Simmons & Ortlieb PLLC

08/21/2026

Your Honor, my client would like to plead oopsie-daisies.

06/02/2026

Always great to contribute to conversations about effective advocacy. I was recently quoted in this Rev article on trial preparation in personal injury cases. Check it out:

Learn the best practices for trial prep in personal injury cases, from evidence gathering to witness coaching, plus get a checklist to help you prep for trial.

04/01/2026

Always great to contribute to conversations about effective advocacy. I was recently quoted in this Rev article on demand letters and how they can help resolve disputes before litigation escalates.

Take a look:

Write stronger demand letters with clear steps, examples, and a free template. Learn how attorneys build persuasive settlement demands.

03/10/2026

Quick question: If something unexpected happened tomorrow, would your family know what to do?

Without an estate plan in place, important decisions about your finances, your health care, and even your assets could be left up to the court.

Estate planning isn’t about preparing for the worst – it’s about protecting the people you care about and giving them clear guidance when they need it most.

A simple plan can include:
✔ A will or trust
✔ Powers of attorney
✔ Health care directives
✔ Protection for your family and your assets

If you’ve been putting it off, you’re not alone. But the best time to get your plan in place is before there’s a crisis.

📞 Call ouroffice today to schedule a consultation and start building your plan.

07/08/2025

5 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS TO YOUR ESTATE PLAN

Here are 5 estate plan "must haves" you should have covered, no matter your age:

1. LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. It's the estate plan staple, and for good reason. It serves as the foundation to a strong estate plan. It establishes who receives what after you're gone.

2. LIVING WILL. A Living Will outlines your wishes if you are incapacitated, death is imminent, or you are in a persistent vegetative state. It can be a tremendous comfort for your loved ones to know your end-of-life wishes.

3. FINANCIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY. This document determines who handles your finances if you are incapacitated for any reason. It could be an accident or illness or other situation where you wouldn't be able to act or speak for yourself.

4. HEALTH CARE PROXY. This document names someone to make medical decisions on your behalf, and makes your desires known to them so they can effectively carry them out.

5. LIFE INSURANCE. We don't know what tomorrow brings. Be sure you have those bases covered for your family.

By working with a qualified estate planning attorney, like those at Simmons & Ortlieb, you can cover these basics, as well as get guidance on legal matters like guardianships for your minor children.

To learn more, give us a call or visit our website,

Work with a top civil litigation lawyer at Simmons & Ortlieb PLLC. Strategic legal support to protect your rights and win cases with trusted experience.

06/17/2025

02/26/2025

WHAT IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY?
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows another person, your “agent”, to act on your behalf with regard to your financial affairs. The POA allows you to choose which particular powers you give to your agent and which you do not. In the event you become sick and cannot handle your financial affairs, your agent can handle them for you.

WHO SHOULD I PICK AS MY AGENT?
People generally choose their spouse or a trusted family member or friend. You may also choose a successor if your first agent is unavailable. You may also pick more than one person to act at one time; however, you must choose if they need to act together or can act separately.

WHY IS HAVING A POA IMPORTANT?
If your POA is “durable”, it will allow your agent to handle your affairs in the event you are no longer able to do so due to accident, illness, or other cause. Without a POA, someone would need to be appointed as a Guardian of your property by a court, which can be a complex and contentious process.

CAN I REVOKE MY POA?
POAs are revocable at any time. You should seek legal assistance to make your revocation effective, because a financial institution may still honor your POA if they haven’t received proper notice of its revocation.

DOES MY AGENT HAVE TO SIGN THE POA?
No, but they should. The agent’s signature is an acknowledgment that they understand that they must act in your best interest.

I HAVE A POA FROM TEN YEARS AGO – IS IT STILL VALID?
As long as the POA was properly executed on a valid form at the time, the POA is still valid today. You should consider doing a new POA, however, because the statutory form changed in 2017, and the new form is most recognized by financial institutions.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A POA?
If you don’t have a POA, the attorneys at Simmons & Ortlieb would be happy to assist you in putting one in place. Give us a call.

02/12/2025

If you've been pulled over for anything, give us a call!

02/11/2025

"I always felt from the beginning that you had to defend people you disliked and feared as well as those you admired."
---Roger Baldwin, legal reformer

01/06/2025

A reputable lawyer will advise you to keep out of the law, make the best of a foolish bargain, and not get caught again.

--Mark Twain