Take a look at the first edition of our new newsletter!
August 2024
Your Trusted Advisor
Zihmer Law Firm
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU MAXIMIZING THE VALUE WE PROVIDE THROUGH COMMUNICATION
We know this is a bit out of the blue, receiving this newsletter from us! You may be thinking to yourself, why am I getting this newsletter from you now? The simple answer is this: we want to provide our clients with as much value as possible. That means we want to inform you about all the legal remedies available to you and be a source of education. We are always looking to make estate planning with us as easy as possible for our clients. To that end, we have made great strides in recent years, and this newsletter is part of our efforts to improve the effectiveness of our messaging going forward. In this first edition, we would like to tell you about the educational resources we have created and are continuing to expand upon to help inform existing clients about developments and key topics related to estate planning. Simplifying the Complex Legal work can be complex. But we often hear that how lawyers speak with clients — using lots of legalese — goes a long way to make it seem more complicated than it has to be. That is why one of our main goals as a firm is to communicate clearly and plainly with our clients. We emphasize clarity and walk our clients through their estate plans step by step. Our goal is to take something seemingly complex and make it seem simple. That way, you will understand clearly what we can do for you and your family. E-Books We decided to take the lessons we have learned in our years of practicing law and put them to paper. Well, digital paper. We have created an e-book called “Navigating Probate: Your Essential Guide to Peace of Mind,” specifically for returning clients. If you are interested in learning more about probate, the difference between non-probate and probate assets, and how probate is handled, then contact us and we would be happy to send you a copy! We also have an e-book centered around navigating estate planning and estate administration, topics we also touch on in our webinars.
Quarterly Webinars We hold a webinar each quarter in which we cover a legal topic and break it down for our existing clients. Just as with our other means of communication, we are looking to expand upon these in the future. By including expert guests, we will be able to cover any topic relevant to our clients in a detailed, yet understandable, way. These webinars aim to inform our clients about a variety of topics, like Medicare, managing finances, and securing a lasting legacy by building a great estate plan. If you are interested in learning more, check your email! That is where we send the webinar links to our clients. Attending is a great way to learn more and get any burning questions you have about your estate plan answered. At Zihmer Law Firm, we are more than just your attorney. We aim to be a constant resource you can depend on, providing excellent service for all your probate, estate planning, and elder law needs.
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ESTATE PLANNING | PROBATE | TRUST ADMINISTRATION | ELDER LAW
With summer break tragically ending (as it does, sadly, every year), it is time to get back in the groove and prepare for the new school year. If you want to help your kids get over the first-day jitters and start out strong, employ these tips to make their first day back at class so successful that others will want to study it. Getting a Head Start According to research by the Center for Economic Security and Opportunity, students lose as much as 25%–30% of the knowledge they accumulated the previous school year over summer break. Reading and math skills are particularly affected and see the highest regression rate. And the higher the grade level, the more students are likely to forget. The best way to combat this summer slump is to keep learning. Reading books and practicing arithmetic at least three times a week will help kids maintain what they have previously worked so hard to learn. Shopping Spree Students also want to come to school prepared! Shopping for school supplies is a great way to get everything they need for the year ahead, including a snazzy new outfit for the first day, notebooks, organizers, and favorite brands of pens and pencils. It’s also important to write names in notebooks to make them easier to identify if they end up in the lost and found! Mental Map No one likes getting lost. Whether returning to the same school as last year or heading into a new environment, finding one’s way can be daunting. If your kids arrive at school early, they can figure out where each class is and plot a path beforehand. Getting a feel for where they need to go throughout the day can be a great way to help them feel more prepared and comfortable. Many schools also have physical maps, which can be a great resource to store in a backpack if they ever feel lost.
BACK TO SCHOOL Tips for a Successful First Day of Class
JAY LENO’S GUARDIANSHIP The King of Late Night Fights to Support His Ailing Wife
Even the king of late-night television can fall victim to the pitfalls of inadequate estate planning. Comedian and former host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” Jay Leno’s efforts to establish a conservatorship, also known as a guardianship in Pennsylvania, over his wife, 77-year-old Mavis Leno, on account of her suffering from dementia, made headlines recently. It is tragic when someone you love is affected by such a disarming and difficult disease, but the failure to plan for this eventuality has cost Jay Leno and countless others, famous and not, a great deal. Worst Case Scenario On Jan. 26, 2024, Jay Leno filed a petition with the Los Angeles Superior Court for guardianship of his wife’s
estate to manage her affairs. According to CNN, the petition was filed because Jay believed that his wife would execute this plan if she were capable. However, despite Jay’s intentions, after a three- month wait, a judge granted Jay’s petition for guardianship. Therefore, for three long months, Jay could not independently help manage the decision- making process regarding Mavis’ finances and health care. Given the state of Mavis’ health during those months, that could have had severe implications. This Could Have Been Avoided It is stressful handling a loved one’s declining health, regardless of whether the person had a proper plan in place. We see situations like Mavis Leno’s all of the time in Pennsylvania. Assuming her state
laws were the same as Pennsylvania’s, if Mavis Leno signed an “advance health care directive,” this scenario could have been avoided. According to Pennsylvania Statutes, an advance health care directive includes a living will and health care power of attorney. A health care power of attorney allows for an individual, like Mavis, to appoint someone, in this case, Jay, to make health care decisions on behalf of her behalf. This story is a poignant reminder that even those we expect to have all possible legal remedies in place do not always have their ducks in a row. If you don’t have these measures in place or want to make updates, we encourage you to remedy that with us as soon as possible. You never know when the worst- case scenario could become your reality.
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ESTATE PLANNING | PROBATE | TRU
In the immortal words of Benjamin Franklin, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” This is especially true when it comes to estate planning. A failure to account for your family’s future is a failure that affects all your loved ones and can make their lives especially difficult in the event you are unable to make decisions on your own behalf. A living will accounts for this sort of scenario and puts in place a plan to combat it. Here is what you need to know about living wills in Pennsylvania, and why we think everyone should have one. What is a living will? According to Pennsylvania Statutes, Title 20, Chapter 54 § 5422, a living will “expresses a principal’s wishes and instructions” for health care and health care directions when the principal is either incompetent, has a terminal medical condition, or is permanently unconscious. Essentially, a living will is a document that expresses someone’s wishes regarding end-of-life health care decisions. This becomes especially important when someone is medically incapable of making these decisions themselves. This could be because they are impaired by diseases like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease or are in a coma. LIVING WILLS Preparing for the Unexpected
is not capable of making their own medical decisions, and must certify it in writing. This helps to preserve a patient’s rights, and means that a living will does not trap them into giving up their right to make their own medical decisions when they are still able. What happens if there is no living will? If you do not have a living will in place, then your family may have to fight in court for the right to make medical decisions on your behalf. This can be costly and time-consuming. And while your family is fighting to make medical decisions on your behalf, critical time will elapse and important decisions will be left unmade. That is why we encourage all of our clients to get a living will. You never know when you will need it, so it’s best to be prepared.
A patient may revoke a living will at any time, even if they are terminally ill. In fact, in order to implement a living will, a physician has to find that the patient
Upcoming Webinar
What Is Probate? Sept. 10, 2024 12 p.m. Keep an eye on your email inbox for more information. Not sure you’re on our list? Email us at info@zihmerlaw.com .
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3244 Washington Rd., Ste. 210, McMurray, PA 15317 | 412-223-2525 | ZihmerLaw.com
Inside 1
Enhancing Client Value Through Open Communication
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Start Strong This Upcoming School Year Jay Leno’s Guardianship Battle for Wife Mavis’ Well-Being
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Why Everyone Should Consider a Living Will Save the Date for Our Next Webinar
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Fun Farmers Market Activities for Families
ENJOYABLE ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Exploring the Farmers Market
Scavenging for Samples There is no shortage of variety regarding the fruits and vegetables offered at farmers markets. Engaging your family in a scavenger hunt to discover various produce among the local farmers’ stands is a great way to broaden their minds and keep them entertained. Plenty of farmers will offer you and your kids samples of their wares, allowing you to try before you buy. Growing Produce at Home After enjoying the farmers market, you may want to take what you learned home. Starting a small garden and growing starter plants with your kids is a great way to bond and create lasting memories. Growing and caring for plants and vegetables is a wonderful experience for children and helps them connect more with nature. Do yourself and your family a favor: Explore the farmers market and discover the flavor of your local area.
This time of year, we harvest fruits and vegetables in abundance, and farmers markets across the country are brimming with locally grown goods. Taking advantage of these wonderful events where local farmers and artisans sell the fruits of their labor is a great way to support local small businesses and explore all your area has to offer. Moreover, it is a perfect opportunity to share some wholesome fun with your family, as there are activities and attractions at farmers markets suitable for all ages. Learning Firsthand Your local farmers are a treasure trove of agricultural know-how. Many farmers will happily talk with you or your children about their favorite crop, what’s in season, and their recommendations for recipes that incorporate their produce. It’s a great way to grow your kids’ social skills and get them interested in gardening and farming.
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