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July 2023
603-894-4141 | 978-969-0331 | LegacyCareLaw.com
Family Is Everything to Us Estate Planning Is an Extension of Family Legacy
I’m sure you’ve seen a few changes around our firm, but the most noticeable one is that we’ve chosen an updated practice name: Legacy Care Law Firm. While the name is different, we’re still the same family who cares for yours. No matter what changes we go through now and in the future, I know for a fact that our passion will never falter. Legacy Care Law Firm is the same firm, same team, and same dedication — we just have an updated practice name that’s easier to pronounce! Our firm’s team is made up of more than just attorneys and legal assistants. We’re a family. I know in my heart this warm atmosphere we’ve created for ourselves has reached our clients and comforted them during difficult times. Each of our attorneys has their own unique background and reason for participating in this field, yet I’m certain we all share a sense of fulfillment from helping individuals and families maintain their legacies. It truly feels incredible to make it possible for clients’ beneficiaries to look back at their loved ones’ heartfelt planning and continuing love. Just like we know how to care for other families, we know how to care for our own. It’s an inherent part of our firm’s culture to support not just clients and their families but also each other. Our attorneys’ children and family will always come before work, and I could never imagine our office ever superseding our values when it comes to the families of our team members.
we always endeavor to educate our clients so they feel a sense of comfort. Our team continues to create an outcome for our clients’ beneficiaries so the implementation of their legacy plans will be a time to reflect on the memory of our clients and to enjoy their legacy, not as a time to worry about paperwork. That’s why our new practice name, Legacy Care Law Firm, isn’t a marker of change but a reminder of what estate planning is truthfully all about.
Recently, our firm held a Christmas party at a local restaurant. My wife and I chat with a person at that restaurant frequently, and I remember after the party, he mentioned, “That was really nice of you to bring your family!” When I revealed that it was my team, he was surprised. That was because the way we communicate and share our joy just exudes family warmth. I wouldn’t want it any other way. The measure of our dedication to each other is a reflection of our commitment to our clients. We are here to help you and your family find comfort in a time when you have heavy weight on your shoulders. Instead of becoming lost in a sea of legal processes and documents,
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AN ESTATE PLANNING MUST Why Everyone Needs Advance Directives
loved ones from having to make stressful medical decisions that may or may not be wanted by the patient. Some forms of advance directives include:
When discussing estate planning, we often think about wills and the disbursement of our belongings after we pass. Yet, there’s plenty to organize, protect, and ensure when we are still alive. One aspect of estate planning we often overlook are advance health care directives, including living wills. Advance directives are a wide category of written instructions covering your health care wishes, and a living will is considered a type of advance directive. If you find yourself severely ill or injured, advance directives help you express your health care preferences if you cannot communicate. What is a living will? While a living will is within the advance directive category, it specifically determines your wishes if you become terminally ill. Not everyone has the same wishes when it comes to end-of-life care, so your living will communicates what medical procedures you would or would not want to undergo if you were either terminally ill or in a coma. Some individuals may only want their life prolonged for a certain amount of time for personal or religious reasons, or not at all. A living will helps the medical staff and family follow those wishes. Different Types of Advance Directives Since it’s a broad category, not all advance directives are limited to terminal illnesses. Various forms of advance directives aim to help
• Medical Power of Attorney: A document that names someone who can make health care decisions for you if you can’t communicate • Medical Orders: Orders created by a medical professional with their patient’s wishes that are shared with other medical professionals. For example, it could detail a do-not- resuscitate (DNR) order. • Psychiatric or Mental Health Directive: A document created by a person with mental illness that details their health care wishes before a possible mental health crisis, when they may not be able to make decisions When it comes to advance directives, every adult should consider establishing their wishes as soon as they can. No one knows what the future holds, and it’s best to arrange your health care wishes before it’s too late.
To Buy or Not to Buy a House
Market Aside, Are You Ready?
Assess your finances. Potential homebuyers should be aware of the roadblocks before making any significant decisions. You’ll need to be entirely sure that your funds are ready to take the hit of both a down payment and a mortgage. Consider your credit, savings, and debt when determining your monetary readiness. These three financial aspects decide whether you’ll qualify for a mortgage. For example, those with credit scores lower than 600 will have slimmer chances and higher prices. Meanwhile, your debts can also hinder your ability to qualify for a mortgage if they’re disproportionate to your income. As for your savings, you will need enough money for the down payment, moving costs, as well as possible expenses associated with owning a home. Everything your previous landlord took care of will now be your responsibility. Even new homes have surprise repairs that will come out of your pocket.
If you feel financially comfortable to undergo the hurdles ahead (with a stellar credit score to match), you should be ready to start looking for a home! Consider some reasons to hold off on buying. While there are plenty of reasons why you should buy a home, there are also countless reasons why now might not be the right time for you. Look at your personal and financial situation and ask yourself: • Is your job secure? Have there been recent layoffs in your company? • Are you feeling pressured by family or friends? • Do your finances need some TLC? • Are you ready to put down your roots? These are just a few issues that can cause a disaster in the home-buying process. You will need to assess your situation and be honest about why you need to buy a home and if you’re financially prepared.
You’re probably hearing conflicting advice when it comes to home buying. While some say a recession is inevitable, others highlight the lowest selling prices in years. However, you should consider the current market conditions as context rather than deciding factors when buying a home. Whether or not the time is right to buy a home depends on your personal and financial circumstances. Real estate market aside, the more important question is this: Are you ready to buy a house right now?
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Learn Life Lessons With Mr. Bachmann
The Journey of a German Classroom
reassures those who scored lower by saying, “These grades do not reflect who you are.” This isn’t to say that Mr. Bachmann was easy on his class. In one pivotal moment, the teacher reprimands a student for acting unkind to a classmate. When the student provides a halfhearted excuse, Bachmann replies, “I don’t really believe that, but I’ll treat it as though it were sincere.” The student can clearly feel the teacher’s disappointment despite no obvious scolding or berating. Mr. Bachmann guides his students with a genuine heart and a steady hand. The affectionate film immerses the viewers in Bachmann’s classroom to witness the evolution of the students. Whether watching those who decide to spend their lunch hour with him in his classroom and others who share
The documentary “Mr. Bachmann and His Class” shows how a small-town German teacher helps his diverse students feel at home. This heartfelt documentary even won several awards, including the Silver Bear, at the Berlin International Film Festival because of its simple, uplifting message. In the film, the rural town of Stadtallendorf has a history of employing migrant workers dating back to World War II. Despite having many immigrants in the city, Stadtallendorf has a history of excluding non-German residents. This divide is an issue that weighs heavily on students. In a classroom of 12–13-year-old students from different countries, Dieter Bachmann uses his authentic positivity to help each student become confident about their own potential. In one scene, after returning graded assignments to his students, he
their most vulnerable feelings, viewers realize that all of these students needed an educator who showed sympathy and kindness. “Mr. Bachmann and His Class” follows the magnetic bunch until retirement. While there are plenty of films about heroic teachers, this gentle documentary reveals more about how all it takes is genuine interest and effort to change students’ lives.
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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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Updated Practice Name, Same Family
The Difference Between Living Wills and Advance Directives
Should You Buy a House Right Now?
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An Inspirational Documentary Inspires Hope
A Comedian’s Heartwarming Will
How He Ensured His Wife’s Happiness Comedian Jack Benny Made a Romantic Request
“Every day since Jack has gone, the florist has delivered one long- stemmed red rose to my home,” Mary Livingstone wrote. “I learned Jack actually had included a provision for the flowers in his will. One red rose to be delivered to me every day for the rest of my life.”
The idea of creating a will can seem grim for many. We don’t want to ponder our passing and the effect it will have on our loved ones. Our distaste for estate planning is evident, too — only 33% of U.S. adults have a will. Yet, what if we saw estate planning as an opportunity to send a final affectionate message after our departure? That’s exactly what Jack Benny, an iconic radio and television comedian, did for his wife after he passed away. Both starred in the quintessential radio program “The Jack Benny Program” from 1932 to 1965, and the couple was known for their comical disputes and banter. However, his wife, Mary Livingstone, would later confirm that her kind husband was far different from the penny-pinching naysayer he played in his show. For decades, the duo became a must-listen act on countless home radios. Sadly, Benny passed away in 1974 at the age of 80. While his wife was mourning the loss of her husband, she was shocked to discover one final romantic gesture from Benny. Livingstone shared the loving gift with the world in a magazine article dedicated to his life and legacy.
Rain or shine, Livingstone was delivered a red rose sent from her late husband until her death nine years later. The loving husband and famous entertainer proves that wills don’t have to be daunting documents; they can be one last way to leave a kind gesture behind. You could also shock your family by leaving your estate to your favorite furry friend! Whatever route you take, a will is sure to maintain your spirit and estate.
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603-894-4141 | 978-969-0331
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