PMCW Law

Are you excited for the upcoming holiday? Labor Day is typically regarded as "the last big weekend at the Lake," and it's hard to believe we're already to the end of summer. Nevertheless, the team at the Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. are here to help you prepare for a happy holiday weekend with these fun trivia facts about Labor Day. You might be surprised by what you didn't know! Labor Day Trivia 1.  Labor Day has its origins in Canada, when workers in Toronto organized a strike to protest their 58-hour workweek. 2.   In 1887, Oregon became the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday. 3.   In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed the bill that officially recognized Labor Day as a federal holiday. 4.   Traditionally, Americans are not supposed to wear white after Labor Day. 5.   Robert Owen is credited with having started the 8-hour workday campaign. His slogan was "8 hours labor, 8 hours recrea...

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...

Memorial Day is largely regarded as a big holiday weekend designed to celebrate the start of another great summer. While we are certainly in favor of taking some time to relax and have fun, the team at the Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. would like to remind you that this holiday was not always about enjoying a three-day weekend. It's okay to join in the festivities this weekend, but we would be remiss not to dedicate some time to honoring the holiday's true origins. History of Memorial Day Memorial Day (initially known as Decoration Day) was originally established to honor the military men and women who gave up their lives while serving our great country. Decoration Day was first observed three years after the Civil War and specifically honored the soldiers who lost their lives in that divisive civil battle. After World War I, Decoration Day expanded to honor all U.S. soldiers who lost their lives on the battlefield, regardless of whe...

Owning your own small business is an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience. You get to create and inspire your own task force, encouraging everyone to work towards a common vision—yours! Each business is as different and unique as the owners that run it, but they all have one very important thing in common: Every business will experience multiple legal issues in its lifetime. Compliance issues, taxes, corporate liability, and intellectual property laws barely scratch the surface of the many types of legal issues that small business owners face on a regular basis. Finding a skilled business attorney to help you navigate these issues is crucial for the success of your company. Because we are dedicated to the success of your business, the Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. have put together a list of 10 important questions to ask your potential business attorney. How much experience do you have with my industry? Will there be anyone...

Divorce can be an incredibly stressful time in anyone's life. Relationships must be reevaluated and redefined, and this process can take a heavy emotional toll on everyone involved. Property and assets must be divided, and if children are involved, decisions must be made regarding custody, visitation rights and times, and child support. During this challenging time, having a skilled divorce lawyer on your side can make all the difference. If you are preparing for a divorce, it is important to take the time to find a lawyer who will work well for you. The law offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. want to help you navigate this process by giving you 10 questions to ask your divorce lawyer .  What experience do you have with divorces? How many cases have you handled? Do you know my spouse and his/her attorney? Approximately how long do you think it will take to resolve my case? What experience do you have with negotiating child custody, vis...