Without a medical power of attorney, Missouri law picks who makes your healthcare calls. Name your own agent under RSMo 404.800 before a crisis does.

Missouri has no official TOD deed form; any deed meeting RSMo 461.025 works. Miss the legal description, notary, or recording and it's worthless.

A Missouri TOD deed passes real estate to your beneficiary at death with no probate. You keep full control and can revoke it anytime while you're alive.

Missouri nursing homes run $5,000 to $7,000 a month, and MO HealthNet caps countable assets at $5,000. Planning 5 years ahead protects your savings legally.

Missouri probate runs 6 to 12 months for assets held in one name only. Estates of $40,000 or less can skip it with a small estate affidavit.

MO HealthNet covers prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum if your household income is at or below 196% of poverty. Your newborn's first year counts too.

Missouri's small estate affidavit lets heirs collect assets without probate when the estate is $40,000 or less and 30 days have passed. Weeks, not months.

A Missouri durable power of attorney keeps working after you lose capacity, unlike a general POA. It needs durability language under RSMo 404.705 to be valid.

Not every Missouri estate needs full probate. Assets under $40,000 use a small estate affidavit, and named beneficiaries skip court. Title is what decides.

If a Missouri relative owned anything in their name alone, probate is likely. No will means intestacy law decides, not the family. Ask about fees upfront.