Mo. Rev. Stat. § 192.2460: Director may proceed under other law, when — legal counsel may be retained, when.

1. If the director determines after an investigation that an eligible adult is unable to give consent to receive protective services and presents a likelihood of serious physical harm, the director may initiate proceedings pursuant to chapter 202 * or chapter 475, if appropriate.

2. In order to expedite adult guardianship and conservatorship cases, the department may retain, within existing funding sources of the department, legal counsel on a case-by-case basis.