WHAT IS PROBATE?

As an estate planning lawyer, one of the first things I hear from clients is “I hate probate” or  “I don’t want to have to go through probate.”  But, what really is probate?  Unless you have gone through it, most people don’t know.

So what is Probate?  Probate is a legal process by which society, through its laws, has made for collecting, valuing, and distributing the debts and assets of an estate in a judge and (hopefully) speedy fashion.  If you have a Will, probate is the process by which the instructions contained in a person’s Will are followed in the court system. If you don’t have a Will, probate will still  distribute your assets and debts, but will instead follow your state’s laws.

In Missouri, probate can be conducted in a Formal or Informal fashion.  This means that the court can proceed with the administration of a person’s Will in a supervised or unsupervised manner.  The courts work closely with the personal representative and the lawyer. The goal of probate is to distribute the deceased person’s assets, handle their debts and close out their estate.  The process of probate can take time and is public.

If you are considering estate planning, want help with the probate process and would like to speak with an estate planning attorney, contact Smith & Daiber, LLC at www.smithdaiberlaw.com or 636-294-6170 for a free consultation.

The information provided is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by this post. The choice of an attorney is an important one and should not be based solely upon advertising.

What benefits are available to me if I am injured at work in Missouri?

Payment for Permanent Disability

Once your treating doctor finds that you have reached “maximum medical improvement,” or been released from care, and that you have a permanent disability, you may be entitled to receive a permanent disability payment. This is similar to a settlement. For most work injuries, this settlement is for your “permanent partial disability.”
This means that you have some permanent effects from your work injury, but you are still able to return to the workforce, either in the same or a different job from what you had before the injury. Sometimes, a work injury will cause “permanent total disability.” This means that you
are no longer able to work at any job.  This settlement can be negotiated as a lump sum amount or a weekly lifetime benefits. The amount of these weekly payments are calculated at 66 2/3 of your average weekly wage before the injury up to a certain maximum amount prescribed by law.

If you have questions about these benefits or you aren’t receiving the benefits you think you are entitled, contact a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney to help you with your claim. You may contact the workers’ compensation attorneys of Smith & Daiber, LLC at 636-294-6170  or www.smithdaiberlaw.com for a free initial consultation.

The information provided is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by this post. The choice of an attorney is an important one and should not be based on advertising alone.

WELCOME

“What do you call 5000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?”  “A good start.”

“Why don’t sharks attack lawyers?”  “Professional courtesy.”

If you’ve heard one lawyer joke you have heard them all, right?  As attorneys, we know that there can be good reason why jokes such as these have been around forever.  At Smith & Daiber, LLC our mission is to provide quality legal services with a personal and compassionate touch.  We believe it is possible to prove the stigma attached to lawyers wrong.

It is no secret that we live in a world where people struggle daily to make ends meet.  It is part of reality that the struggles and also joys in life sometimes require legal advice and representation.  Maybe you have suffered an injury or were cited for a traffic violation.  Perhaps it is time for your family to plan
for the future.  No matter what your legal issue is, the attorneys at Smith & Daiber, LLC will not treat you as “a number.”  We subscribe to the golden rule
principle, that is, “treat others as you would like to be treated.”  This principle is an important part of ourpractice that we would like to share with you.
Please call us today at 636-294-6170 or contact us at www.smithdaiberlaw.com for a free consultation.  Check back frequently and we will share our thoughts on various legal issues in our Blog.