Deborah J. Smiley  ·  JD  ·  AEP®  ·  CFP™

Peace of mind
for the people
you love.

Your wishes, legally protected.
Your family, spared the courtroom.

Probate is

Public.

Probate is a court record. What you owned, what you owed, who received what — open to anyone who asks.

Probate is

Slow.

A Missouri estate can sit in court for months before your heirs see a dollar — or make a single decision.

Probate is

Avoidable.

A living trust, properly funded, keeps your family out of court — completely.

Estate planning packages

One attorney. Flat fees.
No surprises.

Most plans are signed in three meetings.

Individual Trust

You.

For one person who owns property, holds retirement savings, or is raising children.

  • Revocable living trust
  • Will, POA & healthcare directive
  • Guardian nominations for children
  • Beneficiary alignment on every account
Flat fee from
$2,000
(314) 603-9568
Couple Trust

Together.

For couples who want one coordinated plan — not two separate ones that may conflict.

  • Joint or mirror living trusts
  • POA & healthcare directive for each
  • Marital trust for the surviving spouse
  • A clear roadmap for the first death
Flat fee from
$3,000
(314) 603-9568
High Net Worth

Legacy.

For estates facing estate tax, business owners, and blended families with complex needs.

  • Irrevocable & tax-minimizing trusts
  • Business succession & family entities
  • Charitable & generation-skipping
  • Coordinated with your CPA & advisors
Quoted after
A planning call
Call to discuss
Practice areas

One firm.
Every stage.

Plans rarely stay simple. Whatever comes next — settling an estate, passing a business, navigating a marriage — the same office handles it.

01

Probate & Trust
Administration

Guiding executors and trustees through every fiduciary duty in Missouri — independent or supervised — and protecting those who cannot protect themselves: minors, the elderly, and special-needs beneficiaries.

02

Business &
Succession Planning

35%

of family businesses reach the second generation.

Formation, buy-sell agreements, and the succession plan that keeps a company in the family rather than lost at the founder's death. A succession plan changes those odds.

03

Marital
Planning

Prenuptial agreements, marital trusts, and clear-eyed financial planning through marriage, separation, or divorce.

How it works

Three steps to a signed plan.

From first conversation to signed documents — each step explained before we move forward.

01

We talk.

A free conversation to understand your situation and walk through your options. You'll know exactly what's involved before we move forward.

02

We draft.

Your plan arrives in plain English. We walk every page together until it says exactly what you intend.

03

You sign & fund.

You sign with witnesses. We help retitle your home and accounts — the step most attorneys skip.

Deborah J. Smiley
Deborah J. Smiley
JD  ·  AEP®  ·  CFP™
Your attorney

Deborah J. Smiley

JD  ·  Accredited Estate Planner®  ·  Certified Financial Planner™

Deborah specializes in trust and estate planning, business succession, probate, and tax planning. Inspiring families and business owners to plan for the inevitable is the keystone of her practice.

11

years in trust company wealth management, earning the CFP® before law school. She also holds the Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) — a graduate-level estate specialization awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils — and a JD from the University of Kentucky Law School.

Call Deborah — (314) 603-9568
Free first conversation

The best estate plan is the one signed before it's needed.

Call Deborah. No commitment — just clarity on what your situation requires and what working together looks like.

Call directly (314) 603-9568

Mon – Fri  9am–5pm  ·  Weekends by appointment