Business Details
24 Years
experience
Your Trusted Elder Law & Estate Planning Partner in Springfield, MO
Ozarks Elder Law has dedicated its practice to addressing the legal needs of the elderly and disabled since 2002. Our team of attorneys specializes in estate planning, Medicaid strategies, and elder law services, combining decades of experience with a compassionate approach to client care. We prioritize personalized planning to protect assets, honor wishes, and navigate complex legal frameworks related to long-term care. Our practice extends across 10 Missouri locations, offering services in estate planning, probate, guardianship, and elder abuse prevention. We emphasize proactive planning to avoid probate and financial strain, with a focus on preserving family legacies and ensuring clients maintain control over healthcare and financial decisions.Our attorneys hold advanced legal credentials and maintain active involvement in community-focused legal advocacy. We provide consultations in-office, virtually, or at client residences to accommodate individual needs. Our team includes recognized leaders in elder law who have developed specialized methodologies for Medicaid qualification and asset protection. We maintain transparency in all client interactions and provide educational resources to support informed decision-making. Our practice philosophy centers on combining legal expertise with practical solutions tailored to each family's unique circumstances.
Services
Estate Planning
Medicaid Coverage
Powers of Attorney
Probate Services
Veterans Benefits
Special Needs Planning
Trusts Creation
Guardianship
Conservatorship
Elder Abuse Advocacy
Details
- Year established: 2002
Highlights and features
- Decades of Experience in elder law since 2002
- Women-Owned and Community-Focused practice
- Personalized Plans for every family's unique needs
- Recognized Leaders in Missouri elder law
- Proactive planning to preserve 60% more assets
What people say
Knowledgeable team
Clear answers
Painless process
Professional and friendly
Confident about game plan
Services
Estate Planning
Our estate planning service creates customized legal frameworks to protect assets and dictate their distribution. We help clients establish wills, trusts, and advance directives to ensure their wishes are honored. Our six-step Plan & Protect approach simplifies complex legal processes while minimizing tax liabilities and court involvement.
Medicaid Planning
We specialize in Medicaid eligibility strategies to secure nursing home coverage while preserving assets. Our attorneys guide clients through the five-year lookback period requirements and application processes. We develop legal frameworks to protect wealth while ensuring access to necessary healthcare services for long-term care needs.
Powers of Attorney
We create durable financial and healthcare powers of attorney to maintain decision-making authority during incapacity. Our services include springing POAs and specialized documents for college students. We review existing DIY forms to ensure legal validity and proper execution under Missouri law.
Probate Services
Our probate services guide executors through asset distribution processes while minimizing delays and costs. We help families avoid probate through trust creation and proper asset titling. When court involvement is necessary, we provide representation to streamline the settlement of estates according to decedent wishes.
Guardianship
We establish legal guardianship for incapacitated individuals through probate court proceedings. Our services include preparing incapacity documentation and representing petitioners in court. We help families navigate conservatorship requirements while protecting loved ones' financial and personal interests through court-mandated reporting frameworks.
People
Lori Rook
Managing Partner
Lori Rook, owner and managing attorney, graduated with honors from Missouri State University in 2003 and received her law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2006. She specializes in elder law and estate planning with a focus on community-based legal solutions.
Elyse Hartley
Partner
Elyse Hartley, a partner at Ozarks Elder Law, focuses on estate planning and elder law. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and brings specialized expertise in agricultural community legal needs to her practice.
Mel Myears Smith
Attorney
Mel Myears Smith earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law. She served as associate-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Dispute Resolution and brings litigation experience to her elder law practice.
Katherine Douglas-Johnson
Attorney
Katherine Douglas-Johnson holds multiple degrees from UMKC including law with litigation emphasis. She received awards for appellate advocacy and maintains expertise in complex legal document preparation for elder clients.
Lisa Dewoody-Clark
Attorney
Lisa Dewoody-Clark graduated from Oklahoma City University School of Law. She previously served as City Attorney for Hollister and Rockaway Beach, bringing municipal law experience to her elder law practice in Missouri.
Questions
Is elder law only for seniors?
No, elder law applies to anyone needing future protection through wills, powers of attorney, or long-term care planning regardless of age.
When should I start planning for long-term care?
Begin planning at least five years before potential nursing home needs to maximize Medicaid qualification options and asset protection.
Can you help qualify for Medicaid?
Yes, we implement legal strategies to meet Medicaid eligibility requirements while preserving family assets through proper planning.
What's the difference between wills and trusts?
Wills require probate court while trusts allow direct asset transfer, providing greater control over distributions and potential tax benefits.
What happens if I lack a power of attorney?
Family members may need court-appointed guardianship, which is more expensive and time-consuming than establishing legal documents proactively.
Can you assist with existing nursing home residents?
Yes, we implement crisis Medicaid planning strategies to protect remaining assets and qualify for coverage even after facility admission.
