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Lee Law News
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June/July 2025
How Music Brings Us Together and Lifts Us Up
Music is one of the most magical things we experience in life. Hearing a song from our youth can fill us with nostalgia and joy as we reflect on simpler times. Music can hype us up for a big meeting or sporting event, bring feelings of sadness or happiness depending on the tone of a song, and even persuade us to make purchases if a particular brand’s jingle gets stuck in our heads. Nothing else impacts our lives the same way music does. We
by Elton John, which she picked up while watching “Sing.” Any time that song comes on, she just starts jamming!
My parents also enjoyed music; my mother was a beautiful singer, however, my father wasn’t very musically inclined. My dad was the type of person who said no good music was made after 1975. He always played Motown hits in his car, singing loudly to his favorite tracks,
“We might not always
get a unique opportunity to appreciate the notes, lyrics, and songs that shaped our lives when we celebrate World Day of Music on June 21. My love of music started from an early age. I would always hum and sing, and my immediate family quickly became used to hearing me around the house. However, most people outside our family didn’t expect to hear me. My sister and I once visited an aunt in D.C. who stated, “This girl sings and hums all
even though he was a horrible singer! My mom sang all the time, but her voice really picked up when she sang her Sunday morning hymns. As soon as we heard her, we knew it was time to pack in the car and head to church!
realize or appreciate it, but music has an amazing ability
Another area where we include music is the workplace. We commonly ask our team members what their theme song of the week is during our morning check-in. They might not be able to tell us exactly what’s going on in their lives or explain their mood, but by picking a theme song, they can indirectly tell us how they’re feeling or if there’s anything they need. We also recently took many of our clients to a play called “Detroit ‘67,” which highlights the music scene in Detroit during the 1960s. We might not always realize or appreciate it, but music has an amazing ability to impact our lives. Take some time this month to listen to one of your or a loved one’s favorite songs and embrace the emotions you feel. It will benefit you in more ways than you can imagine!
to impact our lives.”
the time!” I always had a song in my head, and if any family member hears me hum to this day, they usually laugh and say I’m bringing it back! I just love music and try to incorporate it into my life whenever possible. One of the reasons music is so essential to my life is that nearly every member of my family enjoys music to a certain extent. My uncle could play music by ear, my cousin is a harpist, and even my sister received a scholarship offer to play the saxophone and oboe. Even two of the choirs at my church are named after my mom’s siblings. While I didn’t focus on specific instruments, I sang in the choir throughout school. My sister Norma and I still sing in church to this day! Even my daughter has started to show a passion for music. Her favorite song right now is “I’m Still Standing”
–Melanie M. Lee
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Protect What Matters Most YOUR FAMILY, VALUES, AND WEALTH
When people hear the term “estate planning,” they think of wills, trusts, and the legal steps to distribute assets after death. But what if there’s more to planning than just securing finances? Legacy planning goes a step further, focusing on preserving values, beliefs, and the well-being of future generations. It’s about leaving a mark that transcends material wealth — creating a lasting impact on your family, community, and causes you care about most. Though estate and legacy planning are similar in many ways, the two have key differences. You must ask yourself what you want the world to remember you for. Is it simply ensuring your assets are divided fairly, or do you want to pass down wisdom, tradition, and a sense of purpose? Protect what you built. Estate planning is the process of preparing a plan for what will happen to your property, money, and other valuable assets when you pass away. It’s focused on the financial details and the legal steps to ensure everything goes smoothly for your heirs. Your estate is not about you; it’s about what you own. Through estate planning, you create legal documents that spell out every aspect of asset distribution, ensuring there are no surprises, complications, or disputes for your loved ones.
You’ll look at how to reduce the estate’s taxes so more of what you’ve built over your lifetime goes directly to your family. The main elements in an estate plan are wills and trusts, designating a power of attorney, establishing health care directives, and choosing who will act as guardian to your children if you die or become incapacitated. Emphasize values over valuables. Legacy planning includes all of the same designations and protections, but it goes far beyond finances, getting into abstract valuables in your life. The focus is on the lasting impact you want to leave behind and the values you hope to instill in younger generations. While you think about the essentials, like who will care for your children, you also consider what you’re most passionate about. You can chronicle your personal history, the experiences that shaped you, and the life lessons that matter most through a legacy letter, a personal document to accompany your will. Legacy planning often includes family meetings so you and your loved ones can discuss your values together and learn the reasoning behind your choices. This is also an opportunity to give back to the philanthropic causes that bring you joy and purpose. If you volunteered for a nonprofit for many years, are a proud alum of your college, or want to support a social cause, you can establish charitable foundations, scholarships, or endowments in your legacy plan. Cover all the bases. Legacy and estate planning are crucial parts of a comprehensive and holistic plan for your future and the people you love. When you have both in place, they can complement each other and provide a greater sense of peace and confidence that your wishes will be respected. By combining both strategies, you address your financial and legal responsibilities while prioritizing your ethics. This comprehensive process provides for your family and secures funds to support the causes you care about. By addressing the financial and emotional aspects of estate planning, you can leave behind a legacy that secures your family’s well-being and leaves a lasting mark.
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TAKE A BREAK
TURNING THE TIDE ON STUDENT HOMELESSNESS The Dunamis House
ADVENTURE BAREFOOT FATHER GEMINI HIKING JUNETEENTH PARK PICNIC PRIDE SANDALS SUNBURN VOLUNTEER
College is supposed to be a time of growth, learning, and opportunity, but what happens when a student doesn’t have a place to sleep at night? In Los Angeles, a significant number of college students face housing insecurity, which can make earning a degree and achieving career goals very difficult. Often, students must choose between continuing their education or covering their basic needs, but the Dunamis House is stepping in to change that. The Reality of Student Homelessness When people think of homelessness, they rarely picture a young college student balancing coursework and multiple jobs. However, statistics show that housing insecurity is a major problem for today’s youth. The high cost of rent combined with a lack of financial resources put many at risk. Today, more than half of the 220,000 students enrolled across nine Los Angeles Community College District institutions are experiencing housing insecurity. Nearly 1 in 5 are homeless. Without support, these students can struggle in school and enter a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break. How the Dunamis House Is Making a Difference Led by the nonprofit Los Angeles Room & Board, the Dunamis House opened in 2023 in a historic building that once housed Japanese Americans working to rebuild their lives following World War II. Today, the group residential facility provides housing for 40 Los Angeles college students ages 18–24 at risk of homelessness. In addition to free, stable housing, Dunamis provides community support to help residents overcome challenges in school and life. Residents can access nutritious meals, tutoring services, and job training programs. Rather than providing short-term relief, the focus is on helping students become more self-sufficient to achieve long-term success. Los Angeles Room & Board allows residents to live at Dunamis for up to three years. Residents can then transition into one of the nonprofit’s other homes, where they can continue working toward their goals while paying subsidized rent. The housing, support, and stability provided by Dunamis and associated programs provide many with precisely what they need to finish their studies, secure stable employment, and break free from the cycle of poverty.
SIMPLE SUMMER GARDEN PASTA Inspired by TheKitchn.com
Ingredients
• 4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil • 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, to taste) • 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper • 1 lb angel hair pasta • 1 cup fresh basil • 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese • Cooked, chopped chicken for serving (optional)
Directions 1. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper and toss until well coated. 2. Cover and let the mixture sit at room temperature while the pasta cooks. 3. Add pasta to a pot of boiling water and cook per package directions until al dente. 4. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water to add to the tomato mixture. 5. Coarsely chop the basil leaves. 6. Add the pasta, Parmesan cheese, and chopped basil to the tomato mixture and toss again until combined. Serving suggestion: Add cooked, chopped chicken to add protein!
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Lee Law Office 1809 W. Main St. Richmond, VA 23220 804-204-1500 www.mleelaw.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
The Soundtrack of Our Lives
2
Pass Down More Than Just Money
3
Simple Summer Garden Pasta
The Home Giving Students a Future
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Allison Holker’s Financial Nightmare
DANCING WITH DEBT The Costly Lesson From tWitch’s Estate
When dancer Allison Holker lost her husband, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, unexpectedly, she wasn’t just grieving — she was hit with a financial nightmare. After his passing, Holker recently revealed she was left with a staggering $1 million tax bill, saying she’s “still in the trenches,” trying to dig her way out. Though spectators may have assumed she would inherit the wealth from his reality TV and dancing career, she inherited his debt. It’s a reminder that money problems don’t discriminate, and financial planning isn’t just about building wealth — it’s about protecting yourself and loved ones from unexpected burdens. In Holker’s new tell-all book, she said her late husband had spent money recklessly, giving away significant sums to family and friends and purchasing everything from weird art to drugs. The news blindsided her since they had always maintained separate bank accounts, and it seemed they were both managing their independent finances just fine. Though they had been married for nine years, Boss never left a will, leaving her to sort through the financial mess with no plan or instructions. Paying off his debts drained his accounts, and the challenges kept adding up to more dollar signs. The family had no medical insurance after his death because he didn’t list them on his policy. He also failed
to pay his family’s homeowners insurance and still owed car payments, which were all bills Holker had to “catch up” on. The small residuals Holker earned from Boss’ television work barely dented the tax bill.
Photo: Lexi DiStefano
Holker said she had never expected to face a substantial financial emergency like this and wishes they had planned better for the unexpected.
“I think it’s a really important conversation to have because you can’t really prep for something like this,” she said.
Holker had to navigate this financial storm with no plan in place or clear directives from her late husband, all while facing the pain of losing him. It’s an important reminder that an estate plan can help protect loved ones from overwhelming debt and legal complications when the unthinkable happens.
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