You may have heard of the small estate procedure or affidavit. A small estate affidavit is a written statement to authorize someone to claim a deceased person’s assets outside the formal probate process. Small estate affidavits can save time and money. Keep reading to learn more about how small estate affidavits work in Missouri. How Does A Small Estate Affidavit Work? After a person passes away, the legal process of …
Without expertise in estate planning, it can be difficult to know and understand the best way to distribute an inheritance in Missouri. In this blog, we want to better educate you about Missouri inheritance laws, tax filings, passing with or without a will, and how to get more estate planning information. Spouses & Children Inheritance Laws First, let’s start with spouse inheritance laws. Spouses are legally entitled to the full …
BSE’s Alcohol Law Practice Group is in the process of completing the liquor licensing for the new Centene Stadium in St. Louis. Centene Stadium is a $457.8 million 22,500-seat soccer-specific stadium and the future home of St. Louis City SC, the city’s expansion Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise. The stadium is being built next to Union Station in the city’s Downtown West neighborhood. Lorene Williams (Senior Licensing Paralegal) recently visited the …
According to a recent report by CNBC, only 33% of Americans have formulated estate plans. Why? The majority of respondents said they just haven’t gotten around to it. Estate planning isn’t only for the rich. An estate plan ensures your assets, no matter what size, are preserved and distributed appropriately after your death. Through estate planning, you put your financial, legal, and medical affairs in order. Objectives Of Estate Planning …
The emotions surrounding adoption are constantly fluctuating. As a couple longing to build your family through adoption, you feel excitement one minute and fear the next. Before you begin the process, you need to know some basic requirements like age, living situation, marital status, etc. Which Adoption Scenario Is Right For You? There are two types of adoption: state adoption through foster care and private adoption. When determining which one …
No matter how cordial, divorce is fraught with negotiation and stress. If a husband and wife cannot reach an amicable property settlement, the courts determine property and debt distribution. Nine states split marital property 50-50 during a divorce. Missouri is an equitable distribution state and not a 50-50 state. What Is The Difference In Distribution? Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin are 50-50 states. These …
Congratulations to BSE Shareholder Erin Wiseman for being voted #1 Attorney and #1 Family Law Attorney in the Jefferson City News Tribune Best of the Best 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards!
If you and your spouse have considered adoption, it’s important to work with a knowledgeable adoption lawyer. The process requires a serious investment in time, emotions, and possibly money. But adoption is a wonderful way to create or add to your family. What Is Adoption? Adoption legally transfers parental rights from a child’s birth parents to the adoptive parents. Once the process is complete, the adopted child is treated by …
Maybe you got caught speeding recently and you are worried about the consequences and how it will affect your driving record. Or perhaps you drove without a license or with a suspended license. Many drivers have been in your situation, and it’s essential to understand what’s next. At Brydon, Swearengen & England P.C., we want to inform you further on the point system of Missouri and how it all works. …
BSE Shareholder Erin Wiseman recently prevailed in an appeal of a family law matter before the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District. The case – K.T.L. by Her Next Friend, K.L.., and K.L. Individually, Respondents, vs. A.G., Appellant. – (Overview Summary) – was decided on December 28, 2021, and became final in January of 2022. The Court of Appeals found that the statutes governing third-party custody required appellant …
We all have been there – pulled over for speeding, feeling embarrassed as the police officer approaches you. It happens to the best of us. Whether this is your first ticket or tenth, you may want to know how many points will a speeding ticket deduct from my Missouri driver’s license? Like any state, Missouri has a point system process used to deduct from your license and too many points …
Technically, divorce is the process of dissolving the marital estate and returning each spouse to their separate legal state. Emotionally, divorce can be one of the most difficult experiences you will ever go through. If you’re unfortunately contemplating a divorce, the attorneys of Brydon, Swearengen & England P.C. offer steps to consider before you file. Preparing ahead of time eases some of the problems that come up during the process. …
Jefferson City Magazine 2022 CITY’s Best results have been announced and we very excited to share that attorney Scott A. Hamblin has received 1st place in the Best Lawyer category! This is a tremendous honor and we are very grateful for the recognition. Check Jefferson City Magazine’s website in April for a full list of winners in their Special Edition CITY’s Best issue. https://bit.ly/3qQSnP2
When in love and planning a future together, no one wants to consider the possibility of divorce. But divorce happens, and as a result, you may want to consider a prenuptial agreement beforehand. A prenuptial agreement (also known as a prenup or premarital agreement) is a legal contract that both the future husband and wife agree to in writing. The couple states their rights regarding premarital assets and how those …
BSE Attorney Stephen A. Rehagen graduated as a member of the Leadership Jefferson City Class of 2020/2021 on November 18, 2021. Leadership Jefferson City is designed to identify and motivate emerging leaders, and to develop their potential for community leadership roles by exposing them to the opportunities, realities, and challenges of the community. The Class of 2020 was halfway through its sessions in early 2020 when it was postponed for approximately …
BSE shareholder Erin Wiseman recently visited the USS Jefferson City in her role as JC councilwoman. A very nice article from the Jefferson City News Tribune concerning this visit may be found at the following Link – JC Councilwoman Visits USS Jefferson City
No matter what the extenuating circumstances are, divorce is difficult for everyone involved. It can be emotionally painful as well as financially devastating. Make sure you have a divorce lawyer who can stand in the gap for you. Dissolution of Marriage/Divorce in Missouri Divorce is the process of dissolving a marital estate and returning each spouse to their separate legal state. In Missouri, the legal process for ending a marriage …
The BSE team of Johnny Richardson, Trip England, Tanner Richardson, and Hank England took first place in Flight B of the 3rd Annual MADA Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament on Monday, October 11th at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia, Missouri. One hundred percent (100%) of the proceeds of this event will be used by the MADA Foundation for the funding of statewide charitable organizations and events.
Kinzi Harvis is a new associate with Brydon, Swearengen & England. She is licensed to practice in the state of Missouri and her practice focuses on the areas of Criminal Law and Civil Law, including Family Law. Ms. Harvis holds a Dispute Resolution Law concentration certificate from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. She previously attended Florida State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and minored …
NCSLA ANNOUNCES HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES The National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA) is pleased to announce three inductees to the NCSLA Hall of Fame: Mr. A. Keith Burt of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission, Ms. Lynne J. Omlie with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), and Mr. Charles E. Smarr of the law firm Brydon, Swearengen & England P.C. in Jefferson City, Missouri. …
Jamie Cox is serving a fifth year as a Vice-Chair for the Missouri Bar’s Administrative Law Committee. In this role, Jamie has recently been working with the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission to plan a continuing legal education program that will take place on August 30, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. The presentation will include three segments covering best practices before the AHC, the AHC’s new online portal and e-filing, and disciplinary …
The pandemic has a lot of Americans thinking long-term about their health and the possibility of no longer being with loved ones. As a result, there’s been a renewed interest in wills and estate planning. If you haven’t set up a will or an estate plan yet, you’re not alone, over 40% of Baby Boomers haven’t addressed this issue either. For some reason, wills and estate planning seem like an …
BSE Shareholder Erin Wiseman is participating in the Zonta Club fundraiser for the Second Chance Scholarship fund. This effort was recently covered by KRCG TV – Zonta Club of Jefferson City typically holds an annual Yellow Rose luncheon to raise money for its Second Chance Scholarship fund. Zonta is an international organization that advocates for women’s rights. The fundraiser this year will be a virtual wine tasting to raise money for scholarships.\
The kids forgot their school lunches, the dog ran away, and you’re late to a board meeting. To top it off, you got a speeding ticket in a construction zone! Sometimes life doesn’t give you a break. Don’t handle it alone. Let the attorneys at Brydon, Swearengen & England take on the fight for you. Most drivers likely receive at least one traffic ticket in their lifetime. Traffic tickets are …
DWI and DUI A charge of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is extremely serious. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes – that’s one person every 50 minutes.” In 2018, it was estimated that the total number of deaths from drunk-driving crashes was over 10,500. Interestingly, history has often shown more DWI charges in Missouri than …
On average, there are 6 million car accidents in the U.S. every year— amounting to roughly 16,438 per day. Auto accidents occur everywhere and the reasons for having one vary. Speeding, alcohol or drug impairment, inclement weather, and a distracted driver are just a few of the common causes. The majority are actually one-vehicle accidents. Sadly, many auto accidents are fatal. In Missouri alone, there were 876 traffic fatalities in …
BSE shareholder Erin Wiseman was featured in the March 1, 2021 issue of the Jefferson City News Tribune. The article was titled – Erin Wiseman’s ‘infatuation with the courtroom’ plays role in service to Jefferson City (“Erin Wiseman has always had an infatuation with the courtroom. As a child, when her father was the county clerk in Shelby County, he would take her to the courtroom, where every once in a …
Physical and emotional abuse has long-lasting, life-changing effects. When conflicts escalate between parties, sometimes it’s necessary to get a restraining order. The process can be problematic due to the need for legal documentation and filing procedures. Having an experienced attorney is critical. Filing a restraining order can impact a child custody case, a divorce case, a paternity proceeding, or other types of court actions. The experienced family law and divorce …
Happy Halloween from BSE!
William R. (Trip) England III, Dean L. Cooper and Charles E. Smarr of Brydon, Swearengen & England P.C. have been selected for inclusion in the 2021 edition of Best Lawyers in America®. Mr. Smarr is listed in food and beverage law; Mr. Cooper in energy law; and, Mr. England in energy and communications law. Best Lawyers is the oldest peer review publication in the legal profession. Its lists of outstanding …
BSE Shareholder and Jefferson City Ward 3 Councilwoman Erin Wiseman was featured in the August 26, 2020 Jefferson City News Tribune article entitled Elected Women Reflect on the Importance of Women’s Equality. The article interviewed local women elected officials as they reflected on the 100 year anniversary of women obtaining the right to vote in America. Ms. Wiseman indicates in the article that “the desire to run for elected office …
A new roof is on the way at BSE. Unfortunately, this means that for approximately the next two weeks visitors will need to enter and exit through the side entrance. Please call 573.635.7166, to arrange for entry.
In accordance with CDC guidelines, BRYDON, SWEARENGEN & ENGLAND P.C. is scheduling meetings by video and telephone conference and will do so for the immediate future. If you must meet with one of our attorneys in-person, then masks are required to be worn at all times. If you need to speak to one of our attorneys or staff, then please call our office at 573-635-7166 and we will schedule a telephone or video conference …
The following linked documents reflect the Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Settlement and Settlement Agreement and Release in the class action matter currently pending in arbitration, Richard Lemonds v. Bening Automotive Group, LLC, claim number 213764: Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Settlement Settlement Agreement and Release
Business Insider ranks the 30 best cities to live in after the corona virus pandemic. It is a fine list for Central Missouri – Jefferson City is #2 and Columbia is #10. See the link.
BSE has added an on-line payment option to its web site. There is a “Make Payment” button in the upper right hand corner of each page of the site that allows for on-line payment of our invoices. Payments may be made by MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover or electronic check.
Scott Hamblin will be present at the City’s Best Event on March 2, 2020, at Capital Bluffs Event Center, as presented by the Jefferson City Magazine. Look for Scott and a little BSE swag.
Congratulations to BSE Shareholder Scott Hamblin for being named one of the City’s Best Lawyers by Jefferson City Magazine.
The United States Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senate bestowed upon Shareholder Erin Wiseman the honor of Senator. A JCI Senatorship is the highest honor which can be bestowed upon a current or past member by Junior Chamber International for outstanding service to the organization. It provides a unique means for recognizing a member’s outstanding achievements. The local Jefferson City Jaycees nominated Erin for the honor and she received it at …
BSE was once again a proud sponsor of the Capital City Hoops Showcase. The Joe Machens Great Eight Classic and the Jefferson Bank Holiday Hoops Classic included out-of-state teams from Ohio, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Tennessee; teams from St. Joseph and Eureka; as well as local teams from Blair Oaks, Jefferson City, Helias Catholic, Tolton Catholic, and Columbia Hickman.
