Individual
One person — property, retirement accounts, or minor children to plan for.
Typically Includes
- Power of attorney & healthcare directive
- Will, naming an executor and guardians
- Revocable living trust
- Beneficiary alignment on every account
Power of AttorneyName Who Acts for You, Before a Court Names Someone Else.
A power of attorney doesn't wait for your death. It works exactly when you're alive but unable to act, so your bank doesn't need a court order and your family doesn't need a judge's permission.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri estate attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so yours is drafted around your real accounts, not a generic 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 Power of Attorney Actually Does
Two documents, usually drafted together — one for money, one for medical care.
Appoints someone to pay bills, manage accounts, and handle property while you can't.
Appoints someone to make medical decisions and speak with your doctors on your behalf.
Includes a HIPAA release so your agent can actually get information, not just make decisions in the dark.
Drafted "durable," so it doesn't expire the moment you actually need it to work.
Keeps a judge from deciding who manages your money and your care — you already decided.
As long as you have legal capacity, you can revoke it or name someone new.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri estate attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so yours is drafted around your real accounts, not a generic form.
What it doesn't do
What a Power of Attorney Doesn't Do
Said plainly, so you know what else to plan for.
A power of attorney ends the moment you pass. A will directs everything from that point forward.
Learn about Wills →It only covers you while you're alive. A living trust addresses what happens to your property after death.
Learn about Living Trusts →It has to be signed while you still have legal capacity. Once someone is incapacitated, family has to petition a court instead.
Not sure how this applies to your situation?
Call 636-214-0546What we watch for
Common Mistakes We Watch For
Most powers of attorney fail for reasons that have nothing to do with what they say. Here's what we check for, every time.
Without a power of attorney, your family has to petition a court for conservatorship — a public, costly process that can take months. We make sure yours is signed long before it's ever needed.
Without a healthcare power of attorney, hospitals may not let even a spouse make treatment decisions or see your medical records. We draft both documents together, so nothing is left uncovered.
Some forms terminate automatically the moment you become incapacitated — exactly when you needed them to work. We draft every one of ours as durable, and confirm it holds up.
Pricing
How Your Power of Attorney Is Priced
A power of attorney is rarely priced on its own. Most plans are a flat fee, set before you commit to anything, that covers it 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
- POA & healthcare directive for each
- Wills for each spouse, coordinated
- Joint or mirror living trusts
- 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
- POA covering business & personal assets
- Will with testamentary trust provisions
- Irrevocable & tax-minimizing trusts
- Coordinated with your CPA & advisors
Get an exact number for your situation — the first call is free.
Call 636-214-0546The process
How Your Power of Attorney Gets Drafted
Financially and medically — often the same person, sometimes not.
1
We map who you'd trust with this authority
Financially and medically — often the same person, sometimes not.
2
We draft both documents together
Financial and healthcare powers of attorney, written to coordinate with your will and trust.
3
We execute them correctly
Signed and notarized to Missouri's requirements, so banks and hospitals actually honor them.
4
We review them every year
So your named agent is still the right person, and the document still reflects your accounts.
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 naming the right financial agent means understanding your actual accounts, not just filling in a name.
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 names someone to manage your finances or make medical decisions for you if you become unable to act for yourself.
A financial power of attorney lets your agent manage money and property. A healthcare power of attorney lets your agent make medical decisions. Most people need both.
No. It ends the moment you pass. A will or trust takes over from that point.
Your family has to petition a court for guardianship or conservatorship — a public, costly process, and a judge decides who's in charge, not you.
Yes. It can take effect immediately, or "spring" into effect only once a doctor certifies you're incapacitated.
Yes, anytime, as long as you still have legal capacity.
Someone you trust completely — a spouse, adult child, or close friend. You can also name a backup in case your first choice can't serve.
It's rarely priced on its own — most plans bundle it with a will and other documents into one flat fee. Call for a free 30-minute consultation and you'll know your exact fee before you commit to anything.
Ready to Name Who Acts for You?
Call to schedule your free 30-minute consultation with Deborah — no obligation.
Call 636-214-0546Free 30-minute consultationNo obligationReal person answers