PMCW Law

Alimony, or spousal support, is known as the financial support one might get from an ex-spouse in result of a divorce. This money is an attempt to keep both parties “lifestyle” as close to the "lifestyle" they have grown accustomed to as possible.  However, you can’t just get alimony by asking, you have to qualify for it and it must be granted to you. An experienced divorce attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks can help you determine whether you have a good chance of getting alimony or not. Let’s look at what factors into being granted alimony in a divorce case. How Do I Know if I Qualify for Alimony or Spousal Support? When the court determines whether or not alimony should be granted, they are looking at a few different things: • Can the spouse wanting financial support, support themselves?  • Are they able to acquire a job on their own? • Did the married couple have a child who needs special attention? If so, would the primary caregiver/parent be able work o...

You have put your whole life into your business. You don't want to leave it to someone you don't trust when you pass away. It's important that you have a plan put in place ahead of time. Our estate planning attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks can help you create a will and make sure all your bases are covered. Here are some estate planning tips you can follow for your business. Estate Planning Tips for Business Owners Tip # 1 Create a will. No matter what type of business you own, having a will created is a good idea. Even if you already have a will, make sure it's updated. A will allows you leave directions regarding who you want to leave your business to. When there is no will to refer to, your business is passed down to whoever the state law guides it to. If you don't have a will, then your business will typically go to close family members. Tip # 2 Consider your taxes. Many people don’t realize, but estate taxes can be as much as 50 pe...

The holidays can be a season of joy, but it also can be a stressful financial time for single parents. You want to give your child the best Christmas possible, but if you are not receiving child support payments in a timely manner (or at all) during this time of year, you may be struggling to make the perfect Christmas a reality. Our experienced child support attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you some advice if you are not receiving your child support payments. Possible Reasons for Delays in Child Support around the Holidays A couple of reasons as to why you may be experiencing delays in your child support around the holidays specifically, can include: • The parent paying child support quit or lost his job in the holiday season. If your co-parents wages were being garnished to cover your child support payments and all of a sudden you stop receiving payments, there’s a possibility that he or she either quit or lost his or her job. • Christmas Day ...

Our Get to Know Your Lawyer blog series continues this month. Our law office at the Lake of the Ozarks is happy to feature Ronald Carpenter this month. Here at Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, and Welch , we get to know our clients as we help them through serious legal issues. Read on to get to know one of our most experienced attorneys, Ronald Carpenter. Get to Know YOUR Lawyer - Ronald Carpenter Q: Where are you from? A: My name is Ronald K. Carpenter and I was born in Ventura, California, on November 4, 1948. I lived in southern California until 1959 when my parents purchased a small resort on the Glaize Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks. My parents were unhappy with the smog and congestion in southern California and since they were both born in Missouri it felt natural to return to their roots. Q: Where did you attend school? A: I started attending the Camdenton R-III School system in the 6th grade in 1959 and graduated from high school here in 1966. I attended the Un...