Daniel D. McMahon - Smith Pauley, LLP

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Daniel D. McMahon - Smith Pauley, LLP I help young families, farmers, residential landlords, and small businesses with estate planning, real estate, business law, and evictions.

My focus is practical, straightforward solutions that remove confusion and get results.

A day in the life of an estate planning attorney. ☕📄It starts with a simple goal: help a family plan for the future.Then...
09/28/2026

A day in the life of an estate planning attorney. ☕📄

It starts with a simple goal: help a family plan for the future.

Then come the wills, trusts, powers of attorney, beneficiary designations, family trees, and the occasional question that requires me to become a part-time genealogist.

But the best part of the day is seeing clients leave with a plan and a little more peace of mind.

If I can help a family get organized and avoid leaving everything to “we’ll figure it out later,” that’s a good day at the office.

And yes, the coffee is still part of the estate planning process. 😂

If you’ve been putting off your estate plan, contact me or my office. We’d be happy to help you get started.

📍 Smith Pauley LLP | Hastings, Nebraska
📞 402-834-2022
📧 [email protected]

General information only. Not legal advice.

A good tenancy often starts before the lease is ever signed.Taking the time to screen applicants, verify information, an...
09/18/2026

A good tenancy often starts before the lease is ever signed.

Taking the time to screen applicants, verify information, and apply consistent standards can help landlords avoid much bigger problems later.

A vacant unit can be expensive. A bad tenancy can be a lot more expensive.

Screen carefully. Document consistently. Choose deliberately.

General information only. Not legal advice.

Dan McMahon | Smith Pauley LLP
[email protected] | 402-834-2022

He updated his will after the divorce. He thought that took care of everything.Years later, he remarried, built a life w...
09/18/2026

He updated his will after the divorce. He thought that took care of everything.

Years later, he remarried, built a life with his new wife, and rarely thought about the retirement account he had opened decades earlier. His estate plan said one thing. The beneficiary form on that old account still said something else.

When he died unexpectedly, the family discovered the outdated designation. Suddenly, an asset everyone assumed would go one direction was headed somewhere very different.

Situations like this are easy to overlook. Estate planning isn’t just about signing documents—it’s also about making sure the pieces still fit together.

If you have questions about your estate plan or beneficiary designations, contact our Hastings, Nebraska office at 402-834-2022 or [email protected].

This post is for general information only and is not legal advice.

Estate planning isn’t only about what happens after you die.What happens if an accident, illness, or other event leaves ...
09/17/2026

Estate planning isn’t only about what happens after you die.

What happens if an accident, illness, or other event leaves you unable to make decisions for yourself?

A complete estate plan can identify who you trust to handle financial matters, make healthcare decisions, and carry out your wishes—without leaving your family scrambling for answers.

Plan for the unexpected, not just the inevitable.

General information only. Not legal advice.

Dan McMahon | Smith Pauley LLP
[email protected] | 402-834-2022

Three quiet weeks can make a landlord start second-guessing everything.The rental had been advertised for weeks without ...
09/17/2026

Three quiet weeks can make a landlord start second-guessing everything.

The rental had been advertised for weeks without much interest. Then an applicant came along who didn’t quite meet the landlord’s usual screening standards. The landlord knew there were a few concerns, but another month without rent sounded worse.

So the landlord made an exception.

A few months later, those original concerns had turned into late rent, repeated complaints, and a rental relationship the landlord wished had never started.

An empty unit costs money. But frustration with a vacancy can make it tempting to ignore standards that exist for a reason.

If you’re dealing with a difficult rental situation, contact our Hastings office at 402-834-2022 or [email protected].

This post is for general information only and is not legal advice.

Cash rent may be convenient, but it can create a major problem later: proving who paid what and when.For landlords, good...
09/16/2026

Cash rent may be convenient, but it can create a major problem later: proving who paid what and when.

For landlords, good records matter. If you accept cash, document every payment, provide a receipt, and keep your rent ledger current.

A few minutes of recordkeeping today can prevent a much bigger dispute tomorrow.

General information only. Not legal advice.

Dan McMahon | Smith Pauley LLP
[email protected] | 402-834-2022

They spent decades building something worth passing down. They assumed keeping it in the family would be the easy part.A...
09/16/2026

They spent decades building something worth passing down. They assumed keeping it in the family would be the easy part.

A couple owned farmland, several investments, and a rental property they had accumulated over many years. Their three adult children were doing well, but each had very different financial circumstances. One was married, one owned a business, and another was still figuring out what came next.

Their concern wasn’t simply who would inherit.

It was what might happen to those assets years after the inheritance—through divorce, financial trouble, creditors, or simply poor decisions.

Leaving assets to the next generation is one thing. Thinking about how those assets might be protected for the generation after that is another.

If protecting what you’ve built matters to you, contact our Hastings office at 402-834-2022 or [email protected].

This post is for general information only and is not legal advice.

Medical emergencies are stressful enough. Your family shouldn’t also have to guess what you would have wanted.Health car...
09/15/2026

Medical emergencies are stressful enough. Your family shouldn’t also have to guess what you would have wanted.

Health care directives can make your wishes clear, identify who you trust to make decisions, and help reduce confusion or disagreements during difficult moments.

A little planning now can give your family much-needed direction later.

General information only. Not legal advice.

Dan McMahon | Smith Pauley LLP
[email protected] | 402-834-2022

At first, the landlord thought the tenant was just busy.A rent payment was late, and a text went unanswered. Then anothe...
09/15/2026

At first, the landlord thought the tenant was just busy.

A rent payment was late, and a text went unanswered. Then another message got no response. A phone call went straight to voicemail. Days passed, but the tenant’s belongings were still at the property.

The landlord wasn’t sure whether the tenant had moved out, was avoiding him, or was coming back.

Silence can create more questions than answers. Situations like this happen more often than people realize, and guessing wrong can make an already frustrating situation worse.

If you’re dealing with an unresponsive tenant, contact our Hastings, Nebraska office at 402-834-2022 or [email protected].

This post is for general information only and is not legal advice.

When a tenant says, “I’ll catch up next week,” a handshake and a text message may not be enough.If you agree to a paymen...
09/14/2026

When a tenant says, “I’ll catch up next week,” a handshake and a text message may not be enough.

If you agree to a payment plan, put the terms in writing. Clear documentation helps everyone understand how much is owed, when payments are due, and what was actually agreed to.

A little paperwork now can prevent a much bigger disagreement later.

Landlords: protect your rental business by documenting payment agreements.

General information only. Not legal advice.

Dan McMahon | Smith Pauley LLP
[email protected] | 402-834-2022

Address

2727 W. 2nd Street , Suite 225
Hastings, NE
68901

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14028342022

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