O'Donnell Law Center : Lake of the Ozarks

Many decisions should be made when planning for end of life. Among them, the type of burial you’d like should be included. You may or may not have thought about burial types before but our estate planning attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help compare the two most popular burial methods. Read on as we compare the difference between a traditional burial and cremation. What is a Traditional Burial: A traditional burial is when a body is laid to rest in the ground. A body is placed into a casket and lowered into the ground to it’s final resting place. This is a more traditional form of body disposal. Quick Comparison Points about Burial: Timeframe – burial is typically within a week after death. In recent years this has become a little more flexible, but the body usually needs to be laid to rest in the ground shortly after the time of death. Paying Respects – traditional burial consists of a visitation in a funeral home or church, followed by a burial ceremony a...

Though we know that we won't live forever, few of us want to think about the fact that we will one day pass away.  However, it is  important to think about what we want life to look like for our surviving family members once we are no longer around. Because this may be an unpleasant thought process, it can be difficult to open ourselves up to these types of conversations.  If you or a loved one is having trouble discussing end-of-life preparations, our estate planning firm in Osage Beach MO may be able to help. We frequently facilitate these types of conversations for our clients. Keep reading to learn more about how we can help you start the conversation. End-Of-Life Decisions There are a number of end-of-life decisions that should be addressed, and we have listed a few examples below: Who do you want to inherit your property? At what age do you wish your children to receive access to their inheritance? Who do you want to make end-of-life decisions on your...

If you've kept up with our blog, you know that we spend a great deal of time talking about the importance of organizing your affairs so that all will transition smoothly to your heirs after you pass. Without a proper estate plan in order, your assets may be tied up in probate for months - or potentially even years - before they can be distributed to your heirs. At O'Donnell Law Center , a significant portion of our practice is dedicated to helping our clients with their estate planning needs. If you are preparing to begin the estate planning process, our Lake of the Ozarks estate planning attorney is here to help. Here are a few factors we advise you to consider before preparing your estate plan. 1. Who Shall Receive Guardianship Of Your Children? If you have children, this is the most important - and possibly the most challenging - decision you will have to make during the estate planning process. It is essential that you nominate someone to care of your children i...

Because it requires you to think critically about end-of-life decisions, estate planning often seems like a daunting prospect. None of us want to think about our eventual deaths. Unfortunately, none of us will live forever - it is important that we organize our affairs and build estate plans to ensure that our wishes will be met once we are no longer present. At our Lake of the Ozarks law firm , we dedicate a significant portion of our practice to estate planning. In order to easily guide our clients through their end-of-life decisions, we have condensed the process into three simple but comprehensive steps. Here is a quick overview of how we handle estate planning at the Lake of the Ozarks . Step 1:  Initial Meeting The first step is to meet with you to discuss your end-of-life wishes. We will ask various questions and guide you through certain topics to help you decide how and to whom you would like your assets to be distributed upon your passing. Some of the topics yo...

Even under the best circumstances, certain situations may require family members to make tough decisions about their loved one's end-of-life care. Having an advance healthcare directive in place can help prevent unnecessary stress during this already challenging time. Keep reading to learn more about this important aspect of estate planning, courtesy of the team at O'Donnell Law Center . What Is A Healthcare Directive? Simply put, a healthcare directive is an official document outlining how you would like your healthcare to be handled. In the event that you become incapacitated or otherwise unable to make decisions for yourself or to communicate your wishes to others, this document will guide your named health care agent as he or she makes decisions on your behalf. What's Included In A Healthcare Directive? Typically, healthcare directives utilize a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and a Healthcare Declaration / Living Will to identify several elements ...

As a parent, ensuring your children are properly cared for should always be one of your top priorities. While few people want to think about their own mortality (especially parents with children under the age of 18), taking steps now so that your children will have a loving, trustworthy guardian to care for them in the event that something happens to you is an important aspect of parenting. Whether you are preparing for your first baby or are already parenting multiple children, nominating a legal guardian for your children is simple. Our estate planning attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help. Nominating A Guardian For Your Children Once your children turn eighteen, they are an adult and no longer legally considered to be in need of a guardian. Until that day, however, they need a guardian to watch over them. Hopefully you will be around well beyond the time needed to fulfill that role.  But in the event you are not, without having nominated a legal guardian fo...

Choosing to remarry is a big decision, and one to celebrate enthusiastically. A second marriage is a chance to start fresh, to put the troubles of the past behind you and celebrate a new chapter of your life with someone you love. In the midst of all the excitement, however, there are several details that need attention. Your estate plan provides a perfect example. A second marriage can significantly impact your estate plan, and it's important to make sure the transition is executed effectively. Our estate planning attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help you navigate the process. Below are a few of the steps you should take to update your estate plan after you remarry. (Note: these steps are not necessarily listed in order of importance.) Discuss Your Financial Situation Honesty is a crucial component of any successful marriage. As you enter into your new marital partnership, it's important to have an open conversation about your financial situation with y...

"Probate" refers to the process of filing and proving up a deceased individual's will and distributing his or her assets to the surviving heirs. If there is no will, it is the process of opening an estate and distributing assets according to Missouri statute.   The probate process can be time-consuming and technical. If you have recently had a family member pass away, hiring a probate attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks may help to simplify the process. O'Donnell Law Center is here to help with all of your probate needs. This week, we wanted to share with you a few things we believe you should know about probate. 1.  Your Personal Representative Will Be In Charge Of Handling Your Estate. Since you won't be present to handle the necessary steps required to close out your affairs after you pass, your personal representative will have to step in and handle these tasks for you. If you have a properly executed will, you will have named a personal representative...

Estate planning remains one of the busiest practice areas at our law firm at the Lake of the Ozarks . End of life is never an easy topic, but dedicating some time and attention to your end of life directives is essential in order to ensure that your assets and belongings pass to your heirs smoothly. Our estate planning attorney in Osage Beach MO and her legal staff are here to assist you in building a proper estate plan that will effectively meet your needs. Your Estate Plan - 3 Choices When it comes to setting up your estate plan, you have three primary options to choose from. You may do nothing, put together a will coupled with non-probate transfers, or establish a trust. 1. Doing Nothing If you pass away without any sort of an estate plan in place, the State will determine what happens to your assets and who will receive what. This is called "dying intestate," and it can be very involved and time-consuming. Who receives your assets will depend on your survivi...

Our estate planning division is one of the most active divisions at our Lake of the Ozarks general practice law firm . This is a good thing, because it means people are recognizing the importance of making end of life decisions and getting those wishes in writing. There are several different situations in life that may trigger the need to develop or revise your estate plan. We have talked before about some of them, such as buying your first home or car, receiving an inheritance, and/or starting a business. This week, your estate planning professionals in Osage Beach MO are here to discuss a few other situations that may motivate people to make important end of life decisions. When To Draft (Or Revise) Your Estate Plan Starting A Family Starting a family is a life-changing experience. Your kids will become your whole world - the first people you think about when you wake up in the morning and the last people you think about before going to sleep at night. As parents, you wi...