Take a look at our September newsletter!
September 2024
Your Trusted Advisor Zihmer Law Firm
Work-Life Cohesion Building Balance Between Family and Company Life Changes. So Do Estate Plans. ENSURE YOUR
LOVED ONES ARE TAKEN CARE OF
It’s back-to-school time! Your children and grandchildren are getting on the bus for the very first time, just starting their kindergarten adventure. Or, maybe friends are now picking them up, or they’re driving to school for their senior year. There’s a lot of excitement and emotion; it’s a way to measure time. For me, it’s a school drop-off for my daughter in third grade (Maddie) and my son just starting pre-K (Owen) at the same school. The nervous jitters, new friends, and endless school supplies — I find it’s a true time to reflect. I get the pop-ups on my phone that remind me of prior first days of school, and it’s amazing how much changes in just one year. I am reaching a new stage of life. I’m out of that toddler phase. I have two school-aged children. This new phase starts with after- school activities, homework help, and parent-teacher conferences. We also have many clients who have children in this stage of life. It’s a great time to reflect. Remember those times when they were so little and needed you for everything? Remember when they began asserting their independence? Remembering the exciting milestones of past school years and looking forward to the next reminds us of how quickly life changes and the importance of planning for the future.
are cared for is one of the most important lessons we can pass on. Whether it’s creating or updating an estate plan, now is a great time to consider how to protect what matters most. Seeing our children and grandchildren grow and become more independent is a joy, but it also reminds us of how quickly time passes. In the same way that school helps shape their future, our plans today will shape ours and theirs. Reflecting on these milestones is also a perfect time to ensure our estate plans reflect our current wishes and family needs. So, as you help them prepare for school, consider taking a moment to prepare for your family’s future. Be sure to check out our quarterly webinars for information on relevant topics that matter to you, such as Medicare, financial management, and building successful estate plans Zihmer Law Firm is here to help you along the way. Our goal is to be a resource you can depend on for all your probate, estate planning, and elder law needs. Please contact us at 412-223-2525 to schedule a review or ask a question.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Just as we prepare our kids for success in school, it’s important to prepare our families for the future. Ensuring our loved ones
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ESTATE PLANNING | PROBATE | TRUST ADMINISTRATION | ELDER LAW
Autumn Awaits Ideas for Your Fall Bucket List
Blazing Bonfire Now that summer is spent, a good, old-fashioned bonfire is in order. Whether making s’mores or sharing ghost stories, a bonfire is a recipe for a good time with friends, family, and the occasional apparition. Haunt-tastic Halloween Home We have all seen the homes on the block with bare lawns and dark porches during Halloween. But what’s the fun in that? If that was your home last year, now is the perfect time to turn it around and embrace the most macabre, creative ideas for decking out your home — inside and out. From creatively posed skeletons to a front porch full of jack-o’-lanterns, there is no shortage of simple, scary props to adorn your home. If you have never carved a jack-o’- lantern, it should be on your bucket list — not just for fall. See how far you can take Halloween this year!
After a summer spent adventuring outdoors, you may feel like turning into a pumpkin come fall. But fall is full of uniquely enjoyable opportunities. From brewing cider to hanging up creepy Halloween decorations, here are three bucket-worthy activities that make the most of autumnal creativity and coziness.
Apple Picking for Apple Cider Apple picking season starts in the waning days of summer before ending in October, making September the best time to visit a local orchard. Whether you’re in Alaska, Wyoming, or almost any state in between alphabetically, pick-your-own apple orchards offer you and your friends the chance to get back out in nature, exercise, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Best of all? Apples are the easiest fruit to pick, and the reward is a delicious, ready-to-eat snack or an ingredient in a refreshing beverage. Ground-up apples are the base ingredient for apple cider, a delicious drink that epitomizes the greatness of fall!
TITLING ASSETS: A KEY STEP IN EFFECTIVE ESTATE PLANNING
When it comes to estate planning — as with many things in life — preparation is key. While you may not see the full results of this plan, it will be of great importance to your beneficiaries. A thorough estate plan, created with the support of a legal professional, will establish guidelines regarding the distribution of your assets after you pass away. One of the most important aspects of estate planning, which is sadly often overlooked, is the titling of your assets. The sum of your assets, legally speaking, is your property; it refers to all that you own, such as real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, businesses, and luxury items, like jewelry and artwork. Titles, essentially, are how we prove ownership of our assets. Without titles, it can be difficult to prove ownership of assets and can complicate the division of assets at the time of death.
proper planning. Here is what titling your assets entails, and how you can prevent this from happening to you and your loved ones.
Gathering Titles and Titling Assets While title to personal property is generally shown by possession, it does not hurt to have proper receipts, or even written descriptions, in place to help explain an item’s significance and how it became your property in the first place. For instance, items that may be of great sentimental value should be pointed out in your estate plan. Your next of kin will want to know what was important to you, and why it should be important to them. Moreover, they will benefit from you making sure your documents are in order, and that titles for your assets are properly included in your estate plan.
The more titling and preparation you do now, the fewer worries your family will have in the future.
The last thing you want is for your family to have to endure a lengthy, difficult, and costly probate process because of a lack of
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ESTATE PLANNING | PROBATE | TRU
Per Stirpes: Providing Equitable Inheritance
Estate planning is undeniably important, but it can also be confusing. That is why we would like to explain the difference between two stipulations, per stirpes and per capita, and how they differ. We get these two phrases from Latin, with per stirpes translating to “by branch” and per capita to “by the heads.” As suggested by its translation, if you opt for per stirpes, your inheritance will be split evenly among each branch of your family, which we will explain shortly. On the other hand, per capita refers to each of your beneficiaries receiving an equal portion of your inheritance — which, when you break it down, can yield significantly different results. Here is why. Per Stirpes Instead of splitting inheritance evenly among your beneficiaries, per stirpes would split it between the branches of your family. This becomes more relevant in the unfortunate circumstance that one of your children passes away before you. For example, let’s imagine you had three children, named Alex, Bert, and Cindy. Normally, under per stirpes, a third of your
inheritance would go to each of them. However, if Alex passed away, and was survived by two children, Alan and Bob, then the inheritance would be split four ways, with Bert and Cindy each receiving one-third share and Alan and Bob splitting the last third share. This, in other words, is a great way to provide an equitable inheritance and is why it is the most common mode of inheritance.
Per Capita Per capita, on the other hand, splits the inheritance
equally among your beneficiaries. To explain how this differs, we will revisit our example from earlier. Let’s say you had three children, Alex, Bert, and Cindy. If Alex were to pass away, despite his having
had two children, the inheritance would then be split two rather than four ways. Bert and Cindy would each receive one-half of your inheritance, and since Alex passed away, he would be omitted from the inheritance. Now that you know the differences between these modes of inheritance, you can make the best choice for you and your family.
Football season is finally here! Here’s a copy of the 2024 Steelers schedule so you can join us in cheering them on all season long. Here we go!
Sun., Sept. 8 Sun., Sept. 15 Sun., Sept. 22 Sun., Sept. 29 Sun., Oct. 6 Sun., Oct. 13 Sun., Oct. 20 Mon., Oct. 28 Sun., Nov. 10 Sun., Nov. 17 Thu., Nov. 21 Sun., Dec. 1 Sun., Dec. 8 Sun., Dec. 15 Sat., Dec. 21 Wed., Dec. 25
1:00 p.m. 4:25 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 8:20 p.m. 4:05 p.m. 8:20 p.m. 8:15 p.m.
@ Atlanta Falcons @ Denver Broncos
vs. Los Angeles Chargers
@ Indianapolis Colts vs. Dallas Cowboys @ Las Vegas Raiders vs. New York Jets vs. New York Giants
— Bye Week —
1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 8:15 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 4:25 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m.
@ Washington Commanders
vs. Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns @ Philadelphia Eagles @ Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Take a Break
TBD
TBD
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UST ADMINISTRATION | ELDER LAW
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3244 Washington Rd., Ste. 210, McMurray, PA 15317 | 412-223-2525 | ZihmerLaw.com
Inside 1
It’s Time to Review Your Estate Plan
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Completing Your Fall Bucket List
Why Titling Your Assets Is Crucial
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Per Stirpes vs. Per Capita Inheritance
Are You Ready for Some Football?
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The Best Foods for Your Workout Routine
Whether you’re gearing up for a heart- pounding workout or cooling down after an intense lift, choosing the right food can make all the difference. Let’s look at the best food options to energize you while working out and help you recover like a champ. Pre-Workout Fuel Bananas With Peanut Butter: This dynamic duo is a favorite for a reason. Bananas provide quick-digesting carbs for a fast energy boost, while peanut butter adds protein and healthy fats. Plus, they taste amazing! Oatmeal With Berries: A bowl of oatmeal topped with fresh berries is a fantastic way to fuel your workout. The slow-digesting Fuel Your Fitness
carbs from the oats give you sustained energy, and the berries add a burst of antioxidants to keep your muscles happy. Greek Yogurt and Granola: Greek yogurt is packed with protein to help prepare your muscles for action. Add some granola on top for a touch of sweetness and quick carbs to get you moving. Apple Slices With Almond Butter: This combo is crunchy, sweet, and satisfying. Apples give you the natural sugars you need for energy, while almond butter adds protein and healthy fats to keep you going strong. Whole Grain Toast With Avocado: Avocado toast is more than a brunch staple — it’s also a great pre-workout snack. Whole grains provide lasting energy, and avocados contain healthy fats to keep you fueled. Post-Workout Recovery Protein Smoothie: Blend up a smoothie with your favorite protein powder, a
banana, spinach, and almond milk. It’s a quick and delicious way to refuel and rehydrate! Chicken and Quinoa Bowl: Lean chicken provides high-quality protein, while quinoa offers complex carbs and fiber. Along with veggies, this bowl is a balanced meal perfect for muscle recovery. Chocolate Milk: Yes, you read that right! Chocolate milk is a fantastic post-workout drink. It has the ideal ratio of carbs to protein for muscle recovery, plus it’s delicious. Hummus and Veggies: Crunchy veggies like carrots, celery, and bell peppers paired with creamy hummus make for a nutritious, protein-packed post-workout snack. Remember, the key to great pre- and post-workout nutrition is balance. Aim for a mix of carbs, protein, and healthy fats to keep your energy levels stable and your muscles strong!
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