PMCW Law

As the best general practice law firm at the Lake of the Ozarks , we focus on helping clients navigate a wide range of legal issues. Whether you're starting a business, getting divorced, adopting a child, fighting a speeding ticket, defending against criminal charges, buying real estate or planning your estate, the team at Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. will be honored to do everything we can to help make your process easier. For those of you whom we have not yet had the privilege of working with, we want to take this opportunity to introduce you to our attorneys. We are privileged to have several great attorneys on staff: Charles E. McElyea, Ronald K. Carpenter, David T. Welch, and Brooke A. Christy. From left to right: David T. Welch, Brooke A. Christy, Ronald K. Carpenter, Charle E. McElyea Charles E. McElyea Charles has been practicing law at the Lake of the Ozarks since November of 1971. His practice areas primarily revolve around real estate mat...

Estate planning at the Lake of the Ozarks serves multiple purposes. Part of the goal is to identify what should happen to your assets and belongings after you pass away, and another equally important task is to dictate who should handle your affairs on your behalf if/when you are unable to do so for yourself. A delegate can be appointed to manage your aff airs while you are still alive through a "power of attorney". The attorneys at Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. are here to help you gain a better understanding of these roles so you can determine who you would like to fill them. Power Of Attorney The person you designate as your power of attorney will be responsible for handling your affairs or making important decisions on your behalf if and/or when you are unable to do so for yourself. Your power of attorney (sometimes called your "attorney-in-fact") will not necessarily have the authority to handle every single issue or decision; th...

People frequently talk about the importance of dedicating legal guardians to care for your minor children in the event that something should happen to you, but what about appointing someone to care for you if/when you become unable to care for yourself? Aging adults sometimes suffer severe mental or physical health issues that can prevent them from taking care of themselves or their affairs. When this happens, there may be a need for a capable adult to step in and manage these responsibilities on their behalves. An Overview Of Conservatorships A "conservatorship" is when a responsible, capable adult steps in to handle another's financial assets in the event that the latter is unable to do. If the aging adult has appointed a power of attorney, appointing a conservator may not be necessary; the power of attorney may step in and handles these responsibilities. Unfortunately, many adults have not talked with an estate planning attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks and ...

Due to its many complexities and intricacies, the legal field is surrounded by many myths and misconceptions. Last month, we looked at some of the common misconceptions about personal injury law and the truth behind them. This month, we're continuing the discussion by addressing some of the misconceptions surrounding criminal defense. Unfortunately, defending yourself in the face of criminal charges at the Lake of the Ozarks may not be as simple as you thought. Misconception #1: Police Officers Are Required To Reveal Their Identity If You Ask Them Some individuals believe that if they ask police officers whether or not they're a law enforcement officer, they are required to answer honestly. However, this often isn't the case. Most officers are allowed to withhold the truth if it will help them make an arrest. The argument that you cannot be held accountable because you did not know they were law enforcement typically will serve as a advantageous defense. Miscon...