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...