- Divorce
- Child SupportIf your spouse files for a divorce, you will get a summons and a petition. If you do nothing in response, the judge will decide the case, and you may not have any say in what happens. Therefore, you should consult a lawyer to ensure that you serve your own best interests in the divorce. Your lawyer may file an answer for you within thirty (30) days after you receive the summons. You may contest the divorce, custody, child support, or how the property is to be divided.
- Child Custody and VisitationDissolution is just another name for divorce. It is the legal ending of a marriage. A divorce case is decided by a judge without a jury. In Missouri, either the husband or the wife must have lived in the state for ninety (90) days before the divorce can be filed. In Missouri, one spouse does not typically have to prove that the other is at fault in order to get a divorce. A judge can consider fault, however, in deciding on the issues of child custody, maintenance, or division of property if they are relevant.
- Adoption
- Paternity
- Criminal DefenseJeff is not only a great attorney but also takes the time to interact with you personally and not just through his office assistant etc. We will always recommend Jeff and hopefully not have to use his services anymore but if we do he's the man to get it done! - Mother of Criminal Defense Client
- DUI/DWIAn important tip to remember if you have been pulled over for DWI / DUI is that you do not have to take any field sobriety tests. The only test that has ramifications for refusing is the breathalyzer test given after you are arrested. This means that any field sobriety test that the officer asks you to perform prior to your arrest should be refused. These field sobriety tests are usually the main pieces of evidence that the state will use against you at a DWI / DUI trial. Without them, a prosecutor will have a tougher time proving to a judge or jury that you were Driving While Intoxicated. Remember that an officer must allow you a reasonable period of time to contact a lawyer if you are arrested for a DWI / DUI, BUT ONLY IF YOU ASK FOR ONE.
- Wrongful Death
- MisdemeanorsA felony is a serious crime usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year. A misdemeanor, on the other hand, is a less serious crime and usually punishable by a fine, penalty, forfeiture, or imprisonment up to one year.
- Drug CrimesDepending on the type and amount of drugs involved, a possession charge could turn into a more serious trafficking charge. A trafficking charge can not only result in a lengthy prison sentence, but also can result in no parole for your prison sentence.
- AssaultDomestic assault charges in the first, second, and third degrees are similar to those previously described except that these charges involve assault committed against a family or household member or an adult who is or has been in a continuing social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.
- ForgeryA person commits the crime of forgery when he/she intends to defraud by making or altering a writing so that it appears to have been made by someone else or to give the writing a genuineness, antiquity, rarity, ownership, or authorship which it does not possess. It is also considered forgery to use or transfer a writing when you know it has been altered.
- Land Use and ZoningJeff is a Past Post Commander and Past Adjutant of Hartsburg American Legion Post 424. Jeff is a founding member of the Hartsburg Athletic Club, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to youth sports. Jeff has also served as a Councilman for the Village of Hartsburg, Secretary for the Hartsburg Planning and Zoning Committee and President of the Peace United Church of Christ in Hartsburg, Missouri.
- Personal InjuryThis attorney handled my legal matter with expertise, resulting in the best possible outcome. He returned my calls promptly and graciously, answering all of my questions in a way that I could understand. I have already recommended this attorney to others. - Personal Injury Client
- Estate Planning
- Wills
- BankruptcyFiling personal bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 takes careful preparation and understanding of legal issues. Misunderstandings of the law or making mistakes in the process can affect your rights. Court employees and bankruptcy judges are prohibited by law from offering legal advice.
- ForeclosureHomeowners who are having trouble making mortgage payments and/or have fallen behind on their payments may have options that would allow them to avoid foreclosure and bankruptcy.