A will or trust decides who raises your kids, inherits your house, and settles your affairs, and Doskocil Law Firm helps St. Louis area families put that plan in writing.
Both officesBy appointment onlySpeak directly with attorney Chris Doskocil.
Fenton
476 Old Smizer Mill Rd, Ste 232 Fenton, MO 63026 Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
St. Louis
3407 S Jefferson Ave St. Louis, MO 63118 Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Estate Planning Services
Why Fenton and St. Louis Families Need a Will and Trust Attorney
Missouri law doesn't ask what you would have wanted if you die without a will. It hands your estate to relatives in an order set by statute, which can leave a spouse, a stepchild, or a longtime partner with nothing and your family in probate court sorting it out. A properly drafted will or trust from an experienced estate planning attorney puts you back in control of that decision.
Chris Doskocil has spent over four decades building wills and trusts for clients throughout Jefferson County, St. Louis County, and St. Louis City, from young families naming guardians for the first time to retirees restructuring an estate plan after a loved one's death. Every plan is built around your actual assets and your actual family, not a generic template.
Whether you need a simple will, a revocable living trust to keep your estate out of probate, or updates to a plan that no longer reflects your life, this is work best handled by a wills and trusts lawyer who will still be answering your calls years from now when questions come up. When you hire Chris, he handles the drafting himself, in plain language, not a template handed off to a paralegal.
How It Works
Building Your Will or Trust, Step by Step
Estate planning works best when it's built around a real conversation, not a questionnaire. Here's what that looks like when you work directly with Chris Doskocil.
1
Case Evaluation and Consultation
You meet directly with Chris to talk through your family, your assets, and what you're trying to protect. This legal consultation sets the direction for everything that follows and gives you straight answers about what a will, a trust, or both can actually accomplish for your situation.
2
Plan Design
Based on that conversation, Chris maps out the right combination of documents, whether that's a last will and testament, a revocable living trust, powers of attorney, or healthcare directives. You'll understand exactly why each piece is included before anything is drafted.
3
Drafting and Review
Documents are drafted in plain language, not dense legal jargon, and reviewed with you line by line. If something doesn't match your wishes or your family's needs, it gets revised until it does.
4
Execution and Ongoing Updates
Once your documents are finalized and properly signed and witnessed under Missouri law, Chris remains available for updates as your life changes: a new grandchild, a second marriage, a move, or a change in assets. Estate plans need revisiting, and you'll have direct access when that time comes.
Our Commitment to You
Why Fenton Families Choose Doskocil Law Firm for Wills and Trusts
Estate planning decisions carry weight, and most people only want to make them once. Here's what clients get working with this law firm.
Direct Access to Your Attorney
When you call about your will or trust, you talk to Chris Doskocil, not a paralegal or a call center. He returns calls the same day, often within minutes, because he believes clients shouldn't have to wait to understand their own estate plan.
Decades of Missouri Estate Planning Experience
With over 40 years practicing law and an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, Chris brings a depth of experience to every will, trust, and estate plan that few attorneys in Jefferson, St. Louis County, or St. Louis City can match.
Personalized Legal Representation
Your estate plan is built around your family and your goals, not a one-size-fits-all packet of forms. Every document reflects a conversation Chris had with you directly.
What to Consider
Key Considerations When Planning Your Will or Trust
Before you sit down with an estate planning attorney, it helps to know what decisions you'll actually be making. Most plans need to address the following:
Who you want named as guardian for minor children if both parents are unavailable
Whether a revocable living trust makes sense to help your estate avoid probate administration
Who should serve as executor or trustee, and whether that person understands the responsibility
How specific assets, including real property, should be divided among heirs
Powers of attorney for financial and healthcare decisions if you become incapacitated
How often your plan should be reviewed as your family and assets change
Common Questions
Wills and Trusts FAQ
Here are questions Chris Doskocil hears most often from Fenton and St. Louis area clients considering a will or trust.
Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?
It depends on your assets and your goals. A will alone still requires probate administration in Missouri, while a properly funded revocable living trust can let your estate pass to heirs without court involvement. During your legal consultation, Chris will walk through your specific assets and recommend the structure that actually fits your situation.
Can someone contest my will after I'm gone?
Yes, a will can be challenged, usually on grounds of undue influence, lack of capacity, or improper execution. Working with an experienced attorney to draft and properly execute your documents significantly reduces that risk, and if a dispute does arise, Chris also handles will contest matters and probate litigation for families on either side of that fight.
How often should I update my will or trust?
A good rule is to review your plan after any major life event: a marriage, divorce, birth, death, or significant change in assets. Even without a major change, it's worth revisiting your documents every three to five years to confirm they still reflect your wishes.
What happens if I die without a will in Missouri?
Your estate passes according to Missouri's intestacy laws, which follow a fixed order of relatives regardless of your actual wishes. This often means a longer, more expensive probate process and outcomes your family never would have chosen. A simple will prevents most of that uncertainty.
Related Legal Services
Other Legal Services from Doskocil Law Firm
A will or trust is often just one piece of a larger legal picture for families and business owners in the St. Louis area. Chris Doskocil also handles the following practice areas.
For contract disputes, real estate disputes, and other conflicts, a civil litigation attorney protects your interests in court.
Explore
Where We Serve
Serving Wills and Trusts Clients Throughout the St. Louis Area
Doskocil Law Firm helps families build wills and trusts across Fenton and the greater St. Louis region, meeting by appointment at either office location.
A will or trust takes one meeting to start and brings real peace of mind to your family. Call Chris Doskocil directly to schedule your consultation and get a plan built around your life, not a template.
