Reginald Harrison Turnbull

A baby-boomer born in Springfield, MO, in 1946, Reginald H. “Reg” Turnbull, lived in Idaho before moving with his family to Maryville, MO, where he graduated from high school.

Reg received his B.A. from Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO, in 1972, and his J.D. from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, in 1976.

Reg has practiced law privately since 1991 and established Turnbull Law office in October 1999 before Stephen J. Stark joined with him to form Turnbull & Stark, P.C. in 2010.  He concentrates his practice in the areas of Elder and Special Needs Planning Law.  His practice includes special needs trusts, estate planning, probate and trust estate administration, financial and healthcare powers of attorney, healthcare directives, end-of-life planning, guardians and conservators, public entitlements [Medicare, MO HealthNet (i.e., Medicaid), SSI, SSDI, Social Security, public housing], and special needs planning for persons with disabilities and their families.

Reg formerly served as a Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health from 1981 to 1991.  From 1977 until 1981, he was an assistant attorney general in Missouri representing the Department.  He served on several drafting committees for legislation including the Omnibus Mental Health Act of 1980 and the Guardianship Revision Act in 1983.

Reg is a member of The Missouri Bar (Elder Law Committee, Chair 2011-2013, and the Probate & Trust Committees), the Cole County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association (property, trust and real estate section); the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (National Board member-2006-2008, National Program Committee Chair- 2006-2007, Vice Chair of Public Policy Committee-2007, Outstanding Missouri Chapter member of 2002-2003, and 2010-2011, President and Board Member of Missouri Chapter), and a Missouri member of the Special Needs Alliance (by invitation only*), the Missouri Working Interdisciplinary Network of Gaurdianship Stakeholders (MOWINGS).

Reg has been certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as an elder law attorney since 2003,* and he has been recognized as a "Super Lawyer" in the field of elder law since 2005 by Wolters Kluwer Law & Business and KC Magazine.*  He is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings.*  Finally , he received the Powley Award, from NAELA for advocating for the rights of persons who are elderly or who have disabilities.

*Although the CELA certification is approved by the American Bar Association and thirty-two (32) other states, neither the Supreme Court of Missouri nor the Missouri Bar reviews or approves certifying organizations or specialist designations.  Moreover neither the Court nor The Missouri Bar reviews or approves the ratings organizations and specialist designations listed in the biography above. 1.16.2015