Betty Hartzel Schaefer

Betty Schaefer draws on not only her significant knowledge of the St. Louis County Probate Division, where she served as legal counsel, but also her considerable experience in private practice to craft arguments that resonate in probate court. Her deep understanding of the probate and trust codes allows her to guide clients through administration and disputes with efficiency and precision.

Betty assists clients with estate and trust administration, trust funding, guardianships, and estate planning. She has represented parties in probate, trust, and fiduciary litigation and is frequently appointed by local courts as a neutral mediator, special fiduciary, and third-party administrator in trust and estate disputes. She also advises financial institutions on probate and trust administration and on their responsibilities as corporate fiduciaries.

Her earlier work with the probate court allowed her to analyze cases, advise attorneys, and focus on guardianship and conservatorship proceedings for minors and adults. This hands-on experience — paired with substantial courtroom work — gives her a rare perspective and the ability to identify the most effective strategies in estate and trust administration cases and controversies.