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March 2025
Your Trusted Advisor Zihmer Law Firm
Spring-Cleaning Beyond the Closet GIVE YOUR ESTATE PLAN A FRESH START
March marks the beginning of spring, and for many of us, this means embracing renewal and fresh starts. With nature coming alive outside and longer days, we can feel motivated to tackle personal projects we may have been putting off during the winter months. Like many of you, I like to direct my spring energy toward cleaning and organizing my home. Well, maybe “like” isn’t the right word! My annual spring-cleaning routine isn’t something I look forward to, but I definitely look forward to the result. Over the years, I’ve developed a systematic process for getting my house in shape. I go room by room, making lists, decluttering, and organizing what’s left. It’s not always fun, but I feel relief and a sense of accomplishment when I’m done. It’s like hitting the reset button. Bringing order into our lives doesn’t have to end with spring- cleaning our homes. Spring is also a great time to take stock of other aspects, like our estate plans. Like our cluttered closets and dusty garages, our long-term estate plans also need spring- cleaning. A little tidying up this spring can ensure your estate plan is in order and make things easier for your family when they need it most.
documents, financial Powers of Attorney, insurance policies, and account statements should all be protected and easily accessible to your family. It’s not enough to have them in a centralized place, though. Ensure your family knows where they are and how to access them if needed. Decluttering and Simplifying While we’re at it, let’s talk about the paperwork itself. Over the years, I’ve seen how often estate plans get cluttered with unnecessary paperwork — old receipts, statements, and financial documents. Sure, it’s good to be thorough, but you don’t need to hang on to that title from a car you bought in 1990. So, what should you keep, and what should you toss? • Keep: Birth certificates, deeds, recent tax returns, military paperwork, and current estate planning documents. • Toss: Expired insurance policies, old bank statements, receipts for minor purchases, and any paperwork related to assets you no longer own. Simplifying and decluttering your paperwork will keep important documents front and center and make it much easier for your family to fulfill your wishes.
Establishing a Centralized Location One of the biggest problems I see families face after a loved one’s death is gathering estate planning documents. Many clients have told me stories of hunting for Wills, bank statements, insurance policies, and account documents scattered throughout a house in drawers, desks, safes, and storage units. It’s overwhelming. That’s why I always stress the importance of having a centralized location for important documents, ideally a fireproof box or a secure filing system. Your Will, Trust
A Fresh Start for Your Estate Plan Getting a fresh start this spring goes beyond just cleaning your house. So, I encourage you to take a few moments to reflect on your estate plan. Ensure your documents are protected, accessible, and up to date, and don’t hesitate to call us if you need help getting everything in order.
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ESTATE PLANNING | PROBATE | TRUST ADMINISTRATION | ELDER LAW
Breaking the Grip of Time The Cutting-Edge Science of Slowing Aging
Over the last century, vast improvements in public health have led to nearly doubling the average human lifespan. Now, researchers are targeting even greater gains to slow the aging process and prevent dementia. At Columbia University, one research team is using animal models to explore techniques to change brain activity in areas that coordinate circadian rhythms. By improving sleep, scientists believe they may be able to reduce the risk of dementia, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Other researchers are analyzing lab data from patients’ medical records to calculate biological age and assess its value in predicting health risks and improving care planning. At Yale University, scientists are studying rodents that live long lives to determine the metabolites that may slow the aging process. Researchers are also looking at
how to slow the organ damage caused by inflammation or changes in blood supply, which are common problems in old age. New technologies such as genome sequencing and machine learning have helped spur advances in aging research. At the Buck Institute for Research on Aging near Novato, California, scientists are analyzing large data sets from fruit flies and humans to identify the central metabolites that shape the lifespan in both species. They have identified one metabolite, threonine, as a potential therapeutic for interventions in aging. Artificial intelligence and systems biology enabled these researchers to skip testing mice, which is usually essential in determining whether discoveries apply to humans.
together scientists from many fields who have seldom collaborated. The initiatives reflect a growing awareness that disease is not necessarily part of the aging process. Rather than simply increasing people’s lifespan, scientists focus on improving the “health span,” or years lived free of disability and disease. The goal is to keep older people around longer and maximize seniors’ natural generativity — the natural human desire at later stages of life to improve the world and support younger generations. Researchers also hope to reduce the burden of disease, as people over 65 are on track to outnumber those 18 and younger within the next decade.
Aging research has evolved in both scope and purpose. The latest efforts bring
complicated and strict. A modest estate can take six months to two years to settle, and probate for more complex cases can take even longer. There are court and attorney fees and expenses for filing notices to creditors. You also need to pay accounting fees, executor costs, and administrative fees. It’s not uncommon for probate costs to be upward of 10% of an estate’s value. How to Avoid the Probate Headache The delays, legal fees, and administrative costs of probate eat into the value of your estate and often make a difficult time more stressful for your family. Fortunately, you have several ways to reduce this burden and even avoid probate altogether. Setting up a Revocable Living Trust allows you to transfer your assets during your lifetime while maintaining control over your estate. Upon your death, the trustee distributes the assets directly to beneficiaries, bypassing the need for probate. Other options include payable-upon-death accounts and transfer-on-death designations for property, bank accounts, and investments. Regularly reviewing your estate plan can reduce complications and ensure assets are distributed according to your wishes. Having a Will is important, but it’s just one part of an estate plan. If you have probate or estate planning concerns, contact us today for a free discovery call.
When clients come to us for help with estate planning, we clear up a few common misconceptions about the process and required documents. We often hear, “I have a Will, so my family won’t have to deal with the probate process, right?” Well, this isn’t exactly true. Understanding the role of a Will can ensure you have a plan that makes things easier for your loved ones. Why a Will Is Only Part of the Plan A Will serves several key purposes. It outlines how you want your property and assets to be distributed upon your passing and names an executor to fulfill your wishes. It also minimizes confusion over the distribution of your estate and makes the probate process easier. A Will doesn’t eliminate the need for probate, which is required to legally transfer assets. The Hidden Costs and Hassles of Probate Probate can be time-consuming and costly, especially in Pennsylvania, where the court process has recently become more Think a Will Avoids Probate? Think Again
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The Irish Saint Who Wasn’t Irish St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are a long-standing tradition, but many people celebrate without knowing the holiday’s history. There are more than a few surprises hidden in history. For one, St. Patrick — the patron saint of Ireland — wasn’t Irish. Here’s a closer look at the story behind St. Patrick’s Day.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations The first St. Patrick’s Day was held in Ireland on March 17 in the ninth or tenth century. Eventually, the celebration extended beyond Ireland’s borders. Residents of a Spanish colony in present-day Florida held the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1601. Homesick Irish soldiers and immigrants held other early parades in New York City and Boston, creating a long-standing St. Patrick’s Day activity. Traditions and Myths Today, people associate St. Patrick’s Day with various traditions, many of which have little to do with Patrick himself. For instance, the color traditionally associated with St. Patrick was blue; Irish nationalism led to the tradition of wearing green for the holiday. Leprechauns? They’re from Irish folklore, not St. Patrick’s teachings. The shamrock is one symbol tied directly to the saint — but not the four-leaf kind. Irish legend states that Patrick used the shamrock to help explain the holy trinity. St. Patrick’s Day has taken on a life of its own. Modern traditions may stray from St. Patrick’s original mission, but the holiday remains a popular celebration of Irish heritage and resilience. So, as you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green or raising a glass, don’t forget the true story behind the holiday.
Who Was St. Patrick? St. Patrick was born in Great Britain in the fifth century, and his connection with Ireland resulted from a kidnapping. At 16, Patrick was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland aboard a slave ship. According to his own account, he was able to escape six years into his captivity with the help of an angel’s guiding voice that led him to a ship headed for the European continent.
That was a turning point for Patrick. He dedicated himself to religious service, eventually becoming a bishop and
receiving the name Patricius. Later, he returned to Ireland as a missionary, seeking to convert the inhabitants of the pagan island. By his death on March 17, 461 A.D., he had baptized thousands of Irish chieftains and aristocrats.
Take a Break
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Ingredients • 1 (4 lb) corned
Directions 1. In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium- high heat, combine corned beef, spice packet contents, water, onions, carrots, celery, and salt. Bring to a simmer (skimming off any foam on top). 2. Cover pot, reduce to low heat, and let simmer for 3 hours until meat is fork tender. 3. Add potatoes to the pot and let simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until potatoes are al dente. 4. Add cabbage along the edges of the meat and on top. Cover and let simmer until cabbage is tender, 20–30 minutes. 5. Place meat on a cutting board and let rest for 10–15 minutes. After meat has cooled, slice against the grain. 6. Add to a large serving bowl, ladle vegetables and broth over top, and serve.
beef brisket with spice packet
• 3 qts water • 1 onion, quartered • 3 carrots, cut into large chunks • 3 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 tsp salt • 2 lbs red
AQUAMARINE BASKETBALL BLUEBIRD CLOVER
GREEN IDES LEPRECHAUN MADNESS
PISCES SPRING TANGERINE TULIP
potatoes, halved • 1 small head of
cabbage, cut into eighths
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Inside 1
Clear the Clutter From Your Estate Plan
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Scientists Team Up to Redefine Healthy Aging The Truth About Wills and Probate
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The Real Story Behind March 17 Corned Beef and Cabbage
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Engage the Kids in Your Life With Fun Gardening Projects
Green Thumbs in Training How to Make Gardening a Family Adventure
There’s nothing better than spending time with your kids and grandkids outside, enjoying an entertaining, creative, and informative activity. But sometimes, these activities are hard to coordinate. Thankfully, gardening appeals to families from all walks of life. All you need is a dedicated area in your yard or patio and seeds, and you’re ready to get started. Let the kids choose the plants. This is arguably the most crucial part of igniting a child’s interest in gardening. If you pick out the fruits, veggies, and flowers you want to grow and invite your grandkids to help plant, water, and pick, they may lose interest quickly. Instead, include them in the process from the get-go. Take them to the store and let them pick out seeds or plants. Encourage them to choose produce they
already enjoy eating, making it even more fun for them! Just be sure their choices can grow in your area during the current season. Make space and plant together. After choosing your seeds, you must ensure your garden is ready to sustain life. Dedicate a section of your lawn or patio to your gardening efforts and start laying soil or filling your planters. Help your grandchildren transplant their seeds or young plants directly into the area. Now, put them in charge of caring for the plants by checking on and watering them. You may want to follow behind to ensure they aren’t over or under-watering. Make it fun and informative! You can get your grandkids more involved by encouraging them to research their
plants and track their growth. They can even look online to see how their plants should be developing. Soon enough, those fruits and vegetables will be ready to eat, and you should let your grandchildren pick anything ripe when possible. Seeing the fruits of their labor (literally) will make this experience even more enlightening and enjoyable for them.
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