O'Donnell Law Center : Lake of the Ozarks

The decision to adopt a child is a big one. People adopt children of all ages for a wide variety of reasons - maybe they can't have kids of their own, maybe they want to give a home to an underprivileged child, or maybe they want to legally adopt the young child of a deceased family member. Adoption is always a rewarding option, but it is not without its fair share of legal complications. As experts in family law at the Lake of the Ozarks , our the team at O'Donnell Law Center is here to answer some of the questions you may have about adoption in Missouri. QUESTION:  Can The Biological Parents Reclaim Custody Of Their Child? ANSWER:  Before an adoption can be finalized, the legal rights of the biological parents must be terminated. Once that happens and the adoption is final, it is very difficult for the the biological parents to reclaim custody.  QUESTION:  How Much Does It Cost To Adopt A Child? ANSWER:  Adoptions can range anywhere from several hu...

What happens if you cannot (or for some reason do not) make the required payments on a debt you owe? The creditor or debt collections agency can sue you for the outstanding debt. Even if you are being charged with a delinquent debt, you still have rights that deserve protection. Depending on the situation, you may even have a solid legal defense that can prevent you from having to pay the money your creditors say you owe. Debt Collections - An Overview Debt collection defense is a complex legal discipline. Typically, these cases involve large sums of money that originally stemmed from any number of situations such as mortgage loans or credit card debts. If you are unable to make the required payments on these loans, the creditor and/or a collections agency may bring you to court in order to demand repayment for these unpaid debts. Buying and selling debt has become a business in and of itself. Lenders who gives you the original loan, for example, will frequently turn around...

At a certain point, every business owner must face a critical question: what do you plan to do with your business after you retire? There are a lot of different options to choose from, such as selling your company or dissolving your business, but many entrepreneurs choose to pass business ownership down to their children. There are several unique benefits to keeping the business in the family, but there are also some potential drawbacks. It's important to keep your eyes open to all of the possibilities! Passing Business Ownership To Your Children: The Pros Business owners who pass ownership to the next generation can enjoy a unique set of perks that are not available to other entrepreneurs. Consider these examples. Family Pride Raising a child with the intention of passing the family business on to him/her someday instills a beautiful sense of familial pride in both the parents and the child. The child may be more likely to take on more responsibilities earlier, an...

Aprill Stonebarger The success of O'Donnell Law Center relies heavily on our outstanding team. We are fortunate to be staffed by a small but amazing group of individuals who are truly dedicated to furthering the success of our law firm at the Lake of the Ozarks . This week, we're excited to introduce you to one of our valued team members, Ms. Aprill Stonebarger! Aprill Stonebarger, Legal Assistant Aprill brings a unique background to O'Donnell Law Center. Growing up on a farm in Franklin County, MO, she learned the value of teamwork and a strong work ethic while helping her family with the many chores around the farm, such as feeding calves, throwing hale bales, and driving tractors. In addition to instilling a strong work ethic, growing up on a farm helped Aprill to learn to truly appreciate the little things in life. After graduating high school in 2002, she immediately entered the workforce. At the young age of eighteen, she went to work as a 911 dispatch...

The 4th of July holiday is almost here. Most people regard this holiday as a chance to enjoy a three-day weekend, a chance to reconnect with friends and family, and a chance to get outside and enjoy fireworks or other recreational activities. While these are great activities and are certainly all wonderful ways to enjoy your holiday weekend, the team at O'Donnell Law Center wants to remind you how important it is to take a moment to give thanks for and celebrate our nation's independence. The United States is a beautiful country, and we are lucky to get to call ourselves American! Celebrating Our Independence - 4 Different Traditions People all across the States will celebrate their independence this holiday by honoring many different traditions. This Independence Day, which one of these traditions will you honor? 1. Fireworks This is quite possibly the most famous and the most popular tradition for celebrating our independence. Designed to distantly resemble the ...