Who We Are

Joseph M. Markell opened Markell Estate Planning & Elder Law in 2014. His practice is dedicated to estate planning, Medicaid Planning, Veteran’s Benefits, probate administration, and estate administration. Joe served four years in combat arms in the United States Army. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Hannibal-Lagrange University in Missouri and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. Joe is admitted to practice law in the state of Missouri. When Joe is not assisting his clients with their unique legal needs, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. He resides in St. Charles County.

Dawn is our Director of Operations. She has her undergraduate from Bradley University, Peoria,IL in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Louis University. She is the face of Markell Estate Planning and Elder Law to our community partners. Dawn organizes lectures, multidisciplinary panel discussions and other events that educate and inform the community on the importance of estate planning. In her free time, Dawn is a volunteer for SSM Hospice and enjoys summer weekends with her family on their boat. Dawn has an award-winning 20-year background in healthcare, event planning, and sales/marketing. She resides in St. Charles Missouri.

Phil Christofanelli is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2011 and a Juris Doctorate in 2021. After passing the Bar with the 2nd highest score in the state of Missouri, Christofanelli joined Markell Estate Planning and Elder Law as an Associate in 2021. In addition to the practice of law, Christofanelli serves as a Member of the Missouri General Assembly where he represents part of Saint Charles County. First elected at age 26 in 2016, Christofanelli was at one time the youngest member of the Missouri State House. He now serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Rules - Legislative Oversight and as a member of the Committees on Education and Litigation Reform. He has authored and enacted numerous pieces of legislation, including HB 349, a landmark education reform bill providing scholarships for low-income and learning disabled K-12 students. Outside of work, Phil serves on the Advisory Board of the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise at Lindenwood University and on the Board of the Saint Clair Hearts Foundation, a local charity for veterans. You can catch Phil on the radio as the host of the Spirit of Saint Louis Show on 93.3 FM every Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm.