PMCW Law

Having an effective Human Resources department for your company is crucial because if certain circumstances aren't handled the right way, you could end up being sued for thousands of dollars. Our attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to go over a few common HR mistakes that can lead to lawsuits. If you are struggling to find the right legal support for your business call the business law attorneys at Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, and Welch at 573-346-7231 today. 5 Common HR Mistakes That Can Lead to Lawsuits 1. Using discriminating language in job postings While most HR professionals probably realize not to put obvious statements such as "no Europeans should apply" – there are a few common discriminating terms that can be overlooked. For example, posting something as simple as “looking for recent college graduates” can imply that you are discriminating against older applicants. It's important to be mindful of this sort of thing when writing job d...

Having a will is one of the most important things you can do for your family. Taking the time to have one drafted can save them time and stress in an already difficult situation. No one likes thinking about when they pass away, but the reality is having a will ensures your assets are left to who you intended to leave them to. However, you may not realize that there are actually some things you can't or just shouldn't leave in your will. Our estate planning attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to let you know what NOT to put in your will. If you do need assistance drafting your will, call Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter and Welch . Avoid Putting These Things in Your Will 1. Retirement Funds Whether you have a 401k, IRA or Pension, the funds from retirement accounts such as these go to whoever you named as a beneficiary or your spouse, (depending on the retirement account) when you pass away. Therefore, if you have designated an individual as beneficiary, you...

Non-profit organizations can serve such noble purposes, between helping mistreated children to providing shelter to the homeless. The people behind the non-profits in this area really make a difference in our community and it makes us proud to be part of the non-profit organizations we are in. Our attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks have put together some guidelines to help those who are thinking of setting up a non-profit organization. If you are interested in starting a non-profit organization and want to know how to protect it legally, give Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter and Welch a call at 573-346-7231. The Legal Guidelines for Starting a Non-Profit Organization Guideline #1 Make sure to file your application for tax exempt status with the IRS. In order to be federally tax-exempt, you must file an application for exempt status with the IRS and your application must be approved.  This application tends to be long and tedious.  It is beneficial to have a tax expe...

For the most part, we all have neighbors that we must learn to get along with. If not, certain legal issues can arise and no one wants that. Our lawyers at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you the dos and don'ts of neighbor disputes. If you find yourself in a neighbor dispute and realize you need legal help, call the law office of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter & Welch at 573-346-7231 today for your free consultation. The Dos & Don'ts of Neighbor Disputes The Dos Do talk to your neighbors. If you are considering making a big change to your house that will make a lot of noise or building a fence that will divide your property from your neighbor's property, communicate that to your neighbor. Be neighborly and give them a heads up. This simple communication can go a long way in preventing a neighborly dispute from occurring. Do treat others how you want to be treated. This should be obvious, but history proves that it isn't. Treat your nei...

First of all, what's a health care directive? Health care directives come into play in stressful situations involving the health of your loved ones. They can ensure that your loved one's wishes are met and keep your family members from having to make an extremely difficult decision in a heartbreaking situation. Our estate planning attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks understand how complicated health care directives may seem, which is why Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter & Welch are here to give you a few facts about health care directives you may not have known. 5 Facts About Health Care Directives Your May Not Have Known Fact # 1 You don't have to have a living will to stop treatment. If your loved one is being treated for an illness, but that treatment is no longer working or helping them in any way, there doesn't always have to be a living will to stop treatment. Typically, if there is no health care directive a person designated to make health care de...