PMCW Law

Halloween 2019 is less than a month away! Can you believe it? Our lawyers at the Lake of the Ozarks hope you all have a Happy, but Safe Halloween this year. Car accidents do happen and believe it or not, they can happen on Halloween too. Our personal injury lawyers at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few safe driving tips for Halloween 2019. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, please call Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, and Welch for your free consultation today. We can be reached at (573) 346-7231. Drive Safely on Halloween 2019! Never drive intoxicated.  With this holiday right around the corner, you've probably seen festive events being advertised in light of the holiday. Many of these events will have alcohol available and no one is saying to not partake, but do so responsibly. If you know you are going to be drinking then plan ahead and designate a sober driver. There are likely kids walking in the streets, house to house, tr...

Our lawyers at the Lake of the Ozarks occasionally get asked to help with a legal name change. This comes up from time to time, so Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, and Welch is here to answer a few frequently asked questions regarding getting your name legally changed in the state of Missouri. If you are in the process of trying to get your name legally changed, give our Camdenton law firm a call. We can answer any questions you may have and our consultations are free. Just call us at 573-346-7231. FAQs About Getting Your Name Legally Changed in MO Q: How does one go about legally changing their name in the state of Missouri? A: You have to file a petition. According to the Missouri Courts : " Persons 18 and older seeking to change their name may do so by filing a Petition for Change of Name. The petition must state important facts required by law in order for a name change to be granted. Generally, the petition must describe who you are, where you live, why you are se...

A fantastic community event is coming up very soon and our attorneys in Camdenton are excited to tell you about it! Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, and Welch love this community. If you are in need of an experienced Camden County attorney , give our Camdenton law firm a call at (573) 346-7231. In the meantime, keep reading to learn all about the Pumkin Chunkin Palooza coming up! The Pumkin Chunkin Palooza at the Lake of the Ozarks Source:  https://www.funlake.com/pumkin-chunkin-palooza Date: September 28, 2019 Location: Ozarks Amphitheater 2629 MO Hwy 5 Camdenton Missouri 65020 Event Times:  10:00 am – 6:00 pm Event Activities: Missouri Craft Beers Missouri Wine Tastings Food Vendors Largest Pumpkin Contest Pumkin Decorating Contest Family Events: Face Painting Petting Zoo Kids Activities Climbing Wall Carnival Rides Source: http://pumkinchunkinpalooza.com/ Presented by the: Laurie Sunrise - Beach Rotary Admission Prices: Adult...

HOAs or Homeowners Associations are groups of homeowners of condominiums, subdivisions or other developments. Their shared goal is to to make sure their homes and properties are maintained and taken care of in the best possible way. That being said, even though everyone is there with the same goal, problems can arise and your HOA could strongly benefit from having a legal voice or reason present. Our attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to tell you why every HOA should have a lawyer. If you are part of an HOA and would like to have an experienced HOA lawyer in Camden County on your side, contact Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch   PC at 573-346-7231 for your free consultation today. Why Every HOA Should Have a Lawyer To Ensure Your HOA is Meeting All Legal Requirements According to NOLO , every HOA needs its own set of bylaws. "For example, your HOA may have bylaws that cover: how often the HOA holds meetings how the meetings are conducted the dut...

A GREAT fall event at the Lake of the Ozarks is coming up soon - Pumkin Chunkin Palooza! This event is presented by the Power of Four, which is comprised of the Laurie/Sunrise Beach Rotary, Camdenton Rotary, Lake Ozark Daybreak Rotary and the Lake Ozarks Rotary Club. Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, and Welch is in the Lake Ozark Day Break Rotary and we are big supporters of this event. Keep reading for important details regarding this AWESOME event. Our attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks would like to wish everyone a fun, but safe time at this event! Photo Credit: FunLakeMO Pumkin Chunkin Palooza Source:  http://pumkinchunkinpalooza.com/ When: Saturday, September 29th, 2018 from 10 am to 5 pm Where: Ozarks Amphitheater; 2629 North Business Route 5, Camdenton MO 65020 What: Enjoy this fun family friendly fall event and get your "Fall Fix!" From pumpkins galore to face painting to AMAZING live music, this is an event you won't want to miss! Keep reading to l...

Today, the number of traffic-related offenses caused by some sort of road rage are concerning. 66 percent of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive drivers, according to Safe Motorist . If you are the victim of a horrific car accident and are in need of a skilled personal injury attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks , call Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, and Welch at 573-346-7231 for your free consultation today. Combat these awful statistics and keep reading for a few tips on how to avoid road rage. Whether you are typically the aggressive driver or someone who is on the receiving end, these tips may be helpful to you. How to Avoid Road Rage Tip #1: ALWAYS check your blind spots when changing lanes. Do not anger someone else by being careless and switching lanes without looking to see if someone else is there first. Check first, then use your signal to considerately switch lanes the right way. This action alone will help prevent someone else from turning into ...

Last month, we continued our blog series, Get to Know YOUR Lawyer, by featuring David T. Welch . This month, you will be getting to know YOUR lawyer, Charles E. McElyea, a little better. Here at our law firm at the Lake of the Ozarks , we get to know our clients. We are helping our clients with very personal issues, so we feel that it's important we get to know each other.  Get to Know YOUR Lawyer - Charles E. McElyea Q: What is your background in law? A: I have practiced law in the Lake of the Ozarks area since November of 1971. I joined the law firm of Phillips and Parrish after being discharged from the United States Army as a First Lieutenant. I am now the senior member of the law firm of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter and Welch, P.C . Since November of 1971, I have been engaged in the general practice of law, handling cases in state courts and representing clients in a variety of civil matters. My practice areas include representation in real estate matters...

Congratulations! You have decided to take a big step and start a nonprofit corporation. Nonprofits may be started for a number of reasons, including religious, scientific, educational, or another personal reason.  There are certain legal steps that need to be taken in order to be successful in forming a non profit corporation in Missouri . Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, and Welch is here to tell you the key steps behind setting up a nonprofit corporation in Missouri. The Legal Steps Behind Setting Up a Nonprofit Corporation in Missouri 1. Choose who the initial board of directors will be. In, Missouri you must have at least 3 directors. 2. Choose a name for the nonprofit organization. The name you choose for the nonprofit needs to be distinguishable from other businesses on file with the Missouri Secretary of State.  3. Create and file the nonprofit articles of incorporation. Contact the Missouri Secretary of State's office and create and file the...

A criminal conviction can have long-lasting and far-reaching consequences. Individuals convicted of a crime may suffer any number of undesirable consequences, such as the inability to possess a firearm, obtain certain professional licenses, obtain safe housing, or earn a quality education.  Fortunately, some individuals have access to an option that can help them avoid these types of consequences. Expunging Criminal Records Depending on their specific situations, some individuals may qualify to have their records expunged. "Expunge" simply means "to remove completely." In a legal sense, this means removing a criminal history such that no criminal record appears in a traditional background check. Obviously, expungement is an attractive and desirable solution for individuals who have been arrested for or convicted of a crime. Today, our  Missouri criminal defense attorneys  are here to take a closer look at local expungement laws.  Expungement Eligibility Ge...

If you've ever spent time with an attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks or visited a law firm's website, you've probably heard or seen the words "mitigation" and "litigation" tossed around. Both are used in a legal cases, but what exactly do they mean? How are they different? The team at the Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. is here to help clear up this common point of confusion. LITIGATION Litigation refers to the scene most people imagine when they picture battling court cases. Litigation refers to the trial process - two parties and their attorneys vying for their unique positions in a courtroom, tried by either a judge or jury. Litigation is often extremely convoluted, time consuming, expensive, and - worst of all - unpredictable. Until the judge or the jury makes a decision about your case, neither party knows what the outcome will be. For these reasons, many people understandably attempt to avoid litigatio...