Why plan ahead with an estate plan in Missouri?

Missouri probate can be public, time-consuming, and costly. A trust-centered estate plan helps your family avoid court and keeps your affairs private. Without a plan, Missouri law decides who gets your assets and who raises your children.

Will I still need a will if I have a trust in Missouri?

Yes. A short pour-over will captures any assets not titled to your trust and directs them into the trust properly. It acts as a safety net for your estate plan.

Does Nolan Law Firm work with clients outside Kirksville?

Yes. The estate planning practice is statewide across Missouri through secure video meetings and convenient signing options, either at the Kirksville office or the client's location.

What VA benefits matters can Nolan Law Firm help with?

Nolan Law Firm assists with VA disability compensation claims, VA pension benefits for wartime veterans and surviving spouses, and trust planning that affects VA eligibility. Attorney Patrick Nolan is admitted to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

What does a consultation cost?

The initial consultation is $175. All estate planning services are flat-fee with no hourly billing.

Does Missouri require probate?

Not always. Trusts, payable-on-death and transfer-on-death designations, and joint tenancy all avoid probate. Small estates under $40,000 may qualify for a simplified affidavit process.

Blog – Page 13 – Nolan Law Firm

Q: What is the YALE Plan?

The Young Adult Legal Essentials (YALE) Plan is a five-document package for adults turning 18: Durable Power of Attorney, Healthcare Power of Attorney, Healthcare Directive, FERPA Release, and HIPAA Authorization. It closes the legal gap parents face when a child turns 18.

How Long Probate Really Takes in Missouri

TL;DR: Missouri probate typically takes 6 months to a year for straightforward estates — but contested wills, complex assets, or family disputes can push it…

Missouri Intestate Succession: What Happens to an Estate With No Will?

TL;DR: When a Missouri resident dies without a will, RSMo Chapter 474 takes over — the state’s intestate succession laws dictate who inherits, in what…

Estate Planning in Missouri: How It Works for New Parents Without a Will

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.…

How Estate Planning Works for Parents with Minor Children After Remarriage in Missouri

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Legal Guardian Missouri: Types, Responsibilities, and Your Rights

Quick Answer: A legal guardian in Missouri is appointed by probate court to make decisions for a ward — either a minor child or an…

Legal Guardianship In Missouri: When It’s Needed and How to Get It

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…

Understanding Missouri Guardianship: The Court Process Explained

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…

Missouri Probate Records: Where to Find Them and What They Contain

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…

Missouri Living Trust: How to Avoid Probate and Protect Your Family

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…

State Of Missouri Medicaid Office: How MO HealthNet Actually Works

Quick Answer: The Missouri Medicaid office — officially the Family Support Division (FSD) of Missouri DSS — administers MO HealthNet, the state’s Medicaid program. It…

Understanding the Missouri Medicaid Office: Your Guide to MO HealthNet

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,…

Medical Power Of Attorney Missouri: Your Healthcare Decisions, Your Way

Quick Answer: A Missouri medical power of attorney (also called a healthcare power of attorney or durable power of attorney for healthcare) designates a trusted…

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 $99 for the five documents that bring peace of mind and security. Click here.