Partner of Brydon, Swearengen & England 
Scott Hamblin, of Brydon Swearengen & England P.C., has been selected to the 2021 list as a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. NADC is an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence. Its mission is to objectively recognize the attorneys who elevate the…
Maybe grandparents have always helped raise their grandchildren. But it is extremely common today, particularly in our legal system, to see grandparents who are stepping up to raise their grandchildren. But, what about the grandparents that just want to see their grandkids? What rights does a grandparent have to visit a grandchild? The answer may…
There are no circumstances that warrant drunk driving. Statistics state that the act of drinking and driving kills 28 people a day in the U.S. At one time, Missouri had the 9th highest number of drunk-driving fatalities in the country with 432 in the year 2000. In 2018, the number of fatalities had fallen to…
What defenses, if any, does the Second Amendment Preservation Act create for defendants in the state of Missouri charged with a criminal offense? House Bills 85 & 310 known as the “Second Amendment Preservation Act” were signed into law by Missouri Governor Mike Parsons through the Emergency Clause on June 12, 2021, and is codified…
Drug use and abuse in divorce and child custody cases in Missouri are not new. Courts have heard evidence of drug use and abuse in divorce and child custody cases for years. What is relatively new is the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. What is medical marijuana? Most people are familiar with Missouri’s legalization…
According to the American Bar Association, “‘expungement’ is the process by which a record of criminal conviction is destroyed or sealed from state or federal records. An expungement order directs the court to treat the criminal conviction as if it had never occurred, essentially removing it from a defendant’s criminal record as well as, ideally,…
If you wish to file a personal injury claim against someone for a car accident, slipping on their property, or another accident, you need to prove that you were injured due to neglect of another. Here are five steps you need to take if you are injured due to someone’s neglect. Step 1. Seek medical…
Guardian Ad Litem and Child Abuse A Guardian Ad Litem is a lawyer appointed by the court to represent a child or children. The Guardian Ad Litem does not represent the parents. The court is required to appoint a Guardian Ad Litem in child custody cases where allegations of child abuse have been made. Child…
What is a no-fault divorce? A no-fault divorce occurs when a spouse does not have to explain or prove why he or she wants a divorce. A couple can obtain a no-fault divorce if both parties state under oath that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Alternatively, a spouse can also obtain a no-fault divorce where…
What Is Marital Property? In any divorce, the court is required to consider certain factors in dividing the marital property and marital debts of the spouses. Such property is generally considered property acquired during the marriage. One of the factors a divorce court is required to consider in dividing the property is a spouse’s contributions…
