Estate Planning Attorneys in St. Louis, MO

Building a Complete Estate Plan

An effective estate plan isn’t a single document. It’s a coordinated framework of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives that work together to cover property, guardianship, and decision-making across foreseeable circumstances. We’ve guided thousands of families through this process, including households with blended families, multi-state property, and business ownership, and we build each plan around the specific shape of that family’s life.

Wills & Trusts

A last will and testament directs how your assets pass at death and names a guardian for minor children. A revocable living trust can do much of the same work but can help keep assets out of the Missouri probate process, preserve privacy for your heirs, and make it easier to manage property held in other states. For many families, both documents work together as the foundation of the plan.

Powers of Attorney & Healthcare Directives

Incapacity planning is often the part of an estate plan families overlook until they need it. A durable power of attorney designates someone to manage your finances and property if you can’t. A healthcare directive, sometimes called a living will or healthcare proxy, gives that same clarity for medical decisions. Designating trusted individuals for these roles in advance can help keep critical decisions out of court and reduce the burden on your family during an already difficult time.

Missouri Probate & What Families Can Do About It

Missouri probate is a public court process. When an estate passes through it, the will and inventory of assets become part of the public record, accessible to anyone. The process can take months, and court and attorney fees can reduce what ultimately reaches your heirs. Proper asset titling and a revocable living trust are among the tools that can reduce probate exposure, helping keep more of your estate private and moving to your family without unnecessary delay.

Multi-State Estate Planning from a Single Firm

Families with vacation homes, rental properties, or loved ones across state lines face a real coordination problem: each state has its own probate rules, and a plan drafted only under Missouri law may not govern out-of-state assets the way you intended. We’re licensed in Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and Texas, which means we can coordinate a single cohesive estate plan that addresses property and beneficiary designations across all four states. You work with one team, not four separate attorneys.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions we hear most often from families starting the planning conversation. If yours isn’t here, we’re happy to address it during your consultation.

How Do We Choose a Guardian for Our Children?

Selecting a guardian is one of the most personal decisions in an estate plan. Your will is the legal mechanism for naming one, but the conversation matters as much as the document. Before finalizing your choice, talk directly with the person you have in mind and make sure they understand what the role involves. We walk families through these considerations during the planning process.

Are My Digital Assets Covered?

Social media accounts, online banking, cryptocurrency, and cloud storage all belong in your estate plan. Missouri has adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, which allows you to provide instructions for passing digital property to trusted individuals and helps prevent confusion for your heirs. We address digital assets as a standard part of every planning conversation.

Can My Estate Plan Change If My Life Does?

Yes, and it should. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a new property purchase, a change in who you trust: all of these affect your plan. That’s exactly why our base legal fee covers all plan updates for three years and why clients receive bi-annual check-ins at no additional charge. A revocable trust structure can make most updates straightforward to implement when the time comes.

What About Estate Taxes in Missouri?

Missouri has no state estate tax, and most middle-class families don’t face federal estate taxes either. That said, families who own property in neighboring states or have specific gifting goals should consider how tax planning affects the legacy they pass to heirs. We can integrate that guidance into your plan without unnecessary complexity.

Complete Your Estate Plan from Home

Our firm operates entirely virtually. You can complete every step of the estate planning process from home, with no in-person meetings required. That flexibility matters for busy families, and it means our services are fully accessible to clients throughout St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, and the broader St. Louis metro area. Virtual delivery isn’t a workaround; it’s how we make the ongoing relationship model work on your schedule.

Ready to put a plan in place? Call (314) 866-7781 to schedule a free consultation and start building an estate plan that can stay current as your life evolves.