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603-894-4141 | 978-969-0331 | LegacyCareLaw.com January 2026 YOUR FAMILY DESERVES MORE THAN A DIY WILL Learn Why Protecting Your Loved Ones Takes More Than a Template
As we step into a new year, many of us feel that familiar pull to get organized, take control of loose ends, and finally tackle the things we’ve been meaning to address. Estate planning often lands on that list, and right alongside it comes the temptation to take the quickest, simplest route, especially with DIY websites and AI tools promising fast, low-cost solutions. I completely understand the appeal. When life is busy, and you just want to feel prepared, a do-it-yourself option can seem like the perfect fix. But in my work, I’ve learned that estate planning is about so much more than filling out forms. It’s about understanding your story, your relationships, and your hopes for the people you care about. It’s a process that involves state law, tax considerations, and personal nuances that a generic questionnaire simply can’t capture. And when something important is overlooked (as it often is with DIY plans), the consequences usually fall on your loved ones at a time when they’re already under emotional strain. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how DIY documents, even those that claim to be customized for your state, fall short. Many are governed by the laws of a different state entirely, despite the fine print claiming otherwise. That misalignment may not be obvious now, but it can create significant problems for your loved ones later, often at a time when stress and grief are already overwhelming. I’ve seen families forced into complicated and expensive legal processes simply because a DIY document wasn’t legally sound in the person’s state of residence. I’ve also seen the unintended tax consequences that come from checking the wrong box or using a generic form that doesn’t account for your full financial picture. One family I worked with discovered, after their loved one passed away, that a well- intentioned online plan had created an adverse tax situation that could have been easily detoured with proper direction. But by the time they realized it, it was too late to fix. These are not rare occurrences. They happen because estate planning requires more than answering a few canned questions. It requires someone who takes the time to understand your life, your relationships, your assets, your hopes for your family, and the unique personal factors
you may not even realize matter legally. I frequently meet clients who come in believing their situation is simple, only to discover that small details change the entire strategy. And that’s okay. You’re not expected to know what you don’t know. That’s why this work exists. When you work with an experienced attorney, you’re building a relationship with someone who understands the weight of the decisions you’re making and who can provide support not only to you, but to the loved ones who will one day rely on that plan. No website or AI program can sit with your family, guide them through next steps, answer their questions, or offer compassion during a profoundly difficult moment. As we welcome the new year and all the possibilities it brings, I encourage you to invest in planning that honors your intentions and protects the people you care about most. DIY tools may promise convenience and savings, but the true cost often appears later when it matters most. A thoughtful, customized estate plan isn’t just a resolution you check off a list. It’s a legacy, and it deserves the care and expertise to match.
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When Wills Get Weird FINAL WISHES THAT RAISED EYEBROWS
Money and property are typically the first things that come to mind when we think about a will. And while most are straightforward, some final wishes leave behind a story that’s stranger than fiction. Looking at some of the oddest inheritances ever recorded reveals more personality than practicality. Take Blackie the cat. When British antique dealer Ben Rea passed away, his family was probably more than disappointed to learn that he had left his entire fortune (nearly £7 million) to his beloved pet. That decision made headlines everywhere and turned Blackie into the richest cat in the world. Then there’s the story of John Bowman from Vermont. He believed in reincarnation and was convinced he and his family would return in another life. Not wanting to come back from the dead without the luxuries he was used to, Bowman set up a trust to keep his mansion staffed and ready for his family’s arrival. For decades, mansion staff prepared meals and kept up the house in case the
Bowmans walked through the door. The ritual continued for over 70 years before the funds finally ran out.
Canada gave us the “Great Stork Derby.” In 1926, an attorney named Charles Vance Millar launched a bizarre contest by leaving money to the Toronto woman who had the most children in the decade following his death. The result was a citywide baby boom and years of courtroom battles as families fought over the inheritance. Some wills came with mystery. One wealthy businessman left a coded message among his papers that pointed to buried riches. His heirs initially thought it was a joke, but after looking into it, they uncovered buried treasure worth millions. Of course, these stories are far from the norm. Most wills won’t fund banquets for the dead, start a baby boom, or turn a cat into a millionaire. Still, these strange requests show that estate planning is a personal process, and final wishes aren’t always about money.
BRINGING HOME A NEW PET?
QUICK TIPS TO START PET LIFE RIGHT
Bringing home a new pet for the first time can be exciting and nerve-wracking. One moment, you might be thinking of quiet nights curled up on the couch with your new furry friend, and then suddenly catch yourself worrying whether your carpets and furniture
them any good. Birds, reptiles, and other unusual pets have their own needs, so it’s worth doing a little homework before buying. Routine also makes life easier. Feed them at the same times, build in bathroom breaks, and play regularly. Miss a walk, and your dog will remind you in no uncertain terms. Socialization matters, too. If you have a puppy, try mixing up your walking routes. Exposing it to different streets with new sights, sounds, and smells stimulates it in a good way and reduces anxiety. Kittens should be given space to explore without being pushed. A rescue cat may take weeks before it relaxes, but patience usually wins. And don’t delay that first vet visit. Even if your pet looks fine, an early exam can catch problems and set you up with a vaccine schedule. Some clinics even discount first visits, especially for rescues. The first few weeks as a new pet owner can be messy. Shoes might get chewed, accidents happen, and sleep takes a hit. Over time, though, the rough edges fade into stories. Before long, the same animal that kept you on your toes will become one of the best parts of your household.
will survive. That mix of feelings is perfectly normal, but preparation can help keep your stress levels down.
Start by getting your house ready. Tuck away cords, move toxic houseplants, and set up an area with food and a bed. Puppies and kittens are like curious toddlers. They always seem to find the one thing you missed, so assume anything left out could be chewed, batted, or swallowed.
Food is another early test. For dogs, real meat should be at the top of the list. Cats need the same, since grain-heavy diets don’t do
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The Unexpected Inventions of WWI BORN IN THE TRENCHES
The same shift happened with watches. Before the war, women mostly wore wristwatches, and men carried pocket watches on chains. A pocket watch worked fine for civilian life but not while fighting a battle in the trenches. Strapping a watch to the wrist freed up both hands, which made a big difference in combat. Once the habit formed, pocket watches never really came back. Shortages also created new products. Cotton was hard to get, so Kimberly-Clark developed Cellucotton for bandages. Nurses noticed it worked as a makeshift sanitary pad, which led to Kotex. A few years later, the same material was sold in a thinner form as Kleenex, first as a makeup remover and eventually as the tissue we all know. The zipper was also useful during wartime. Known then as the “hookless fastener,” it was sewn into money belts and flight suits. It beat rows of buttons for speed, and the design spread into everyday clothing once the war ended. Even Pilates has roots in that era. Joseph Pilates, a German held in Britain, made resistance gear out of bed springs so men stuck in camp hospitals could stay strong. His idea for keeping people moving became a fitness program that later took over gyms worldwide. It’s strange to think that the same war that brought barbed wire and poison gas also left behind coats, watches, tissues, and a form of exercise. These items have become so integrated into daily life that most people never guess where they started. That’s the odd legacy of World War I.
World War I doesn’t usually make people think of fashion or fitness. The images that often come to mind are mud, wire, and smoke. However, while the war tore borders apart, there were inventions developed that found their way into everyday life. Take the trench coat, for example. Officers needed something lighter than wool when they were slogging through wet ground. London retailers Burberry and Aquascutum designed coats that kept the rain out and had straps for gear. They worked so well that people wore them long after the fighting stopped and never went out of style.
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9 Red Roof Lane, Salem, NH 03079 603-894-4141 | 978-969-0331 LegacyCareLaw.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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DIY Estate Plans Fail When Families Need Them Most
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The Strangest Inheritances on Record
A First-Timer’s Guide to Pet Prep
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WWI Inventions Still Used Today
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Why Intentions Matter in Estate Planning
Avoiding Inheritance Misunderstandings BEYOND FAIR SHARES
When it comes to estate planning, many feel the simplest solution is to distribute everything equally to heirs and avoid the fight. That may look nice and neat on paper, but equal splits can feel anything but fair in practice. In a British Columbia case, a mother left her rental property to be shared between her son and daughter. The arrangement looked straightforward from the outside. However, the daughter discovered that her brother had already received close to $3 million in lifetime gifts from the estate, while her gifts totaled $120,000. She challenged the will, and the court agreed with her. In this case, a tidy 50–50 split didn’t square with the history behind it. Situations like this one show how sensitive inheritances can be. Families often read meaning into bequests. Someone who receives a larger share may be seen as being favored, while a smaller one can feel
like punishment. Even if an estate planning decision is practical, like leaving more for a child who needs it most, it can be misinterpreted and lead to resentment. That’s why families need to sit down and talk through these decisions together. It can be tempting to “settle it in the will” and escape the discomfort of hard conversations, but silence can often cause more pain later. Even if uncomfortable, an open discussion gives everyone a chance to understand intentions before it’s too late. Estate planning should be about more than distributing money. It’s also about preserving relationships and leaving behind clarity and a sense of love in inheritance decisions. Achieving this requires a combination of careful planning and honest conversations. It can be difficult, but you can gift your family assets and understanding with the right approach.
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