This book comes from my practice as an estate planning attorney in Missouri. Every example, every case study, every procedural detail reflects Missouri law as I’ve applied it for hundreds of families.
But here’s what I’ve learned: the questions families ask are the same everywhere.
“What happens to my kids if I die?”
“How do I keep my ex-spouse from getting my child’s inheritance?”
“Will the nursing home take everything I’ve built?”
“What documents does my college freshman need?”
The answers follow the same principles whether you’re in Missouri, Montana, or Massachusetts. The tools might have different names—what we call a Transfer on Death Deed in Missouri might be called a Beneficiary Deed in Colorado—but the strategy is identical.
How to use this book if you live outside Missouri
Read for the concepts, not the specifics.
When I mention a Missouri statute or form, understand it as “ask your attorney about the equivalent in your state.” Use the questions I raise as a conversation guide with your local attorney.
Most states have parallel solutions—if Missouri allows it, there’s probably a version where you live.
How to use this book if you live in Missouri
Everything in here applies directly to you. The laws, forms, procedures, and time frames are current as of February 2026.
That said, estate planning is highly individual—this book educates you on what’s possible, but you still need an attorney to implement a plan tailored to your situation.
I’m a veteran of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and a former reporter. Both careers taught me the same lesson: a good plan executed today beats a perfect plan that never happens.
This book won’t make you an estate planning expert. But it will make you an informed client who asks better questions and makes faster decisions.
Let’s get started.
Keep reading
That’s the introduction. The other 30 chapters are where the map gets drawn.
Or get a full chapter by email, free.