Peace Valley Estate Planning Lawyers

I am a United States Army Veteran and the founder of Markell Estate Planning and Elder Law, which I established in 2014. My firm focuses on estate planning, probate (both contested and non-contested), and elder guardianships. I often work with business owners, real estate investors, and high-net-worth clients. My business succession team is adept at transferring legal ownership of LLCs, C-Corps, and other forms of ownership across generations, ensuring smooth transitions for family businesses. When I am not assisting my clients with their legal needs, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our four children.

Jim Schleiffarth practices in the areas of general business law, real estate law and estate planning. Jim serves clients including small to mid-sized business, as well as individuals and families to meet their legal needs at a reasonable cost. Prior to forming Schleiffarth Law Firm, LLC in 2009, Mr. Schleiffarth worked for one of the largest law firms in St. Louis, Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP. Jim uses his experience and skill in business transactions to reach exceptional outcomes for the firm’s clients. A native St. Louisan, Jim is active in his community and belongs to numerous service, professional and civic...

Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a member of the Missouri and Illinois Bar Associations. Melissa is a Certified Elder Law Attorney as designated through the National Elder Law Foundation. She is a Board Member of the Missouri Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, a member of Elder Counsel, and a member of the Greater St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. Melissa is also a VA-accredited attorney.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Melissa served as the Uptown Coordinator...

Mr. Jones counsels clients primarily in the areas of estate planning, and the administration of estates and trusts. He advises clients through all stages of the estate-planning process, from the initial planning and preparation of wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and other estate-planning documents, through the final settlement of post-death affairs.

Mr. Jones has extensive litigation experience encompassing all aspects of the litigation process including, case strategy, pre-trial briefing, depositions, hearings, mediations, trial preparation and trial. Mr. Jones has represented regional and national clients in a wide range of business disputes including breach of contract, fiduciary duty...

Timothy J. Murphy joined The Murphy Law Firm in 2003 after graduating from University of Missouri, Kansas City, where here was on the dean's list multiple times. Prior to Law School, he served in the offices of Senator Christopher Bond and Senator and former Attorney General John Ashcroft. Tim Murphy is the only member of The Murphy Law who has been admitted to practice law in both the State of Missouri and the State of Kansas. His practice includes personal injury, domestic litigation, criminal defense, including DWI's and DUI's and traffic tickets, speeding tickets, driving while suspended, collection, wills and trusts, business...

ennifer Dodson is the founding member of Law Office of Jennifer Dodson. Jennifer began her career with a large national firm, where she focused in the practice area of consumer Bankruptcy, both personal and small business. Having represented over thousands of Debtors in both Kansas and Missouri she has vast experience in all aspects and intricacies in the field of Bankruptcy and asset protection.Jennifer received her degree in Political Science and Religious Studies with a Minor in Sociology from University of Denver in 2005 where she graduated with Honors. While in college Jennifer interned for a Bankruptcy Trustee in Colorado,...

At the heart of my practice is a single, focused mission: helping individuals and families protect what matters most through thoughtful, personalized estate planning. I don’t handle other areas of law—estate planning is all I do, allowing me to offer a deeper level of service, insight, and care. Whether you're starting a family, approaching retirement, running a business, or somewhere in between, I’ll guide you through creating a plan that reflects your values and wishes, protects your loved ones, and prepares for life’s transitions. I provide customized estate plans always tailored to your unique goals that may include wills, revocable living...

I founded Hannam Law on the rich and varied experiences I gathered throughout my legal career. My journey began in the Caribbean where I earned my Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with First Class Honors, studying in both Barbados and Jamaica. I then served as Assistant Crown Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers in Kingston, Jamaica, where I honed my skills in public service and advocacy. My legal pursuits then took me to the United States, starting with Legal Aid of North Carolina in Winston-Salem. After a period dedicated to my family, I obtained my Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School,...

Joseph R. Burcke is a St. Louis, Missouri based attorney whose practice focuses upon estate planning issues, including representation of disabled individuals and their families. He provides clients advice upon the appropriate use of Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Non-probate beneficiary designations and other legal techniques to maintain client control of assets, avoid needless costs of probate in the event of disability or death, prevent impoverishment as a result of nursing home costs, and minimize estate and gift taxes and related costs.

Joe is devoted entirely to helping families preserve and protect their future and the futures of their...

I have been practicing law since 1967. My degrees are B.S.B.A from University of Missouri, J.D. St. Louis U. and LLM Tax from Washington U. Married to my wife, Joyce in 1962 Two Children and four Grandchildren. I began my legal career with the two person law firm of Gleick and Steinberg, followed a stint with a large law firm in 1969 with Lashley, Caruthers, Rava, Hyndman & Rutherford. Preferring a small firm practice I have been so engaged since 1975. I have had the highest Martindale Hubble attorney rating of AV since 1968. My experiences in the fields in...

Mr. Norrick was raised in Eureka, Missouri,graduated from Eureka High School in 1975,attended Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri where he majored in history and government, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979. Mr. Norrick then attended and graduated from the University of Missouri - Columbia School of Law in 1982, the same year he was admitted to the Missouri Bar Association. While a law student Mr. Norrick was a member of the editorial staff of the Missouri Law Review in 1980-82. Mr. Norrick was a member of the Order of the Coif, which is restricted to...

Cassie Rocha attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2015.  From 2015-2021, Ms. Rocha practiced as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at the Clay County Prosecutor's Office where she litigated 27 criminal and civil trials and successfully argued a case before the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.  Ms. Rocha is the designated probate attorney for Northland Elder Law and is a member of the Missouri Bar Elder Law Committee, Missouri Bar Estate Planning and Probate Administration Committee, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the Missouri Chapter of the National...

. Michael Murphy founded The Murphy Law Firm as a solo practitioner in 1972. He was joined by his sons Mark J. Murphy in 2000, and Timothy J. Murphy in 2003. He is a former Clay County, Missouri, Assistant Prosecutor, former City of Liberty Prosecutor, and former Judge for the City of Pleasant Valley before serving as its City Attorney and Prosecutor. To date, he has litigated more the 50 jury trials to verdict. He has argued cases at every court level, including the Supreme Court of Missouri and the Supreme Court of Kansas. Mike Murphy's legal roots run deep, as...

Samantha L. Shepherd JD, LLM, CELA
Samantha practices exclusively in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning and Special Needs Law. She received her undergraduate degree in 1990 from Tulane University in New Orleans, cum laude. She earned her law degree from Boston College Law School and received an LL.M. in Estate Planning from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Samantha currently serves on the Board of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and as Chair of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Trust and Estates Committee. Formerly the Chair of the Missouri Bar Elder Law Committee and past President of...

Thomas Ellis is an attorney driven by his enthusiasm for making his clients' lives better. He offers friendly and accessible legal counsel in a relaxed setting, talking confidentially with clients, and offering advice based upon the law.

Nathan Jones of Nathan Jones Law is an estate and business law attorney. Nathan assists individuals and families plan for their estate and administers estates after a loved one passes away. Nathan Jones also helps entrepreneurs and small business owners start and run successful and efficient businesses. Whether it is creating an LLC, drafting a buy/sell agreement, or advice on positioning the business for future sale, attorney Nathan Jones can help.

Wes Coulson is a certified elder law attorney and the principal of Coulson Elder Law. He earned his B.A., with honors, from Northwestern University and his J.D. from The University of Michigan. He is a member of the Illinois State and Missouri Bar, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the St. Louis Estate Planning Council and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Mr. Coulson lectures frequently and presents classes on his vast experience and knowledge. He has published many articles on Medicaid eligibility planning; The Purchase of or Exchange for a Life Estate Interest as a Medicaid Eligibility...

Edward Kruse is a trial lawyer handling personal injury, medical and dental malpractice cases and non-compete litigation. Mr. Kruse has 36 years of litigation and injury claims experience and is dedicated to personally serve each client as an individual and does not have a "volume" practice where his clients are just numbers in the mix to produce volume profits. Mr. Kruse takes his profession seriously to do the best possible job for each client. Check out his website at www.stlouisattorney.com for his client reviews and for more information. Or contact him at 314-333-4141 and he will...

Our Ideal Customer Families with no planning or out of date planning; families in need of core estate planning; families in need of specialized/advanced wealth planning, tax efficiency/flexibility planning; business succession planning; legacy/irrevocable trust planning; asset protection; lifetime trusts; fiduciaries/trustees/personal representatives/executors in need of probate/trust administration counsel; families with minor children, college age children, adult children, aging parents; families transitioning into retirement, families with closely-held businesses, out-of-state assets/real estate, real property management needs; unique assets; significant collections; intellectual property; investments; individuals with wealth advisors/family accountants looking for collaborative estate planning counsel; families with $1-2M; $2-10; $10-25M; $25M-$100M; over $100M in assets;...

Connie S. Haden is the founding attorney of The Law Firm of Haden & Haden. She practices in the areas of estate and business planning, trust and probate administration, elder law and tax-exempt and non-profit organizations. Prior to starting her own firm, she practiced with Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP, specializing in complex estate, business, gift and tax planning issues. She then served as independent counsel for Graves Bartle Marcus & Garrett LLC in Kansas City where she continued her practice in estate planning and trust and estate administration and expanded her practice into the areas of non-profit...