Kevin Checkett brings 41 years of professional experience to his position with Checkett, Pauly, Bay & Morgan, LLC. His time in the legal field has allowed him to gain considerable skills in estates and trusts as well as bankruptcy, lender liability, and other areas of business and commerce. On a daily basis, he is responsible for handling cases in business law, bankruptcy, banking, estate planning, real estate, state court receiverships, creditor rights, and probate. Mr. Checkett has been certified by trial judge as an expert witness in commercial law.

Mr. Checkett lectures frequently in southwest Missouri. He has served as trustee in thousands of bankruptcies under Chapter 7, 11, and 12, and has been published in professional journals in the areas of creditors’ rights, workouts, and bankruptcy. Recalling the start of his career, Mr. Checkett notes that he became a lawyer because he enjoys working with people and playing a role in resolving difficulties and controversies.

For each of the last ten years, in recognition of his excellent work, Mr. Checkett was named a Top Attorney in Missouri and Kansas by 417 Magazine and KC Magazine, and he maintains an AV Rating* through Martindale-Hubbell.

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Business Bankruptcy, American Board of Certification**, twenty years

Bar Admissions

  • Missouri, 1976

  • U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 1976

  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1992

Education

  • University of Tulsa College of Law, Tulsa, Oklahoma

    • J.D. ‒ 1976

  • University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri

    • B.S. ‒ 1973

Published Works

  • Coauthor, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Missouri Bar Association Deskbook

  • New Bankruptcy Act Will Affect Businesses, Missouri Lawyers Weekly

  • Missouri's Unlimited Bankruptcy Exemption, Missouri Lawyers Weekly

  • Missouri Bankruptcy Exemption of Pension Benefits, Journal of The Missouri Bar

  • Asset Protection and The Roth IRA, Journal of the Missouri Bar

  • A Primer on Bankruptcy Appeals Procedure, Missouri Lawyers Weekly

Representative Cases

  • In re Peet, 819 F.3d 1067 (8th Circuit Court of Appeals 2016)

  • Moon v. Anderson, 387 F.3d 695 (8th Circuit Court of Appeals 2004)

  • Official Comm. of Unsecured Creditors vs. Trism, Inc. 328 F.3d 1003 (8th Circuit Court of Appeals 2003)

  • In re Vickers, 505 U.S. 1235 (cert dismissed) (U.S. Supreme Court 1992)

  • In re Vickers, 954 F.2D 1426 (8th Circuit Court of Appeals 1992)

Representative Clients

  • Guaranty Bank

  • Leggett & Platt, Incorporated

  • Arvest Bank

  • Community Bank of Missouri

  • Bank of Minden

  • Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri

  • Carthage Broadcasting Company - AM/FM

Classes/Seminars Presented

  • Numerous bar and banking presentations in bankruptcy and debtor/creditor rights

  • U.S. Department of Justice National Bankruptcy Training Institute at the National Advocacy Center, Columbia, South Carolina

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • National Association Bankruptcy Trustees, Member

  • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri Panel of Trustees, Member

  • Missouri Bankers Association, Legal Counsel Section, Member

Community Activities

  • President, Carthage Board of Public Works

  • President, Carthage United Way

  • President, Carthage Rotary Club

  • President, Carthage Historic Preservation

  • President, Joplin Mercy Healthcare Foundation

  • President, Carthage Community Foundation

  • Member, Carthage City Charter Commission