Deeds, Wills & Powers of Attorney

Real Estate Deeds

A real estate deed is the legal document that transfers ownership of property from one person to another. There are several situations where you need an attorney to draft or review a deed:

• Adding or removing a co-owner — If you're getting married, divorced, or want to add a family member to your property's title, a new deed must be drafted and recorded.
• Transferring property as a gift — Transferring property to a child or other family member requires a properly executed deed to be legally effective.
• Corrective deeds — If a previous deed contained errors (wrong legal description, misspelled name), a corrective deed is needed to fix the record.
• Quit claim deeds — Often used in divorce settlements or transfers between family members, a quit claim deed transfers whatever interest the grantor has in the property to the grantee.
• Survivorship deeds — A survivorship deed ensures that if one owner dies, the surviving owner automatically receives the deceased owner's share without going through probate.

All deeds in Missouri must be properly executed, notarized, and recorded with the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property is located. Attorney Baro handles this entire process for you.

Last Will and Testament

A will is one of the most important legal documents you can have. Without a valid will, Missouri's intestacy laws determine how your property is distributed after your death — which may not reflect your wishes at all.

A properly drafted will allows you to:

• Specify exactly who receives your property and in what proportions
• Name a guardian for your minor children
• Name a trusted person as executor to administer your estate
• Make specific bequests of personal property (jewelry, vehicles, household items)
• Make charitable gifts
• Reduce the potential for family disputes over your estate

Missouri has specific requirements for a valid will, including proper witnessing and execution. Attorney Baro drafts wills that meet all legal requirements and are tailored to your specific family situation and wishes.

Power of Attorney

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that authorizes another person (your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") to act on your behalf in legal and financial matters. There are different types of powers of attorney for different purposes:

• Durable Power of Attorney (Financial) — Authorizes your agent to manage your finances, bank accounts, investments, real estate, and other legal matters. A "durable" POA remains effective even if you become incapacitated — making it an essential document for long-term planning. Without one, your family may need to go to court to obtain a guardianship or conservatorship to manage your affairs if you become unable to do so.
• Healthcare Power of Attorney / Healthcare Directive — Authorizes a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to communicate your wishes. This is separate from a living will (advance directive) and deals with situations not covered by your directive.
• Limited Power of Attorney — Grants authority for a specific transaction or period of time. Often used in real estate closings when one party cannot be present, or for other one-time transactions.

Attorney Baro recommends that every adult have at a minimum a durable financial power of attorney and a healthcare power of attorney. These documents are especially important for older adults, anyone facing a serious illness, or anyone who travels or works outside the area.