They say you can’t protect
them from everything.
That won’t stop us from trying.
We know what it’s like to have loved ones depending on you. We treasure our children (and grandchildren) and have cared for our aging parents too. Attorneys Jim Moore, Curtis Moore, and Dan Stuart have the experience and heart to make your estate planning effective and easy to understand.
They say you can’t protect them from everything.
That won’t stop us from trying.
We know what it’s like to have loved ones depending on you. We treasure our children (and grandchildren) and have cared for our aging parents too. Attorneys Jim Moore, Curtis Moore, and Dan Stuart have the experience and heart to make your estate planning effective and easy to understand.

Savvy and compassionate attorneys.

We have experienced enough to know we belong here – where we can connect with local communities, help others, and make a positive impact.

Former Probate Judge & litigators
We are a father/son/close friend team with 60 years combined experience. Our goal is always to keep your assets out of court, but we are uniquely equipped to handle litigation.

Free initial consultation
The first conversation is on us. We’ll listen and learn so we can point you in the right direction and recommend the best service to meet your needs. No pressure.

Pricing options to fit your budget
We will be transparent about our cost and provide an estimate before you incur a fee. We believe in communicating pricing options so you can decide how best to proceed.

We strive to make you proud
We are here for you – to answer difficult questions and offer guidance that clarifies and simplifies. We are accustomed to providing emotional support.
Easier estate planning. More effective plans.
We guide sensitive conversations, answer your toughest questions, and provide advice that clarifies and simplifies. We will meet you virtually or in person and work around your schedule.
We will not be satisfied until we’ve created an estate plan that meets your goals, that you can understand, and that you and your family can implement.

Estate Planning: Will, Trust, Power of Attorney, & Medical Directive

Guardianship & Conservatorship

Business Succession Planning

Estate Administration & Probate

Will Contest & Probate Litigation

Trust Administration

Asset Protection

How can we help you
protect loved ones?
Fill us in on your needs. The first conversation is free, and it’s reassuring. We will provide transparent pricing options, so you can decide how and when to proceed.
FAQs
Estate Plans
What is an estate plan?
At Moore Legacy Law, estate planning begins with a strategy and ends with a set of documents that ensure your assets go where and how you want them to when you pass away and/or if you become incapacitated.
Our estate plans determine:
· Who and what resources will take care of you if you become incapacitated/unable to care for yourself
· Who you want to take care of your minor children in your absence and who will control their finances
· How you would like your funeral or celebration of life to play out and what you’d like done with your remains
· How your various assets will be divided and to whom
Who needs an estate plan?
Everyone needs an estate plan to ensure their assets are distributed according to their wishes upon death and to remove some of this burden from their loved ones.
Additionally, everyone needs to identify the people and the resources that will be used to take care of them if they can no longer take care of themselves (are incapacitated). Otherwise, this burden will also fall onto loved ones.
Finally, it is critical that parents have an estate plan in place to protect and support their children in the parents’ absences or incapacity.
Wills
What is a will?
A will is the series of instructions you leave for your loved ones and the probate court on how to handle your assets when you die. It is one document within an “estate plan.”
Your will allows you to designate who you want to represent your estate during the probate process and to whom your assets should be distributed at your death. This includes:
· Designating a guardian for your minor children
· Identifying your heirs
· Designating your Personal Representative to handle the process of administrating the estate
· Identifying exactly how you want your assets to be distributed, including instructions for paying third parties and taxes
· Establishing how you would like your remains disposed of: cremation or burial
Your will is filed with the probate court to be used upon your death. Your will does not control any distribution of your assets during your lifetime or if you become incapacitated.
At Moore Legacy Law, your estate plan is less about completing a draft of the document and more about helping you understand your options, how they work together, and whether there are more efficient ways to distribute your assets at your death, such as putting your assets into a trust to avoid probate court.
Does a will avoid probate?
A will does not avoid probate court. Probate court eats up a lot of time and money. To avoid your estate being probated upon your death, you need a trust-based estate plan.
Trusts
What are the benefits of a trust?
· Avoid probate – which eats up time and money, causing delays in distributing inheritances and smaller amounts to be distributed
· Better control how assets are distributed: Everything in a will goes “outright” to your beneficiaries – they get the whole amount (after probate fees) as soon as it’s available (after probate delays). With a trust, you can make stipulations. For example, you can detail when you’d like your minor children to receive payments and how much each should be. (And again, this is huge: you avoid probate fees and delays.)
· Protect beneficiaries from their own creditors as well as yours
· Help minimize the Estate Tax
Who needs a trust and why?
Anyone who wants their estate to avoid probate should consider a revocable trust.
Probate
How much does probate cost?
Legal fees vary by the value of the property being probated and the complexity of administration. Moore Legacy Law’s fees typically range from 2% to 7% of the value of the property being probated. The more valuable the estate is, the lower the costs are likely to be as a percentage of the estate.
Moore Legacy Law is unique in that we invest in our clients upfront. We take the time to understand your case and provide an early estimate to avoid surprises down the line.
Other costs include court costs, filing fees, publication fees, settlement fees, and bond premiums. They vary by county but typically range from $500 to $1,000.
Finally, the Personal Representative is entitled to a fee for their services. In Missouri, that fee is calculated according to the following schedule:
On the first $5,000, 5 percent
On the next $20,000, 4 percent
On the next $75,000, 3 percent
On the next $300,000, 2 3/4 percent
On the next $600,000, 2 1/2 percent
On all over $1,000,000, 2 percent
How do I avoid probate?
There are some tools that allow you to avoid probate upon your death. These include a trust-based estate plan and Non-probate transfer designations. Moore Legacy Law will help you assess your assets and determine which tools make the most sense to ensure that your assets are not subject to probate upon your death.
Blog
What is probate?
Probate is the legal process of distributing a person's assets and property after they pass away....
Trust are not just for the rich
There’s a pervasive myth that trusts are for the wealthy. In fact, trusts are a valuable tool for...
How do I avoid probate in Missouri and Kansas?
Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate, and it can be a...
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