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Trust Matters JANUARY 2025
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New Year, New Plans? KEYSTONE LAW IS HERE TO HELP WITH WHATEVER 2025 MAY BRING
Happy New Year and Happy Valentine’s Day, from the Keystone Law team! We hope this year brings peace and comfort in both your daily life and in the plans you have for the future. With that being said, feeling at peace with the plans you have for the future doesn’t just happen magically. It takes dedicated planning and thoughtful actions to ensure your affairs are in order for whatever may come this year and in the future. The new year serves as a perfect reminder to do just that. It’s easy to push off tasks like updating your estate plan or medical wishes because the need for these plans may feel incredibly far away. Everyone is busy these days, and day-to-day life feels more pressing than planning for the future. But there is no better time than now to get your affairs in order. That way, you can continue to focus on the busyness of daily life, and should anything happen, your family and you will be protected. Last year, our firm brought in another partner who understands the importance of addressing these serious matters and doing so with diligence. If you haven’t met Samuel Doncaster yet, allow me to introduce you. Keystone Law absorbed Samuel’s firm, Fraud Fighters, last year, and he has been an invaluable member of our team ever since. Samuel is an excellent trial lawyer with an undefeated jury trial record and experience with real estate litigation, elder exploitation cases, and serious financial disputes. The focus of Samuel’s work at Keystone Law is cases involving individuals facing significant financial harm. The work he did through Fraud Fighters gave Samuel incredible insight into these kinds of cases, and he’s doggedly committed to winning for his clients. He has this impressive insight that allows him to realize when someone has been cheated and takes those cases all the way through the justice system, fighting tirelessly for his client’s success. And here’s the good news: Samuel will be wrapping up a couple of big cases soon. He’s very selective in the cases he pursues to ensure he represents someone severely cheated in a financial situation. If this sounds like you or anyone you know, call our team today. You will be in good hands with Samuel.
We’re proud to have Samuel on our team, and I’m excited to see how he adds to the services we can provide our clients. In addition to the work Samuel can offer for those facing extreme financial disputes, our team is also available to help those who need to review or update their estate and future plans. Don’t put off planning for the future because of the busy schedule you have today; the future will be here before you know it, and you don’t want to be left unprotected. Call us today to get started.
Here’s to a safe, peaceful, and happy 2025. If anything changes this year, let us help you ensure your plan fits your new future. -Francisco Sirvent
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YOUR ROLE AS EXECUTOR Estate Plan Responsibilities Explained
Being named an executor is an honor that comes at a difficult time. But looking after the estate of a loved one after they are gone is a privilege that comes with many responsibilities. You must manage paperwork, assets, and maintenance costs. Moreover, as executor of the estate, you
are responsible for carrying out the will of the deceased. If you have been named executor of an estate, here are three duties you must manage.
This is necessary to file a tax return for the decedent’s final year of life and to file a life insurance claim. It will also be required when notifying applicable government agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, of the decedent’s passing. It will also be your responsibility to notify the decedent’s credit card company, banks, and mortgage lenders. Funeral Arrangements and Accounts The decedent’s wishes for funeral arrangements will most likely be included in the will, and it is your role as executor to carry them out. Additionally, all payments made on behalf of the decedent should come from an estate account. Establishing an estate account for dividend payments, paychecks, tax refunds, and burial expenses is key. This role may seem complicated, but whoever gave it to you knew you were up to the task.
Asset Distribution The primary role of the executor is to
distribute the estate’s property according to the decedent’s wishes. This also includes paying for maintenance costs during probate and before distribution can occur. As the executor, you are responsible for paying any mortgage, utility, car, and other necessary bills until the beneficiaries take over those responsibilities. Although some assets may avoid probate, the executor must file the will in probate court in most states. Paperwork and Notification As executor, you must obtain copies of the death certificate from the funeral home.
If the top of your desk looks like a photo op for an “I Spy” book, chances are you could benefit from tidying up. It isn’t easy saying goodbye to your familiar clutter, but it’s for the better. A messy environment can be stressful and frustrating, as it makes finding anything more difficult and worsens the overall attractiveness of your home. While change can be challenging, it is worth the effort for your home and health. First Thing’s First Growing up, your mom probably reminded you to make your bed. There is a good reason to prioritize that first thing in the morning, as it helps set an intention to accomplish the little things and get your day off to a more productive start. It also contributes to better sleep hygiene; a cluttered bedroom and undone bed could be hindering your sleep. So, eliminating potential distractions, including an unmade bed, could enhance your sleep. Clean Slate Keeping a clean home can help you be more physically fit. According to a study by Indiana University, a tidier living space contributes to higher levels of physical activity. Keeping things How to Become a Tidier Person Declutter Your Life
clean means keeping active, and even if you don’t exercise for 30 minutes daily, 30 minutes of vacuuming or any kind of scrubbing is still a great way to keep yourself moving. Daily Declutter While tidying up the home may seem daunting at first, it can be much easier if you break it down into smaller tasks. Doing a bit of laundry every other day helps prevent you from having to do a massive load later. Picking up around the kitchen when you get a snack or cook a meal can prevent that space from looking like a scene out of “Kitchen Nightmares.” Wherever you go in your home, if you pick up a thing or two cluttering the area and put it away, you are well on your way to becoming a neater person.
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TAKE A BREAK
BEGINNINGS BLANKETS CARNATION CAPRICORN GARNET HEALTHY ICICLE PENGUIN PLANNING RESOLUTION SNOWBOARD SOUPY
Photo: Matthew Fox Recolored from original
Nashville is known as “Music City” because of its role in the birth of country music and its centuries-old Ryman Auditorium. Famous performers like Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, and Dolly Parton have performed in venues on the city’s iconic Jefferson Street. As amazing as their live performances are, they are nowhere near as impactful as Jon Bon Jovi’s was on Tuesday, Sept. 11, last year. I Don’t Want to Live Forever On Wednesday, Sept. 12, Jon Bon Jovi, frontman of the rock band Bon Jovi, became the unwitting star of a viral video released by the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department (NMPD). The day prior, while filming a music video for his upcoming album on the public Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, Bon Jovi came across a woman standing on the ledge overlooking the Cumberland River. He quickly acted to ensure she didn’t get “One Step Closer” and did his best to provide her with “Something to Believe In.” Over several minutes, Bon Jovi evoked his song, “I Got the Girl,” and successfully convinced her to step away from the ledge to safety. Nobody’s Hero The NMPD was impressed by Bon Jovi’s selfless act. After YouTube took down the video of Bon Jovi’s rescue, the NMPD reposted it on their Facebook page and lauded the singer’s achievements wherever they could. Rock Legend Saves Woman in Peril JON ‘BRIDGE’ JOVI
CITRUS-HERB PORK ROAST Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
• 1 boneless pork sirloin roast (3–4 pounds) • 2 tsp dried oregano • 1/2 tsp ground ginger • 1 tsp pepper • 2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges • 1 cup plus 3 tbsp orange juice, divided
• 1 tbsp sugar • 1 tbsp grapefruit juice • 1 tbsp steak sauce • 1 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce • 1 tsp grated orange zest • 1 tsp salt • 3 tbsp cornstarch • Egg noodles, cooked
Directions 1. Cut roast in half. In a small bowl, combine oregano, ginger, and pepper; rub over pork. In a large skillet coated with oil, brown roast on all sides. Transfer to a slow cooker; add onions. 2. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup orange juice, sugar, grapefruit juice, steak sauce, and soy sauce; pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours or until meat is tender. Remove meat and onions to a platter. 3. Transfer cooking juices to a small saucepan. Add orange zest and salt. Bring to a boil. Combine cornstarch and remaining orange juice. Gradually stir into the pan for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with pork and noodles.
“It takes all of us to help keep each other safe,” NMPD Chief John Drake said of Bon Jovi on X (formerly Twitter).
Bon Jovi is no stranger to altruism. His nonprofit organization, the JBJ Soul Foundation, assists those suffering from homelessness, poverty, and hunger. His foundation’s food and affordable housing programs have aided the less fortunate since 2006. It sure seems like Bon Jovi is committed to “Work for the Working Man.”
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Why NOW Is the Perfect Time to Get Your Affairs in Order
1
The Responsibilities of an Executor
2
Tips for a Tidier Life
Citrus-Herb Pork Roast
3
Bon Jovi Saves Woman on Bridge
The High Price of Dying Without a Will
4
PURPLE HAZE Prince’s Heirs Face Difficult Legal Battle
Estate attorneys constantly harp about the importance of having an updated, thorough estate plan. It may seem like nothing more than a marketing pitch, but those
reminders are consistent because of their dire importance. Take, for example, the case of the legendary musician Prince. When he passed away in April 2016, his estate was valued at over $150 million. The singer had no children or spouses to speak of, but he had six siblings entitled to inherit his estate. However, determining all potential beneficiaries without an estate plan was a challenge that cost the estate dearly. Prince’s Probate In the case of Prince’s estate, the absence of any will led to a prolonged probate process. While the six siblings were named as legal heirs, they could not agree on a distribution of assets between them. This resulted in frequent court visits and a prolonged legal entanglement that cost the estate millions. During this process, several heirs sold their inheritance shares to a company called Primary Wave, which acquired the rights to
Prince’s music. This only complicated the process further. Unworthy Suitors Due to the estate’s value, many suitors came looking for a portion of the inheritance. This included 45 imposters alleging kinship to the late musician. Ruling them out took half a decade, thousands of court filings, and numerous DNA tests. When all was said and done, the potential heirs cost the estate over $3 million in legal fees. The Importance of an Estate Plan The lack of an established will or trust in Prince’s case may have come down to his natural mistrust of lawyers. However, his failure to confide in legal advisors cost his estate and heirs millions of dollars. If you have yet to establish an estate plan, let this be your wake-up call: You do not want a fight to occur in your wake. Prepare for your family’s future.
Photo: Allen Beaulieu
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