Esteemed Estate Planning & Business Law Attorney Serving St. Joseph Clients
Creath S. Thorne, P.C. provides a variety of different legal services for individuals, families, and businesses in St. Joseph and throughout western Missouri. Our areas of practice include: estate planning and administration, including assistance with wills, trusts, and the probate process; business civil litigation; personal injury claims and litigation; and family law matters.
Estate Planning
A comprehensive estate plan doesn’t just address the question of what will happen to your property after you die. Estate planning is also about making sure that you’re doing everything possible to protect your estate from unnecessary taxation and fraudulent creditors’ claims. Furthermore, by putting a sound estate plan in place, you can safeguard your family’s dignity and rights when it comes to important decisions about your health care and your finances. Contact Creath S. Thorne, P.C. to schedule a free consultation with a friendly St. Joseph estate planning attorney who has helped numerous individuals and families in western Missouri create wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives that stand the test of time. We’ll assist you in creating an estate plan that’s tailored to meet your family’s financial and personal needs.
When creating an estate plan, you will often have to choose between establishing a will or a trust. Either one can serve as the cornerstone of a sound plan, but there are important differences. Wills may be fairly inexpensive to put in place, but are usually better for families with less complicated asset portfolios. Families who have special needs or have a lot of real estate investments, on the other hand, may benefit from creating trusts instead. Trusts are extremely versatile estate planning instruments that can be used to maximize estate-tax exemptions, manage assets during an individual’s lifetime as well as after their death, and perform many other functions. Let a seasoned trusts attorney tell you about IRA trusts, irrevocable trusts, life insurance trusts, land trusts, and other legal tools available to you for making the most of your wealth both now and in the years to come.
Probate & Estate Administration
The probate process involves accounting for and gathering the assets of the deceased, honoring legitimate claims made by creditors, and distributing the remainder of the estate among the deceased’s heirs according to the instructions specified in their will. The person responsible for overseeing the probate process is the personal representative (also known as the executor) and is usually named in the will of the deceased. Under some circumstances, as in when no valid will exists, a personal representative may be appointed by the State of Missouri. Unfortunately, going to probate court can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor if it’s not handled correctly. This is why it’s best for personal representatives to seek the advice of an experienced probate attorney before going to court. Sometimes a skilled estate administration lawyer can even help a client avoid probate completely. Our firm also represents personal representatives or family members, helping them overcome obstacles to the estate administration process, such as will contests or other matters related to probate litigation.
Business Civil Litigation
When a serious dispute arises between two businesses owners, civil litigation can become necessary. In such cases, the best way for all parties concerned to protect their rights and their interests is to seek legal representation as soon as possible. However, the ideal time for a concerned party to contact a business civil litigation attorney is long before a matter proceeds to trial. This isn’t just to better protect your rights and your interests during litigation; by involving a knowledgeable business civil litigation lawyer during the earliest stages of a dispute, business owners can often resolve their differences through mediation rather than having to resort to duking it out in civil court. Taking a business dispute to trial is, of course, a costly and time-consuming undertaking even under the best of circumstances, but sometimes it is the only way for business owners to see that a contract or other legal agreement is honored.
At Creath S. Thorne, P.C., we represent our clients in all kinds of business civil litigation matters. We have helped litigate contract disputes, real estate disputes, non-compete agreements, lease agreements, insurance claims and coverage disputes, partnership and corporate dissolutions, and construction disputes. We act swiftly and aggressively to protect our clients’ rights during civil disputes while always seeking ways to cut costs and save time. If you are anticipating the prospect of civil litigation due an ongoing business dispute and are wondering what your options are for resolving this matter as quickly and as inexpensively as possible, take action. Contact a skilled St. Joseph business law attorney and schedule a free consultation to discuss your business law matter today.
Personal Injury
When a person is injured due to the carelessness or recklessness of another person or party, the victim has the right to file a personal injury claim against those responsible. If an insurance company agrees to a settlement, or if a jury grants a settlement following a civil trial, victims can recover damages that can be used to address both the financial costs of their injuries as well as their pain and suffering. However, the claims process can be very complex and requires a victim to submit extensive documentation and evidence in order to make their case successfully. If you have been seriously injured in an accident, let a Missouri personal injury attorney help you file your claim properly in order to help you maximize your chances of getting the largest settlement to which you and your family are entitled under state law. Don’t let an insurance company find ways to reduce, delay, or deny your legitimate claim: schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer about your case as soon as possible.
Creath S. Thorne, P.C., represents victims of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and medical malpractice. We also handle matters of product liability involving injuries caused by defective, malfunctioning, or otherwise unsafe consumer goods, as well as cases involving slip and fall accidents or other premises liability matters. In addition, we represent family members who are filing wrongful death suits in the State of Missouri. We’ve secured both multimillion dollar settlements and jury verdicts on behalf of our clients and we will gladly go to court on your behalf if necessary. Most of the time, we are able to settle cases without resorting to litigation, but if your case does proceed to trial, you’ll be in good hands. Contact our office to schedule a free consultation.
Family Law
A divorce or other challenging domestic legal issue can threaten a family’s happiness and financial stability. These family law issues can be particularly stressful for young children, who can experience anxiety and uncertainty about where they will be spending the night or attending school when matters of child custody or visitation rights are not resolved promptly. If you are seeking a divorce or need to establish a child support or child custody order, call Creath S. Thorne to speak with a knowledgeable and compassionate family law attorney. We will work hard to help you minimize the stress, expense, and time involved in taking on difficult domestic legal matters and help to protect the welfare of your children in the meantime. We also assist clients with the enforcement or modification of existing orders to reflect changed circumstances as necessary. Contact our St. Joseph office today to learn more.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
Since opening our doors in 2000, our firm has established a reputation as a reliable and serious partner when it comes to helping our clients protect their legal rights and interests. Creath S. Thorne, P.C. is committed to providing knowledgeable and reliable legal assistance to each of our clients and helping them successfully resolve their their estate planning, business and civil litigation, or family law matters. Reach out today to get started.
