- DivorceContested divorce — When the parties cannot agree on one or more of these ancillary issues, the divorce will be placed on a track for trial before a family court judge on the unresolved issues. This is a more elaborate and expensive process, requiring documentary evidence and witness testimony.
- Child SupportDivorce often entails a court’s determination of financial obligations to provide for children’s needs. Support may also be required in the case of unwed parents when the child’s paternity is established. Lowther Johnson, Attorneys at Law, LLC provides personalized assistance with the establishment of fair and adequate child support awards. Whether we represent the parent paying or the one receiving support, we use the discovery process to compel full financial disclosure that ensures a transparent process in deciding on an award. Our Springfield child support lawyers have the experience needed to help you plan beyond basic child support, taking into consideration such future costs as private education, enrichment activities, and attendance to special needs.
- Child Custody and VisitationChild custody can be the most contentious issue in a divorce, particularly between spouses who harbor mistrust about how each will behave in a custody arrangement. At Lowther Johnson, Attorneys at Law, LLC, our knowledgeable child custody attorneys in Springfield have more than 40 years of experience representing parents in child custody matters. We can help you pursue a workable parenting plan that preserves and enhances your relationship with your children now and for years to come.
- Adoption
- PaternityThomas Benson joined Lowther Johnson  as an Associate in 1994, becoming a Member in 2000. Tom provides a wide range of services to his clients in family law matters including divorce, modifications, paternity actions, name changes and adoptions. He successfully has tried numerous cases involving contested custody of children, and has procured favorable results for his clients in cases involving significant assets and property. Besides being a trial attorney, Tom also has extensive experience handling cases throughout the appeals process.
- Premarital AgreementPrenuptial agreements — Marital agreements have become important for two-career couples, couples with disproportionate wealth, and couples entering second marriages. We provide principled negotiation that protects your rights.
- GuardianshipGuardianships and conservatorships — If you are concerned about a loved one who, because of youth, disability, or infirmity of age, lacks the capacity to make important decisions or manage finances, our attorneys can help you get a court order creating a guardianship or conservatorship.
- Spousal SupportAlimony can be temporary or permanent, according to what the divorce court deems just. When deciding on the amount and the term, the court examines several factors, including...
- Legal SeparationThe court also determines what is or is not marital property. It generally includes anything acquired after marriage and before legal separation or divorce, except for bequests, inheritances, and gifts from third parties. While assets owned by either party prior to marriage are considered to be non-marital, they can become marital if they are commingled or if improved or maintained during marriage by the other spouse’s efforts or funds. Our attorneys are skilled at identifying property as marital or separate and making the strongest arguments for a classification of ownership that benefits our clients.
- Criminal DefenseIf you are accused of a crime that violates a statute passed by Congress, you will be tried in federal court. If you have been charged with a federal crime, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. The attorneys at Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC fight to defend the rights of our clients. We have built our reputation on getting results. We are intimately familiar with all facets of the federal criminal justice system.
- DUI/DWIIn Missouri, a first conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) can have severe consequences, including potential jail time, heavy fines, and a 30-day license suspension followed by 60 days with a restricted license. Second, third, and subsequent convictions will result in more severe penalties.
- Wrongful DeathAs one of the largest law firms in Springfield, Missouri, we have the attorneys and resources to aggressively pursue wrongful death cases.
- Traffic ViolationsHave you been cited with a traffic violation or crime in Southwestern Missouri? Contact a Springfield traffic law lawyer at our office for legal assistance by calling us at
- Sex Crimes
- FraudThere are many ways to end up in federal court. If you are accused of breaking federal law, you will be tried at the federal level. Crimes against federal agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (e.g., securities fraud), U.S. Treasury (e.g., counterfeiting), Environmental Protection Agency (e.g., toxic waste dumping), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (e.g., gun-running), and Drug Enforcement Agency (e.g., drug smuggling) are federal crimes. Our attorneys help clients defend against even the most serious charges.
- White Collar CrimesDon’t give the federal prosecutor an added advantage. Our attorneys handle all types of criminal cases, from white collar crimes to accusations of homicide. No matter what obstacle has been placed in your way, rest assured that the attorneys at Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC strive diligently to help you overcome it and work tenaciously to attain the strongest possible result for you.
- MisdemeanorsWhen a parent falls behind in child support or reneges on the obligation entirely, our attorneys tenaciously pursue enforcement options to get you the payments you are entitled to. In Missouri, you may seek child support enforcement through the court or through the Family Support Division. The FSD is a state agency with the authority to collect overdue support in a multitude of ways, such as withholding and garnishing wages, filing liens against property, suspending driver’s and professional licenses, and intercepting tax returns. In addition, the FSD can file an order to show cause, a civil motion that may cause the nonpaying parent to be held in contempt of court. Under state law, the nonpayment of child support also may be prosecuted criminally as a misdemeanor or a felony.
- Assault
- Homicide
- Money LaunderingCompliance with state law. This includes affiliate or insider relationships, anti-money laundering, capital adequacy regulations, and more.
- KidnappingDefendants are also charged federally when they are accused of crimes that cross state lines, such as moving a kidnapping victim from one state to another. Crimes that use a federal agency, such as the U.S. Postal Service, to perpetrate an illegal act are likewise federal.
- Corporate LawBusiness, commercial and corporate law — Our skilled business attorneys guide organizations through every stage of their life cycle, from filing formation documents to drafting transactional documents to assisting with commercial compliance. When a commercial dispute arises, we represent clients in a wide variety of business litigation matters.
- Mergers and AcquisitionsAdlai Groves has a national practice focused on real estate development, finance and construction, including the use of financial incentives, tax credits and private equity for commercial real estate developments and multi-family housing projects. He also has extensive experience in corporate and partnership formations, mergers and acquisitions, as well as the structuring of sophisticated trust and estate planning techniques for his clients. Adlai’s clients range from large corporations to small businesses, real estate developers, contractors, and financial institutions.
- Business FormationGlenn has authored numerous articles on various legal topics, and is frequently invited to speak at lectures and seminars on such topics as business formation and operation, loan documentation and remedies, real estate transactions, real estate brokerage, and creditor rights in bankruptcy cases. Glenn has previously served as an adjunct professor in the Missouri State University Department of Communications and has served as a lecturer on business planning and formation at the Missouri State University College of Business Administration
- Business DisputesKevin attended the University of Dayton School of Law, where he served as a Staff Writer for the University of Dayton Law Review, as well as Honor Council Prosecutor, and on the student government executive board. Prior to attending law school, Kevin graduated cum laude from Saint Louis University where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science in 2014. Throughout his time in law school, Kevin worked for various litigation firms in Dayton, Ohio, which had a wide range of practice areas including business law, real estate and property law, personal injury, and creditor’s rights.
- Business TransactionsLee J. Viorel, III possesses more than 20 years of legal experience and focuses his practice primarily on creditor rights, commercial transactions, acquisitions and mergers, commercial litigation, and banking and bank regulations matters. Lee joined Lowther Johnson  as a member in 2003. He is a skilled litigator, has a wealth of experience at both the trial and appellate level, and he is committed to providing quality legal service to clients at a reasonable price.
- Limited Liability Companies
- Workers CompensationGregg Groves represented a man and his wife for injuries the man sustained in an automobile collision. As a result of the collision, the man suffered serious injuries to his ankle, eventually resulting in a below the knee amputation. The man came to see Gregg after his original attorney informed him that he should settle the case for $50,000. After conducting a thorough investigation, Gregg was able to settle the man and his wife’s claims for more than $1.6 million dollars. Additionally, Gregg was able to convince the Workers Compensation carrier to provide a hiking and biking prosthetic for the man who engages in rock climbing and ice climbing, despite his injuries.
- Wrongful TerminationWrongful termination. This is unlawful when it is based on violations of your civil rights, for taking rightful medical leave, or for refusing to participate in or disclosing illegal or unethical activities in the workplace.
- Employment ContractLabor and employment — We represent plaintiffs and defendants in numerous employment law matters, such as harassment, wrongful termination, discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) claims, restrictive covenants, employment contracts, and wage and hour disputes.
- Employment LitigationMr. Housley is a Missouri commissioned Peace Officer and has been a Christian County Deputy Sheriff for the past twenty three years. He regularly defends Sheriffs and Deputies in state and federal court litigation. He has drafted policy and procedure manuals for the Greene County and Christian County Sheriff’s Departments, as well as represented other sheriff departments in defending employment issues. He is a POST certified instructor and regularly conducts seminars for law enforcement officers. He has been a speaker at numerous seminars and annual meetings for the Missouri Association of County Commissioners, the Missouri Recorder’s Association, and the Missouri’s Sheriffs Association.
- Non-compete AgreementBusiness law — We help companies with the formation of corporations and limited liability companies, contracts, partnership agreements, leasing, employment disputes, nondisclosure and noncompete agreements, litigation, and any other legal issues our business clients face.
- Severance Agreement
- Sexual Harassment
- Real Estate LitigationJohn W. Housley has extensive experience in local government law, civil rights defense, commercial litigation, creditors’ rights and collections, real estate law and class actions. John’s practice involves representation of numerous local governments: he is the county counselor for Greene County and Christian County. He represents elected officials in Webster and Christian County’s. He is the city attorney for Fair Grove, Missouri and represents numerus E-911, senior services and disability boards throughout Southwest Missouri. In addition, John has represented the City of Springfield in both state and federal court litigation.
- Premises LiabilityKenny has experience in both criminal and civil law, and formerly served as the City Prosecutor for the City of Bolivar, Missouri. Kenny currently focuses on cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, insurance bad faith, premises liability, and automobile accidents. Kenny’s previous experience includes real estate disputes, collection matters, landlord/tenant matters, probate litigation, and well as general litigation matters. Kenny is fluent in both English and Spanish.Â
- Construction LitigationCraig Lowther recently completed Arbitration in a construction lawsuit in Greene County, Missouri. Our client is an established and well known Springfield builder who built a custom home for a local doctor. The doctor failed to pay the last draw which amounted to more than $130,000 to our client claiming the home was unsatisfactory due to construction defects. Mr. Lowther argued the first eight draws had been paid in a timely manner without mention of any unsatisfactory work and the complaints surfaced only after the homeowner moved in. During the pendency of the case, the builder was awarded $52,000 from the proceeds that were left over in the title company escrow account. The arbitrator decided that when the doctor moved in, the house was “substantially complete” and that the failure to pay the last draw was a violation of the contract. The arbitrator further rej ected claims made by the homeowner that there were hundreds of thousands of dollars of repairs that needed to be completed.
- Real Estate TransactionsMichael “Mike†Cully has more than 30 years of legal experience and handles a variety of civil matters, including business acquisitions, real estate transactions, condemnation, commercial litigation, and education law. Mike has been with Lowther Johnson since 1978, a member of the firm since 1980, and served as the managing partner for several years.
- Easement
- Land Use and ZoningIn his thirty five years of practice, John has handled numerous appeals to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Missouri Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court. In addition to his experience representing local governments and businesses, John has an extensive practice in planning and zoning litigation and has been instrumental in the development and enforcement of Greene and Christian County’s zoning ordinances and building codes.
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesMegan attended the University of Missouri School of Law, where she served as Associate Managing Editor for the Journal of Dispute Resolution, completed a Landlord-Tenant Practicum through Mid-Missouri Legal Services, interned with the Honorable David D. Noce at the Eastern District Court of Appeals, and was a recipient of the Honorable Richard E. Dorr Memorial Scholarship. Before entering law school, she graduated magna cum laude from Drury University with a bachelor’s degree in communication and with her master’s degree in communication. Throughout her higher education experience at Drury and prior to attending law school, Megan worked full-time in communications and business development in Springfield.
- Property DamageThe repercussions of a serious car accident can be overwhelming. At Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC, our Springfield auto accident lawyers work tirelessly to help victims obtain compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. While we treat every client with compassion and sensitivity, we are also always aggressively ready to protect his or her rights inside and outside the courtroom.
- Personal InjuryCraig F. Lowther has more than 35 years of legal experience and handles a variety of civil litigation matters, including mechanic’s liens, real estate, zoning, planning, land use, personal injury, and commercial litigation.
- Medical MalpracticeMedical mistakes. Doctors are human; they make mistakes. The question is who should pay for their errors — the negligent doctor or the innocent victim. When healthcare providers’ mistakes cause you serious harm, justice demands that you receive compensation for their medical malpractice.
- Auto Accidents
- Social Security DisabilityKevin A. Scharf joined Lowther Johnson as an Associate in 2019 after previously working for a social security disability firm. As an attorney, Kevin handles a wide range of practice areas including personal injury law, real estate and property law, labor and employment law, business law, landlord-tenant law, and creditor’s rights.
- Slip and Fall InjuryPersonal injury and wrongful death — Our experience in personal injury matters includes cases arising from automobile accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall injuries, defective products, medical malpractice, and accidents resulting in wrongful deaths. We have extensive experience in dealing with insurance companies and work tirelessly to obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.
- Estate PlanningFor more than 40 years, Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC has helped our clients in southwestern Missouri plan for a secure future and the eventual transfer of their wealth to their heirs. Our Springfield estate planning attorneys do more than handle the basics; we provide comprehensive and personalized services that address the full range of your needs and countless contingencies.
- WillsLast wills and testaments — Every person should have a will. A will is the basic instrument that allows you, as testator, to determine who receives your property when you pass on. Without a will, your assets pass according to Missouri’s laws of inheritance, without regard for your intentions. Those you love may get nothing. Charities that you favor and causes you believe in would likewise be ignored.
- TrustsTrust and estates — Our dedicated attorneys provide comprehensive estate planning services, including drafting customized wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, living wills, and power of attorney documents that will protect your assets and ensure they are effectively passed on to future generations.
- Power of AttorneyLiving wills and powers of attorney — If you suffered an accident and were in a coma, whom would you trust to make decisions for your health and welfare? These instruments allow you to state your preferences regarding life-saving interventions and to appoint a trusted person to manage your affairs if you become incapacitated.
- Probate
- BankruptcyLee Viorel was recently awarded the 2021 Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Award from the Missouri Bar for his contributions in bankruptcy practice. The Bankruptcy Creditor-Debtor Rights Committee of The Missouri Bar gives the award to a lawyer who manifests the highest standard of excellence in bankruptcy practice, has contributed distinctively to the development and appreciation of bankruptcy law, and has made an outstanding contribution in the field of bankruptcy administration or practice.
- ForeclosureI recently had to initiate a business foreclosure on a property related to my parents’ estate in Stone County. Megan Creson was excellent! She responded to my inquiry quickly, and explained the process, timeline, and the estimated cost of the litigation. There were no surprises. Every interaction I had with her and her assistant Florence was professional, courteous, and prompt. The billing process was thoroughly explained, fair, and always documented.
- Tax LawRussell W. Cook has a diverse law practice in the corporate, real estate, and estate planning fields of law at Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law. With his LL.M. in taxation he can provide an advanced level of planning and extra value in service in all types of transactions. In his career, Mr. Cook has established numerous LLC’s, condominiums, sub-divisions, condotels, and timeshare regimes. He has been involved in multimillion dollar corporate acquisitions, mergers, and loans with complex financing facilities and unique collateral arrangements. His experience includes large-scale real estate developments comprising acquisition, financing, leasing, development of mixed-use projects, formation of condominiums, resorts and other regimes as well as the development of the sales, compliance and marketing programs for these projects. He has also established many small business organizations. Additionally, Mr. Cook’s practice also emphasizes estate planning, tax planning, the formation of business organizations, partnership transactions, and planning for the succession of closely held and family businesses from one generation to the next. Mr. Cook has represented both borrowers and lenders in multimillion dollar financing facilities and transactions and every aspect of the acquisition and sale of large tracts of land, including development, tax planning, formation of entities and establishing sales marketing plans as well as necessary registrations.