Meet Our Attorneys

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 matters and disputes, estate planning and probate administration, business organizations, condominium and homeowner associations, and municipal and county government issues. He also practices alternative dispute resolution as a mediator and an arbitrator. 

Charles is an active member of the Lake of the Ozarks (specifically Camdenton) community and has been involved in several civic organizations, including:

• Osage Beach & Camdenton Chambers of Commerce
• Camdenton Optimist Club
• Camdenton Kiwanis Club
• Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Camdenton Rotary Club

Ronald K. Carpenter

Ronald spent his early childhood in southern California until his parents purchased a small resort at the Lake of the Ozarks in 1959. Ronald graduated from Camdenton High School in 1966 and completed his Juris Doctor in 1973. He has been with our firm for over 35 years and focuses primarily on business organizations, general real estate law, probate administration, estate planning, guardianships and conservatorships, and civil litigation.

Ronald stays active in several professional associations and memberships, including:

• Camden County Bar (two-time past president)
• The Missouri Bar
• Missouri Land Title Association
• American Land Title Association
• Camdenton Rotary Club

David T. Welch

David was born in New Jersey but grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1978 and immediately came to work at Phillips McElyea. While in law school he met and married his wife, who is retired teacher from the Camdenton Schools. David's practice areas include prenuptial agreements, paternity cases, adoption, child support, divorce, traffic law matters (such as driving while intoxicated and careless and imprudent driving) and criminal matters involving the juvenile court.

David is also a member of a several professional associates, including:

• Camden County Bar Association (two-time past president)
• Missouri Bar Association
• 26th Judicial Bar Association
• Missouri Land Title Association
• American Land Title Association

Brooke A. Christy

Brooke is a Lake of the Ozarks native. In 2010 she earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and Banking from the University of Missouri. She completed her Juris Doctorate degree at the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2013. Her areas of practice include child custody modification, traffic law, guardianship, divorce, estate planning, personal injury, business transactions, and misdemeanor and felony defense. 

Since returning to the Lake Area, Brooke has become hugely involved in community events and organizations, including:

• Lake Ozark Day Break Rotary (current president)
• Professional Business Women - Lake of the Ozarks
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• 26th Judicial Bar Association
• Young Lawyers Section of Board of Governors of Missouri Bar

Our Team Is Here For You!

Should you ever find yourself in need of legal representation at the Lake of the Ozarks, we hope you'll remember our law office in Camdenton, MO. Our attorneys are backed by a skilled team of paralegals and legal assistants, all of whom are dedicated to ensuring that your case reaches a desirable outcome. Visit our website to learn more about our legal services in Camden County MO.

Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C.

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertising. When you need a knowledgeable attorney, we invite you to contact us to set up a consultation. Evening and weekend appointments are available. We have access to interpreters.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.

Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter & Welch, P.C.

85 Court Circle N.W., P.O. Box 559

Camdenton, MO 65020   GET A MAP

(573) 346-7231 - Telephone

(888) 236-2485 - Toll Free

(573) 346-4411 - Fax

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