Serving La Plata, Missouri
Thursday, November 12, 2026
A weekly legal column by Patrick Nolan
November 6, 2026 · By Patrick Nolan
If you have young children and you die tomorrow, who controls their money? Most parents have thought about who would raise their kids. Far fewer have thought about who would hold the checkbook. Missouri law…
November 4, 2026 · By Patrick Nolan
A question I hear in my Kirksville office goes like this. Mom died two years ago. Somebody handled the estate. What happened to the house? The answer is almost always sitting in a public court…
November 1, 2026 · By Patrick Nolan
If you are single and have never signed a will, you still have an estate plan. Missouri wrote it for you. You probably would not like it. I hear the same thing from single clients…
June 22, 2026 · By Patrick Nolan
You land in Missouri with a stack of paperwork—new driver’s license, vehicle registration, school files, and medical records. In the chaos of a cross-country move, it is easy to let your estate plan sit at…
June 14, 2026 · By Patrick Nolan
If you think a gun trust is just paperwork busywork, think again. Most Missouri gun owners who want suppressors or short-barreled rifles turn to trusts because they want control, clarity, and peace of mind. Here’s…
June 6, 2026 · By Patrick Nolan
A will without a self-proving affidavit in Missouri is like a car without insurance: it still runs, but you’re gambling with a costly crash. Here’s the deal: the self-proving affidavit is a one-page document signed…
June 4, 2026 · By Patrick Nolan
Owning property outside Missouri isn’t just pride—it’s a legal headache waiting to happen. That Florida condo, Iowa farm, or Lake of the Ozarks cabin can become a trap if you don’t plan right. Here’s what…
May 23, 2026 · By Patrick Nolan
Probate inventory in Missouri: a mandatory nightmare nobody volunteers for. When someone dies with assets solely in their name, the court steps in and demands a detailed list—and it has to be filed fast, usually…
May 10, 2026 · By Patrick Nolan
Naming a trust as the beneficiary of your 401(k) in Missouri isn’t a casual move. Get it right, and that trust locks down your assets, cuts tax pain, and controls who gets what and when.…
May 3, 2026 · By Patrick Nolan
Paper wills are dying in Missouri. Digital estate planning took over in 2026—and it’s not your average e-sign solution. Thanks to the Missouri Electronic Wills and Trusts Act (HB 2037), you won’t need to hunt…
Have a legal question? Submit it to ask@nemolegal.com and it may be featured in a future column.