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Build It, Protect It, Preserve It.
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Dec 2022 / Jan 2023
Remembering Forgiveness and Love A TIME FOR FAMILY TOGETHERNESS
Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, Americans across the country will spend the next few weeks hunting down deals at their favorite stores to purchase the perfect gifts for their loved ones. We don’t need to spend too much time hunting for a unique gift, though. Often, the greatest gift we can give and receive during the holiday season is time. Spending time with our friends and family can mean more to those close to us than any material gift. During the holidays, I always try to take some extra time off so I can visit my extended family. We don’t see each other often, so getting that quality time together is incredibly special. We spend the days catching up on the past year and the events we may have missed in each other’s lives. It truly helps strengthen our familial bond. This year, I’m cherishing the holiday season even more because my kids are at great ages to enjoy the festivities. My daughter is 5 years old, so she’s incredibly excited about waiting for Santa and opening presents, in addition to seeing all her favorite family members. My son is 18 months old, so this will be his first real Christmas where he can partake in all of the excitement. I’m going to value this time I get with my family
and spend it joyfully and happily! This idea of togetherness is incredibly important, especially around the holiday season.
When I think back on it, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish so many things without the support of my family. There’s no way I could have started my own business without them. Starting a business is a difficult endeavor in itself, and having a supportive family can be vital to your success. Everyone in your family needs to roam in the same direction and support each other along the way. Without a strong family and team, you can’t achieve as much. Raising two kids is difficult, but it is much more manageable when you have people continually offering help and support. I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received from my family and friends over the years. I wish everyone had a strong familial support system, but I know that’s not always the case. If you have a problematic relationship with your family, I hope you can rekindle your relationship. The best way to do so is through forgiveness. Most issues that break apart families stem from personal and communication problems. Somebody may have simply misunderstood a situation, so try to keep forgiveness and love within your heart — you can overcome anything that way. If you are at fault for the problems within the familial relationship, try and apologize for the situation. Hopefully, your family will understand and forgive you so you can start fresh. Our families are some of the greatest gifts we have in our lives. Take some time this holiday season to sit with your family and share stories, updates, and events from each others’ lives. It will quickly turn into a tradition you look forward to year-round.
Edward & Jeff at the Grand Ole Opry
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FOR THESE 3 ESTATE PLANNING ACTIONS You Don’t Need a Lawyer 10 People to Thank
Before you head to the mall or add items to your shopping cart online, you want to ensure you have enough money to cover your monthly expenses and buy your loved ones Christmas presents. You may feel overwhelmed about your finances and how you will manage to buy gifts. But if you create a Christmas budget, you won’t break the bank! How do you create a Christmas budget? 1. Write down your monthly income: The first thing you want to do is tally up how much money you bring in each month. This lets you know how much money you have before you take out your expenses. 2. Write down your monthly expenses: You want to tally up the total amount of regular monthly costs, including housing, utilities, groceries, and internet. This also includes cars, credit cards, insurance, and other monthly payments. Be sure to add any streaming or subscription fees to this total. 3. Find out how much money you have left over: Subtract your total expenses from your monthly income. The number you get will be the money you have left over for discretionary spending, such as dinner out, a concert, or Christmas presents. But make sure you leave some wiggle room for any unexpected costs. 4. Plan out how much you want to spend on Christmas gifts: Write out whom you want to get gifts for and how much you want to spend. Track your spending as you go to ensure you don’t overspend or forget to buy someone a gift. Don’t Go Broke for the Holidays 4 STEPS TO CREATING A CHRISTMAS BUDGET
As estate planning attorneys, we’re here to assist you with all your estate
planning needs. From drafting a will to establishing a durable power of attorney, we’re available to help with any questions or concerns you have. A common misconception is that you can’t do anything with your estate plan without a lawyer, but that’s simply not the case. Here are three estate planning tips to help you avoid probate, and you don’t need a lawyer’s help to do them.
Joint Bank Accounts When an individual passes away without an estate plan, the surviving family members will have to go through probate. This is a costly and time-consuming process. Probate costs and other debts will come from the deceased individual’s estate. They will use the available funds and assets to pay these fees and debts. If your spouse passes away and their bank account is in their name only, the money in that account will be used to pay fees and debts. If you have a joint account, your money is protected, and you won’t have to attend probate. Vehicle Title Transfer Upon Death You want to designate a beneficiary for your vehicle(s). Taking this step will help you avoid probate. If there is no vehicle title transfer upon death and the deceased individual has debt that can’t be paid off with the funds from their estate, the vehicle may have to be sold to cover the debt. Update Your Beneficiary Designations Whenever things change in your life, look over your estate plan and update your beneficiary designations. Ensure your life insurance policy, annuity, and IRA beneficiaries are up to date and accurate. You want these funds to go to the correct beneficiaries. These are the most common issues in probate that weren’t addressed when the deceased individual put together their estate plan. If you’re searching for more tips and information on estate planning, scan the QR code and register to get your free copy of my book, “Ohio Estate Planning Secrets: What Some Lawyers Don’t Want You to Know.”
Shop for Christmas on a budget. 1. Look at last-minute sales: Tons of retailers will offer holiday sales as we get closer to Christmas. So be on the lookout for stores that mark prices down as St. Nick prepares for his journey. 2. Recycle gift cards: If you received a gift card to a store that you never used (or forgot about), re-gift it this year! Just be sure the card hasn’t expired. 3. Go thrifting: You can find great gifts at your local thrift store. Depending on where you go, you can get clothes, books, silverware, furniture, gadgets, and more.
Christmas shopping can be stressful, but by creating a budget and sticking to it, you will survive this holiday season like a pro.
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3 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PROBATE
Am I responsible for all the bills if I open up the estate? No. The estate is responsible for the bills of the deceased. You don’t become responsible if there isn’t any money or assets to pay the bills. If there is money and other assets, then those must be used to pay the bills. My husband didn’t have a will and has children from another marriage. Do I get everything? No. Since your husband passed away without a will, the assets will go to the surviving spouse AND all the children under the intestate succession laws. If your husband did not have children, then you inherit everything. In Ohio, the descendants are entitled to a piece of the estate if money or assets are left over after paying all the bills. Going through probate can be a complicated process. If you have any questions or need advice on the matter, or if you need to create or update your estate plan, we’re here to help. Give us a call today!
Going to probate court can be a challenging and confusing experience for many families. Most people are still trying to grieve when dealing with probate, which makes the situation even harder for everyone involved. Creating an estate plan almost always eliminates probate, but some people choose not to do so. Their family then has to go to probate to determine what will happen with the deceased individual’s assets and estate. Many questions surround the probate process, as most people only experience it once or twice in their lives.
Here are three frequently asked questions about probate.
Does everything have to go through probate court? No, only assets titled in your deceased loved one’s name must be administered through the probate court. Expect to discuss real estate and vehicles owned solely in the deceased individual’s name. If these items have valid transfer-on-death deeds, they do not need to go through probate. Anything without an outright title or named beneficiary or is not a trust-owned asset will go through probate.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Snowballs
TAKE A BREAK
Inspired by TheFoodieAffair.com
INGREDIENTS
• • • •
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tbsp softened butter
1 lb white chocolate candy coating
DIRECTIONS
1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper. 2. In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar, peanut butter, and softened butter. Mix until evenly combined. 3. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on the lined cookie sheet. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until firm. 4. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate candy coating in increments of 30 seconds, stirring occasionally until smooth. 5. In the same bowl, use skewers to dip peanut butter balls into the chocolate before placing them on a lined cookie sheet so they can harden. 6. Chill until ready and then serve!
CELEBRATION DECORATION FAMILY GATHERING
GINGERBREAD HEARTH HOLIDAY ICICLE
MIDNIGHT MITTENS PRESENT ROOTS
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352 Frank Layman Blvd. • Wintersville, OH 43953 740-314-4829 • LittlejohnLawLLC.com
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
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Enjoy the Gift of Family This Holiday Season
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3 Estate Planning Actions You Can Do Right Now How to Christmas Shop on a Budget 3 Frequently Asked Questions About Probate No-Bake Peanut Butter Snowballs Take a Break
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Being Home Alone Isn’t Like the Movie
HOME ALONE — IS YOUR CHILD READY?
Deciding if your child is ready to stay home alone is an important milestone every parent will face. It’s natural for a parent to worry when leaving their kids unsupervised. Although this concern will never fade away completely, you can prepare yourself and your children for this day with some planning. Child’s Age: Do you believe your child is mature enough to stay home alone? Will they be able to care for themselves and their younger siblings? Can they respond to an emergency? There isn’t a set age when children are ready to be home by themselves. It depends on your judgment and whether you’ve seen signs your child is prepared for that responsibility. Important things you should consider: • • How Long You’ll Be Gone: Will you be out of the house for a couple of hours or all day? For the first time leaving your child alone, you only want to be gone for a few hours. This will help you see if they are ready to take on this responsibility and how they feel about being alone. • Safety Awareness: Would your child remember and follow the safety rules? Can they make good judgment calls on their own? Do they have common sense? Establish clear ground rules to keep them safe and trust they will follow those rules.
So, you’ve asked your child if they feel comfortable being home alone, and they say yes. Here’s what you can do to prepare your child for this new experience and responsibility. • Leave Emergency Contacts: Write down your and your spouse’s cell and work numbers in case your child needs to contact either of you. You can also list out other relatives they can contact if needed. Keep this list in a place where it’s easily accessible such as the refrigerator. • Plan for “What if” Scenarios: Inform your child about what to do if there is a fire, storm, medical issue, or a stranger comes to the door. Make sure they understand the
solutions and can follow them without question. Also, leave an emergency first-aid kit with them.
Don’t worry; their experience won’t be like Kevin McCallister’s in the famous Christmas comedy “Home Alone.” By communicating with your adolescent and preparing properly, they are one step closer to fulfilling new responsibilities and taking the first step into adulthood.
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