Individual
One person — property, retirement accounts, or minor children to plan for.
Typically Includes
- Will, naming an executor and guardians
- Revocable living trust
- Power of attorney & healthcare directive
- Beneficiary alignment on every account
Wills AttorneyPut Your Wishes in Writing, Not in a Court's Hands.
A will directs your property, appoints someone to carry out your wishes, and — if you have minor children — names who raises them.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri wills attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so yours is drafted around your real assets and family, not a fill-in-the-blank form.
Free 30-minute consultationNo obligation
30 Years
Practicing law
11 Years
In wealth management, alongside her law practice
CFP®
Certified Financial Planner
AEP®
Accredited Estate Planner
What it does
What a Will Actually Does
Six jobs, drafted to work together — not a fill-in-the-blank form.
Says who gets your property, money, and belongings. Without a will, Missouri's intestacy law decides — and it may not match what you'd actually want.
Appoints the person who carries out your wishes — paying debts, filing final taxes, and distributing assets as the will directs.
If you have kids under 18, names who raises them if both parents are gone. For parents, often the single most important line in the document.
Some wills create a simple trust that takes effect at death, holding an inheritance for a minor child until a set age. For more control over timing and terms, a dedicated trust goes further.
You can note preferences here, though it's informational more than binding — a will is often read only after arrangements are already made.
Clear, specific instructions leave relatives less to guess at, and less to argue over.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri wills attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so yours is drafted around your real assets and family, not a fill-in-the-blank form.
What it doesn't do
What a Will Doesn't Do
Said plainly, so you know what else to plan for.
A will directs probate — it doesn't skip it. A living trust does, if it's funded.
Learn about Living Trusts →A will only takes effect after death. A power of attorney covers you while you're alive but unable to act.
Learn about Power of Attorney →Money left directly can disqualify a loved one from Medicaid or SSI. A special needs trust preserves both.
Learn about Special Needs Trusts →A will can name an amount for a child, but not the timing. A trust for minor children controls when they receive it.
Learn about Trusts for Minor Children →What we watch for
Common Mistakes We Watch For
Most wills fail for reasons that have nothing to do with what they say. Here's what we check for, every time.
State intestacy law splits your property by a fixed formula — stepchildren, unmarried partners, and close friends get nothing. We make sure your will reflects your actual wishes, not a formula.
Without a will, a court decides — not you. We make sure your choice is on record, signed and legally binding.
Missouri has specific rules for witnesses and signing. We execute every will to those requirements, so it actually holds up in probate.
Pricing
How Your Will Is Priced
A will is rarely priced on its own. Most plans are a flat fee, set before you commit to anything, that covers your will alongside whatever else you need. What changes the number is complexity — whether you're planning alone, as a couple, or across multiple assets and entities.
Couple
Two people — one coordinated plan instead of two that may conflict.
Typically Includes
- Wills for each spouse, coordinated
- Joint or mirror living trusts
- POA & healthcare directive for each
- A clear roadmap for the first death
Complex or High Net Worth
Multiple assets, entities, or a business — coordinated with your CPA and other advisors.
Typically Includes
- Will with testamentary trust provisions
- Irrevocable & tax-minimizing trusts
- Business succession & family entities
- Coordinated with your CPA & advisors
Get an exact number for your situation — the first call is free.
Call 636-214-0546The process
How Your Will Gets Drafted
Who you'd name as guardian, executor, and beneficiaries — in one real meeting.
1
We map your family and property
Who you'd name as guardian, executor, and beneficiaries — in one real meeting.
2
We draft it to coordinate with the rest of your plan
Written alongside any trust or power of attorney you have, so nothing conflicts.
3
We execute it correctly
Signed and witnessed to Missouri's requirements, so it holds up in probate.
4
We review it every year
So it still names the right people after a birth, a death, a divorce, or a move.
Your attorney
Why Families Trust Deborah With This
Deborah Smiley
JD · CFP® · AEP®Deborah has practiced law in Missouri for 30 years. For 11 of those years, she also worked in wealth management — a combination that matters here too, since a will is often the document that ties your whole plan together, checked against your real assets and family, not just a form.
She's a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) and an AEP® (Accredited Estate Planner) — credentials very few estate attorneys hold together.
30 yrsPracticing law in Missouri
11 yrsIn wealth management, alongside her law practice
CFP®Certified Financial Planner
AEP®Accredited Estate Planner
Past ChairProbate & Trust Committee, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Ready to talk through your plan?
Call 636-214-0546Client Reviews
Deb has been a great partner over the years and takes great care of my referrals/clients for their planning needs.
Harvey
I met Deb and I thought I had all my estate and business planning affairs in order; then she asked me questions that made me realize I had a lot more planning to do.
Jamie
Deb and I have been collaborative partners for almost 20 years. She has taken great care of my clients.
Paul
I have known Deb for years and she has given me peace of mind with my estate planning needs.
Carol
Deb has been instrumental in helping my family with their estate planning needs. We are grateful for her.
David
Deb has been very helpful with my and my family's estate and business planning.
Kelly
When we first moved here, I didn't realize how many legal revisions and details were needed. I heard Deb speak at a luncheon and was so impressed with her legal knowledge. Deb has been very helpful with my family's estate planning. She gave us peace of mind.
Jenny
Deb, thank you so much, we really appreciate all of your work and concern.
Bob and Myra
Deb was very responsive and helpful.
Chris
Deb was so helpful and even came to our house.
Missy and Ray
Deb was very responsive, helpful and intelligent.
John and Julie
Deb has been a great partner over the years and takes great care of my referrals/clients for their planning needs.
Harvey
I met Deb and I thought I had all my estate and business planning affairs in order; then she asked me questions that made me realize I had a lot more planning to do.
Jamie
Deb and I have been collaborative partners for almost 20 years. She has taken great care of my clients.
Paul
I have known Deb for years and she has given me peace of mind with my estate planning needs.
Carol
Deb has been instrumental in helping my family with their estate planning needs. We are grateful for her.
David
Deb has been very helpful with my and my family's estate and business planning.
Kelly
When we first moved here, I didn't realize how many legal revisions and details were needed. I heard Deb speak at a luncheon and was so impressed with her legal knowledge. Deb has been very helpful with my family's estate planning. She gave us peace of mind.
Jenny
Deb, thank you so much, we really appreciate all of your work and concern.
Bob and Myra
Deb was very responsive and helpful.
Chris
Deb was so helpful and even came to our house.
Missy and Ray
Deb was very responsive, helpful and intelligent.
John and Julie
Questions
Questions
A legal document that says who gets your property, names an executor to carry out your wishes, and — if you have children — names their guardian.
State law decides for you. Property is split by a fixed formula, and a court — not you — picks a guardian for minor children.
Missouri has specific rules for signing and witnessing. Miss one and the will can be thrown out in probate — the same result as having none.
Someone organized and trustworthy — a spouse, adult child, or close friend. It doesn't have to be a lawyer or a bank.
Yes. A "pourover" will catches anything left outside the trust and names guardians for minor children — something a trust alone can't do.
Yes. Through a new will or a formal amendment. We review it every year and update it after any major life change.
No. A will directs probate; it doesn't skip it. A funded living trust is what avoids probate.
It depends on what you own and how complex your family is. Call for a free 30-minute consultation and you'll get a flat fee before you commit to anything.
Ready to Put a Will in Place?
Call to schedule your free 30-minute consultation with Deborah — no obligation.
Call 636-214-0546Free 30-minute consultationNo obligationReal person answers