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Posts by Patrick Nolan

Home » Archives for Patrick Nolan
About Patrick Nolan
Patrick Nolan is an estate‑planning and veterans-law attorney serving families throughout Northeast Missouri. After more than a decade in the courtroom handling thousands of criminal and family law matters, Patrick shifted his practice to help clients avoid court altogether. Today he concentrates on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, asset-protection strategies, and guiding veterans through pension and disability benefits. As a disabled veteran and former chair of the Missouri Bar’s Veterans and Military Law Committee, Patrick understands the unique challenges service members face. He applies that insight to navigate complex VA regulations and ensure veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned. Patrick also educates the public through his “Pat Talks Law” YouTube channel, which features practical guidance on estate planning, trust administration, probate avoidance, and veterans’ issues. Before practicing law, Patrick spent years as an award‑winning journalist with Scripps‑Howard and Gannett, publishing thousands of articles for outlets such as USA Today, the St. Louis Post‑Dispatch, and the Springfield News‑Leader. The investigative and communication skills he honed in journalism now inform his meticulous approach to legal work. Away from the office, Patrick is an avid woodworker who enjoys sharing his craft with his children and making toys and gifts for kids at Christmas. He coaches youth soccer, volunteers with Scouts BSA, supports the arts through local theatre, and is a past president of the North Star – Kirksville Rotary Club, where he still lives the organization’s four‑way test.

Estate Planning? Here’s Why It’s Crucial!

Posted by By Patrick Nolan January 12, 2026Posted inUncategorized
Estate Planning? Here's Why It's Crucial!
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Estate Planning in Missouri: How It Works for New Parents Without a Will

Posted by By Patrick Nolan December 16, 2025Posted inEstates and Trusts, Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Wills
TL;DR: If you have a child in Missouri and no will, the state decides who raises your kids and manages their inheritance — not you. A will, trust, and powers…
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How Estate Planning Works for Parents with Minor Children After Remarriage in Missouri

Posted by By Patrick Nolan December 16, 2025Posted inEstates and Trusts, Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Wills
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Legal Guardian Missouri: Types, Responsibilities, and Your Rights

Posted by By Patrick Nolan December 13, 2025Posted inEstates and Trusts, Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Wills
Quick Answer: A legal guardian in Missouri is appointed by probate court to make decisions for a ward — either a minor child or an incapacitated adult. Missouri recognizes distinct…
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Legal Guardianship In Missouri: When It’s Needed and How to Get It

Posted by By Patrick Nolan December 13, 2025Posted inEstates and Trusts, Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Wills
Quick Answer: Legal guardianship in Missouri is a court-ordered arrangement giving a guardian authority to make personal decisions for a ward — either a minor child without competent parents, or…
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Understanding Missouri Guardianship: The Court Process Explained

Posted by By Patrick Nolan December 13, 2025Posted inEstates and Trusts, Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Wills
Quick Answer: Missouri guardianship is a probate court process where a judge appoints a person (the guardian) to make personal decisions for someone who can no longer make those decisions…
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Missouri Probate Records: Where to Find Them and What They Contain

Posted by By Patrick Nolan December 13, 2025Posted inEstates and Trusts, Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Wills
Quick Answer: Missouri probate records are public court documents generated during the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate. They include the will, asset inventories, creditor claims, and distribution…
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Missouri Living Trust: How to Avoid Probate and Protect Your Family

Posted by By Patrick Nolan December 13, 2025Posted inEstates and Trusts, Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Wills
Quick Answer: A Missouri Living Trust lets you place assets into a trust during your lifetime, manage them yourself, and pass them to beneficiaries at death — without probate court.…
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State Of Missouri Medicaid Office: How MO HealthNet Actually Works

Posted by By Patrick Nolan December 13, 2025Posted inEstates and Trusts, Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Wills
Quick Answer: The Missouri Medicaid office — officially the Family Support Division (FSD) of Missouri DSS — administers MO HealthNet, the state's Medicaid program. It handles applications, eligibility determinations, and…
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Understanding the Missouri Medicaid Office: Your Guide to MO HealthNet

Posted by By Patrick Nolan December 13, 2025Posted inEstates and Trusts, Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Wills
Quick Answer: The Missouri Medicaid office—officially the Department of Social Services (DSS) Family Support Division—administers MO HealthNet, Missouri's Medicaid program. It handles applications, determines eligibility, and manages benefits. For long-term…
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The YALE Plan

What is the YALE Plan: Click here to find out.

Young Adult Legal Essentials (YALE) is a focused legal document preparation service designed to give young adults a basic but critical legal foundation once they turn 18. At that point, parents and loved ones lose automatic authority to access medical, educational, and financial information—even in emergencies. YALE closes that gap by putting essential legal authorizations in place before a crisis occurs.

The YALE package includes preparation of five core Missouri legal documents: a Durable Power of Attorney, Healthcare Power of Attorney, Healthcare Directive, FERPA Release, and HIPAA Authorization. Together, these documents allow trusted adults to step in, obtain information, and make decisions if the young adult is injured, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to act.

YALE is not an ongoing legal representation or a substitute for a comprehensive estate plan. It is a limited-scope, front-end solution intended to handle the most common and urgent problems families face during medical emergencies, college transitions, or unexpected incapacity. The service is structured to be clear, efficient, and affordable.

Documents are prepared by Missouri attorney Patrick Nolan based on the information provided through the intake process and are reviewed for completeness and legal sufficiency. The goal is speed, accuracy, and practical usability—not theoretical planning or long-term strategy.

YALE exists for one reason: to ensure that when something goes wrong, the people who need to act are legally allowed to do so. It is preventative legal infrastructure—quiet when everything is fine, invaluable when it is not.

Each of these documents costs between $200 and $500 for a total of $1,000 to $2,500. With a 17-year-old son, Nolan realized the need and designed the YALE Plan to be affordable for every family. Only $499 for the five documents that bring peace of mind and security. Click here.

Get a closer look at the YALE plan

Your child turns 18 — and suddenly you lose legal authority in medical, school, and emergency situations. YALE (Young Adult Legal Essentials) puts the right documents in place, prepared by a Missouri attorney. Click the map to purchase. Get the YALE Plan here.

Recent Posts

  • Trust Planning for Missouri Seniors: Keep Your Assets, Qualify for Medicaid
  • Estate Planning: The Tough, Quiet Way We Take Care of Our Own
  • If You’re Incapacitated Without a Plan: What Really Happens to Your Assets in Missouri
  • Protecting Your Home from Missouri Medicaid Spend-Down
  • Guardianship in Missouri: Building Legal Authority Before the Crisis Arrives

Nolan Law Firm
210 N. Elson St., STE A
Kirksville, MO 63501
ph: 660.956.4502

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