. It also doesn't matter if you are working at the municipal, state, or federal level; the government always has countless resources it can use against you in your case. No matter how big or small your case may seem, securing representation from an experienced criminal defense attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks is absolutely crucial. Here are five reasons why you should hire O'Donnell Law Center to defend you against your criminal charges. #1 - You Don't (Nor Can You Be Expected) To Know The Ins And Outs Of The Criminal Court Criminal law is incredibly complex. There are rules and procedures that govern almost every aspect of criminal cases, from how evidence of an alleged crime is collected to how you should address the court.  It is unrealistic to expect a person...

The idea of going to court can be a daunting prospect. Litigation has garnered a bad reputation over the years for being time-consuming and expensive, and many people balk at the idea of having to bring their case to court. At O'Donnell Law Center , we understand these concerns and do everything we can to resolve your case without a trial first. Of course, sometimes litigation is the only viable option for bringing your case to a conclusion, and when that happens, we work very hard to earn your satisfaction. In these instances, you can count on our experienced attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks to help alleviate the stress of litigation as much as possible. In keeping with our mission, we're dedicating this week's blog to a few simple but important tips to help you prepare for a day in court. 1. Get Plenty Of Sleep The Night Before No matter whether you're the plaintiff or the defendant, it is perfectly normal to be anxious during the days leading up to y...

Enjoying scary events in honor of Halloween can be exciting, but being scared in "real life" is not nearly as much fun. Many people experience fear when facing a challenging legal situation, be it a car accident, a workers' compensation case, a criminal accusation, or a high-stakes divorce. No matter what legal challenge you may be facing, the team at O'Donnell Law Center will be here to help take the burden off of your shoulders as best we can. We Carry Your Burden ... Inevitably, we will all hit a bump in the road at some point in our lives. At our Lake of the Ozarks law firm , everything we do is designed to take the burden off of your shoulders during your difficult time. In the past, we have successfully helped clients navigate several different types of legal challenges, including... Defending their innocence in the face of a criminal accusation Securing much-needed financial compensation to cover their injuries Navigating a challenging divorce Pl...

The month of October is designated as a time to raise awareness for victims of domestic violence, but it is also a good time to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of being convicted of domestic assault. As most people are aware, domestic assault is a criminal act and, as such, can have serious legal consequences. This week, the team at O'Donnell Law Center is here to offer some insight into the types of consequences that those convicted of domestic assault may face. Domestic Assault - What is It? "Domestic assault" refers to many different types of violent or hostile acts, many of which we hear about in the news and media. In addition to assault and battery, here are a few examples of other types of acts that you may be surprised could constitute domestic assault: Child Abuse   Elder Abuse Sexual Violence by Intimate Partners Verbal Threats of Violence Isolation From Other Persons or Communication Devices You do not have to be in a current cl...