PMCW Law

Jury Service:  Hallmark of the American System of Justice Few activities in our civic life provide such a direct contact with our democracy as does jury service. Besides voting, nothing is so active and participatory in nature. In fact, Thomas Jefferson believed that serving on a jury is more important than voting. He said, "I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution." Jury Service during the Trial process In earlier Blogs, we described how jurors are chosen, trials procedures for jurors, and answered some frequently asked questions about Juror service at the Lake of the Ozarks .  In this Blog, the Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter & Welch, P. C. would like to give some further information about the jury deliberation process and what to expect after the verdict.  Information for this Blog was gathered from www.courts.mo.gov . Jury Deliberations ...

Guide to finding helpful information about Missouri laws The Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter & Welch, P.C. would like to provide you with some helpful resources about Missouri law.  These resources are great places to find information about criminal laws, family law, business law, estate planning, and other general Missouri legal information.  If you have any questions about Missouri law, please feel free to contact one of our attorneys by dropping into the office, contacting us through our website at www.PMCWLaw.com or give us a call at (573) 346-7231. The Library of Congress - State of Missouri page   This informative site has several areas that provide information on the Missouri constitution and the 3 branches of Missouri government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial).  http://www.loc.gov/law/help/guide/states/us-mo.php Missouri Lawyers Media - Missouri Nice website for info on cases, verdicts, opinions, and sp...

Jury Service:  Hallmark of the American System of Justice Few activities in our civic life provide such a direct contact with our democracy as does jury service. Besides voting, nothing is so active and participatory in nature. In fact, Thomas Jefferson believed that serving on a jury is more important than voting. He said, "I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution." Jury Service during the Trial process In an earlier Blog , we described how jurors are chosen, and answered some frequently asked questions about Juror service at the Lake of the Ozarks .  In this Blog, the Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter & Welch, P. C. would like to give some further information about the trial process itself.  Look for future Blogs that will cover Juror conduct during the trial, Jury deliberations, and finally what to expect after the verdict.  Information for th...

Make a New Year's resolution to keep your family and your estate protected Family Estate planning is often difficult to think about.  Very few of us like to think about passing away, but planning for this inevitable event now will make life easier for the loved ones you leave behind.  The beginning of a new year is a great time to start your planning or to review your estate planning to see if any changes are needed.  It's an unfortunate fact that only 2 in 5 Americans have a Will, and even less have done the planning needed to ensure a smooth resolution of their estate if death occurs. A Resource to help you The American Bar association has published a very nice resource on family estate planning that we would like to share with you.  The full document can be viewed at http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/publiced/practical/books/family_legal_guide/chapter_16.authcheckdam.pdf Per this guide - "Estate planning pays real dividends--in res...