Managing Attorney at the Piatchek Law Firm, LLC, & Affordable Legal Services
I was born, raised, and have spent my entire life living in Missouri. I attended college (undergraduate and law school) at the University of Missouri – Columbia. As a young graduate with a degree in Psychology, I decided to work in my field. My first job after graduating was working at an inpatient children’s mental hospital, working mostly with adolescents who were suffering with various forms of mental illness, abuse, and neglect. I later worked as a social worker/case manager for senior adults with persistent and acute mental illness. Therefore, I have seen both sides of the spectrum in life; I have truly seen that where we are born and how we grow up can affect us for the rest of our lives. I have also been witness to the fact that, despite all that, we can overcome these circumstances and change many things – most importantly, ourselves.
It was during this time of my life that I first really began thinking about changing one life at a time and exploring my role as a counselor. This is also when I was first exposed to the legal field, regularly dealing with many government agencies, courts, police, and occasionally attending court hearings. I eventually decided to attend law school.
Upon graduating with my law degree and passing the Missouri Bar Exam, I spent my time as a brand new attorney working for a personal injury firm. I then decided to hang out a shingle and begin my own law practice. The rest is history.
Today, I am the Managing Attorney at the Piatchek Law Firm, LLC. I also run a special division of our law firm, Affordable Legal Services®, which provides solutions to an array of common legal concerns at reasonable, flat rates. I am also a certified mediator and a Notary Public, and I employ notaries that provide mobile notary, witnessing, and loan closing services throughout Missouri.
Currently, I am a member of many community and professional organizations, and I regularly donate my time, expertise, and legal services to local churches, non-profit agencies, and various causes.
I have a wonderful wife and best friend, Tracy Piatchek. We have one daughter, Helen Noelle Piatchek. Getting to know her bit by bit has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Every time I think I know her, she’s on to the next thing and doing something new! Tracy is an elementary school teacher. Away from the office, I enjoy reading, running, weight lifting, and playing and watching sports, and I have been playing basketball twice a week with a group of guys for over 20 years now.
–Joseph J. Piatchek, 07.18.2014
State Bar Admissions:
- Missouri
Education:
- University of Missouri, School of Law, Columbia, Missouri
- J.D. (Juris Doctorate Degree)
- Honors: Attained Advanced Certificate in Dispute Resolution
- University of Missouri, Columbia
- Bachelor of Arts Degree
- Honors: Graduated with Honors in Psychology
- Major: Psychology
- Minor: Sociology
Professional Associations and Community Involvement:
- Missouri Bar
- American Bar Association (ABA)
- ABA Business Law Section
- Better Business Bureau
- Rotary
- Board of Directores, Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Past Employment Positions:
- Curran Law Firm
- University of Missouri – Health Sciences, Institutional Review Board
- Burrell Behavioral Health, Community Support Worker
- Lakeland Regional Hospital, Psychiatric Technician
Other Charitable / Legal Activities:
Ancillary Businesses:
- Mediation Services
- Mobile Notary and Witnessing Services
Practice Areas:
- Asset Protection
- Business Law
- Estate Planning, Wills, and Trusts
- Elder Law and Probate
- Family Law
- Traffic Defense
- Certified Mediator
* The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Neither the Supreme Court of Missouri nor The Missouri Bar reviews or approves certifying organizations or specialist designations. Certain cases may be referred, or may involve outside co-counsel arrangements, in which event you would be notified.