PMCW Law

Missouri Courts look at many factors when determining the custody of a child. These factors can be complicated and confusing, but they all revolve around a single, central goal: to serve the child's best interests. If you're trying to  gain custody of a child in mid-Missouri , an  experienced lawyer at the Lake of the Ozarks  can help guide you through the factors that influence the Courts' decision. While not a complete list, this list can give you a solid foundation of the factors to consider concerning child custody in Missouri.  ( These factors are taken from Section 452.375 of the Missouri Revised Statutes.) ****** 2. The court shall determine custody in accordance with the best interests of the child. The court shall consider all relevant factors, including:  (1) The wishes of the child's parents as to custody and the proposed parenting plan submitted by both parties; (2) The needs of the child for a frequent, continuing and ...

You may have heard that having a will is important, but it's extremely important if you have children. In today's blog, our attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks are going to tell you why. 1. You can name a conservator to manage your child's assets and finances. Establishing a conservator for your child is a must. The law doesn't permit a minor to assume legal control over property left to them in a will. If you and your spouse die at the same or your spouse can't be trusted to manage your child's finances, you should name a conservator. Your designated conservator will be responsible for managing your child's finances with honesty and integrity to ensure the child's reasonable needs are met.  Be sure to pick someone with integrity and common sense.  2. You can have a say in who will care for your child. If you die and your child does not have another suitable parent to care for him/her, the court will have to appoint a guardian. I...

Our real estate lawyers at the Lake of the Ozarks have many years of experience in handling a wide variety of real estate issues and title problems. You never know what problems could arise when purchasing a new home or even selling your home. In this blog, we will discuss reasons you will need to hire a real estate attorney. Double Check Your Legal Documents. A large amount of paperwork comes with purchasing or selling a home. Whether you are singing your name to a legally binding contract or entering into the selling process for the first time, you should have everything double checked by a real estate attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks first. We will make sure all contracts and paperwork are in full compliance of local, state, and federal real estate laws. Understand All of Your Obligations. When it comes to buying or selling real estate, you have certain obligations. Our real estate attorneys will help you understand your role, rights and all of the respon...

Our experienced juvenile law attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks are continuing our blog series on juvenile law. Last week, we covered the difference between juvenile court and other courts, whether it's okay or not for a juvenile to be questioned by a police officer, jurisdiction of juvenile court, and if religion is considered in the placement of a child. For more information on those topics, please see 7 Things You Didn't Know About Juvenile Law: Part 1 . This week we will be finishing up with the 3 commonly asked questions about juvenile law. What can be done, if I need to get help for my child that is beyond my control? You may complete a "juvenile complaint form" pertaining to your child. This can be filed at your local juvenile office. Once the form is complete, it will be assigned to a Deputy Juvenile Officer (DJO). The DJO will schedule a time to meet with you and your child to gather information and possibly apply initial screenings or assessmen...

Our law office at the Lake of the Ozarks  specializes in many practice areas. Juvenile law happens to be one of them. In this blog series, we will discuss 7 frequently asked questions regarding juvenile law. This week we will start with the first 4 things. 1. What is the difference between juvenile court and other courts? Juvenile and family courts deal with matters specific to family. In regard to juvenile matters, there are a variety of different sections that fall under this court including delinquency, child abuse, neglect, status, and termination of parental rights. 2. Can a juvenile be questioned by police and other law enforcement? Yes. When a juvenile is taken into custody, the juvenile officer and juvenile should be accorded all rights he or she would have as an adult. When a child is taken into judicial custody, he or she should be advised of his or her Miranda rights before questioning. The Miranda rights are: to remain silent. to have an attorney. ...

In an ideal world, all marriages would last forever. Unfortunately, in the real world, this only happens for approximately half of today’s married couples. The other half choose to end their marriages via divorce, annulment or legal separation. We have talked before about annulments, the unique situations wherein they may be applicable, http://pmcwlaw.blogspot.com/2017/02/what-is-annulment.html . Today, we are going to look specifically at divorce and legal separation. Though similar in many aspects, these two legal rulings have distinct differences as well. Our Lake of the Ozarks family attorneys are here to help you evaluate your options to determine which solution may be best for you and your situation. Divorce vs Legal Separation: The Similarities Divorce and legal separation both mark a legal change of a marital relationship. Couples who file for divorce and couples who obtain a legal separation must both arrange various end-of-relationship details, including (b...

In a perfect world, every child would have a safe, loving, nurturing home in which to grow up. Unfortunately, life is not always so idyllic for children growing up in today's world - for any number of different reasons, many children are displaced from their birth families. However, these children do not necessarily have to be raised in group homes or orphanages. Foster care may be another option. If you are considering fostering a child (or multiple children) or would simply like to learn more about the process, this article is for you. Keep reading to learn some important general information about the foster system in Missouri, courtesy of our family attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks . What Is Foster Care? Simply put, foster care is an arrangement wherein a couple or individual adult agrees to provide food, shelter, clothing, and other necessities to children who do not have parents or other legal guardians who can fulfill these responsibilities. Foster arrangements ...