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MAY 2023
Dedication, Determination, Disappointment And More Youth Sports Lessons That Shaped Me
We all must learn to fail — the earlier, the better. Taking a loss and brushing yourself off is an essential life skill, and I can’t think of many better ways to acquire it than youth sports. It’s probably one of the greatest lessons I learned during my young athletic career, but just one of many things physical activity has to offer us. I’ve played sports for most of my life. It started with soccer around age 5 or 6, and I loved every minute of the game. I thrived on there being winners and losers. As an attorney, it’s probably unsurprising that I am competitive. Soccer taught me at an early age that things wouldn’t always go how I wanted them to, and it’s how I learned to deal with disappointment. I got pretty good at the sport over the years but also learned it’s all relative. I was on recreational teams where I was the best player, but I also joined more competitive ones where I was the worst. Either way, the trick is adapting to your circumstances and understanding your strengths and weaknesses. No matter how your skill stacks up against your teammates’ skills, being part of a team means finding where you can be most useful. Sports taught me the valor in doing my best and the importance of knowing my limitations. After I tore up my knee in high school, my team also taught me about perseverance and working through adversity. Most of all, I appreciated having teammates to work and struggle alongside me. Individual sports have never appealed to me as team ones do. After my undergraduate degree, I picked up basketball and played in recreational, attorney, and church leagues for years. I eventually retired when I kept seeing guys my age suffer from torn ACLs, but fitness remains a central part of my life. I like doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT), taking classes at Orangetheory Fitness, and lifting weights. I do it for the health benefits and the incredible stress relief. Simply put, exercise has always made me feel good. While my team sports days are likely behind me, the lessons they taught still shape me. I believe strongly in the team mentality, and the Douglass & Runger staff members aren’t employees but team members. Further, I consider myself a coach to everyone at our law practice. One of my favorite things is to put people in a position to succeed. As in sports, when a person isn’t great at one thing, they’re probably very good at another. You’ve just got to find them the right role.
Meanwhile, my modern form of competition is typically against my past self rather than opponents. But going to trial certainly gives me an adrenaline rush. It’s great when you can work out an agreement outside a courtroom, but when you can’t, the law is an adversarial system where someone wins and loses. It’s why I’ve gone to court my whole career, with well over 100 trials under my belt. I still get butterflies every time, and if that ever stops, I know I shouldn’t be doing this anymore. I miss the competitiveness of sports, but whether I craft a team or strive to meet business goals, I know dedication and effort create the winning formula. And even when I lose, I learn something before I pick myself back up and try again.
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KEEP YOUR FAMILY HAPPY AFTER A DIVORCE
WITH THESE CO-PARENTING TIPS
• Separating Emotions From Behaviors Negative emotions about your ex-spouse should never affect your actions, especially in front of your children. Arguing in front of your kids will harm them emotionally. • Avoiding the Temptation of Venting to Your Kids Prevent complaints from reaching your children’s ears. Instead of voicing negative comments about your ex-spouse to your child, you should vent to a friend or counselor.
After any divorce, if you have lingering feelings of resentment or anger toward your ex- spouse, co-parenting might seem incredibly daunting. Yet, it doesn’t have to be a bitter relationship between you and your ex. While it does take two to tango, and each parent needs to put in the effort, there
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Letting Everyone Have a Say While you may always want to be in charge, you should allow your ex-spouse to participate in your children’s daily lives. Maintaining Respect Think of co-parenting as a business relationship where disrespect is never allowed. When you remain respectful, you can avoid heated conflicts.
are ways to ensure you create the best possible family environment for your children. While co-parenting may be challenging, don’t be discouraged. We’ll share why co-parenting is essential and tips for healthy co-parenting. HOW CO-PARENTING AFFECTS KIDS The American Psychological Association found that children who spent time with both parents after a divorce experienced fewer emotional and behavioral issues and were as well-adjusted as children whose parents never divorced. The following co-parenting tips can help prevent conflicts so you can focus on caring for your children.
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While it may be difficult, proper co-parenting can ensure your child feels loved by both parents. When done with your children’s best interest in mind, this will boost their confidence and help them better acclimate to the divorce. Their well-being should always be both parents’ top priority.
Long-Term Care Is Expensive Comprehensive estate planning is about much more than what happens to your assets after you die. Many of us will need additional care as we age, so a competent estate planning attorney will strongly encourage you to prepare for your future. While many overlook long-term care planning, it can ultimately determine your quality of life. provide answers for individuals who do not meet Medicaid’s monthly income threshold. member. The grantor cannot access any of the trust funds. Funds in the Trust can only be used for specific, qualified expenses, which your attorney will list in the Trust documents. QUALIFIED INCOME TRUSTS CAN HELP SOLVE THE INCOME PROBLEM
In Tennessee, the 2023 eligibility limit for an individual’s monthly income is $2,742 per month. A Qualified Income Trust (also known as a Miller Trust) can help individuals who exceed the permittable monthly income threshold for Medicaid qualification. A Qualified Income Trust is a trust consisting of the individual’s income. Income placed in a valid Qualified Income Trust will be treated as unavailable with federal Medicaid standards. The amount of income placed in a Qualified Income Trust cannot be limited, nor can it be counted when testing income for Medicaid eligibility. For example, a person with a $4,000 monthly income may be able to have the excess $1,258 transferred directly to the Qualified Income Trust to be eligible for Medicaid. Qualified Income Trusts follow strict rules. They must be irrevocable, and the grantor (the person creating the Trust) must appoint a trustee to manage the funds. The trustee is usually a trusted friend or family
If the grantor meets Medicaid eligibility requirements, most of the funds in the Qualified Income Trust generally reimburse Medicaid for long-term care. However, trustees can also use the funds to pay for insurance premiums, a spouse’s financial needs, and a small personal allowance. The beneficiary of the Trust will usually be the state of Tennessee or the grantor’s long-term care facility upon their death. Qualified Income Trusts can be a highly beneficial tool for families that need help with long-term care expenses, but the guidelines leave no room for error. Mistakes can affect your Medicaid eligibility in the future, so you should always consult a qualified estate planning attorney. Douglass & Runger has extensive Medicaid planning experience. Call us at (901) 388-5805 to learn how we can help.
Long-term skilled nursing care can cost individuals anywhere between $7,000–$12,000 monthly (depending on the facility), and Medicare and Social Security will not cover these expenses. At these rates, the cost of care for an individual at a skilled nursing home can easily drain everything they have worked our entire lives for. Since few families can afford the price of long-term care, they frequently turn to Medicaid, which has strict financial limitations concerning applicants’ total assets and monthly income. These public resources are intended for genuinely needy people, but the requirements leave many middle-class families in a bind. They’re too well-off to receive public assistance and not well-off enough to cover the costs themselves. This article is intended to
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Ginger Pork Stir-Fry
Want to Write Your Own Will? Know the Downsides of DIY The biggest hurdle to creating an estate plan is usually convincing people they need one. But once people accept they should have a plan for their assets, they often reason they don’t need a professional. Many assume they can effectively craft their own estate planning documents to explain their wishes, and online legal forms have reinforced the misconception. In truth, Do-It-Yourself estate planning documents often have unintended consequences that leave a person’s loved ones picking up the pieces. Legally speaking, dividing your assets is much more complicated than it sounds. While many assume they only need a simple Will, one might fail to understand the benefits of other estate-planning documents available, like Revocable Living Trusts, to protect their family’s interests. Professional estate planners can help people overcome complicated hurdles, including taxes, property transfers, and probate. The “easy” route for the person making their estate planning documents without the assistance of counsel is often far more difficult for those left behind. Furthermore, estate planning documents are legally binding documents. The law requires specific procedures and precautions to protect against fraud or undue influence. Someone may complete a Will or a Trust correctly, only to fail to have it properly notarized, which may invalidate the entire document. Furthermore, the language everyday people use sometimes has a different legal meaning. People who thought they protected themselves might have their assets distributed in a way they never intended. Consider other drawbacks to a DIY route. Ambiguous wording is a common pitfall. What “makes sense” to one person may have a different meaning to another. Writing your own Will or Trust opens it up to challenges from potential heirs who may not like how you divided your assets. Perhaps you think no one in your family would begin such a legal battle, but grieving people who have money on the line can behave in ways you wouldn’t expect. The likelihood only increases with personality clashes and resentments among your loved ones. The more complicated your situation, the more risks you take when you create your own estate plan. People who aren’t married to their partner, who have remarried, or who own businesses may be at particular risk. Amateur estate planners may also inadvertently create negative consequences for loved ones with special needs. Courts sometimes even invalidate homemade Wills or Trusts for various reasons. A professional’s help is the only way to ensure your legal documents match your intentions. Douglass & Runger would love to help you on your estate planning journey. Call us at (901) 388-5805 to schedule a meeting with one of our experienced attorneys.
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Looking for a healthy stir-fry that has all of the delicious flavors and none of the heavy ingredients? This one might be perfect for you!
INGREDIENTS • 1 tbsp cornstarch • 1 cup orange juice • 2 tbsp soy sauce • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1/4 tsp ground ginger • 1 lb pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips • 2 tbsp canola oil • 1 small onion, sliced
• 1/4 lb fresh snow peas • 1/2 sweet red pepper, julienned • Cooked rice • Green onion, chopped (optional) • Sesame seeds (optional)
DIRECTIONS 1. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch, orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger until smooth; set aside. 2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, stir-fry pork in oil until lightly browned, about 4–5 minutes. Remove pork and add onion, peas, and red pepper. Cook until crisp-tender, about 3–5 minutes. 3. Stir in orange juice mixture and pork. Bring to a boil, and then cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve over rice. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds, if desired. INSPIRATION “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” —Thich Nhat Hanh
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1 How Sports Shaped Curt’s Competitive Spirit 2 Tips for Co-Parenting After a Divorce Are You Prepared for Long-Term Care Expenses? 3 Why Estate Planning Requires a Professional Inside This Issue
Ginger Pork Stir-Fry 4 Potbellied Pig Terrifies Burglars
A Ham-Fisted Attempt at Robbery INTRUDERS FLEE FROM LUDWIG THE PIG
On the night of New Year’s Eve in 2014, a group of burglars experienced the fright of a lifetime. Expecting to rob a quiet home in Derby, England, the intruders instead came face to snout with Ludwig, a 240-pound potbellied pig. Abandoning all thoughts of crime once they
spotted the pig, the burglars instantly fled the scene and ran for their lives.
Maughan spoke to the Toronto Star to dispute any defamations against Ludwig’s kindness.
The “hero ham” had already become a popular figure in his town and was well-loved for his gentle demeanor. In fact, Michael Maughan, Ludwig’s owner, is confident that Ludwig wouldn’t have harmed the intruders, even if he does look quite intimidating. Local officers believe the robbers must have heard Ludwig’s Rottweiler-like “growl” and immediately hit the road, leaving the door wide open behind them. The story of this heroic potbellied pig became a sensation throughout Europe. Countless fans have applauded the Canadian-born hog for his loyalty to his owners. But the owners want to ensure people understand that Ludwig would never hurt anyone. Some fabricated web stories made Ludwig sound more dangerous than he is, so
“He’s being painted as a vicious creature when he’s actually quite a sweet animal,” he explained. “He didn’t exactly bare his tusks and charge, I don’t think. I think he got absolutely, ‘Arrgh,’ and they just ran for it.” In fact, Maughan detailed that after a two- month separation during their move to England, the pig shed tears during their reunion. Adorable and affectionate, Ludwig would have probably become friends with the intruders in no time. Even if his “bark” is worse than his bite, Ludwig succeeded in keeping his owners safe while also protecting their home. This 240-pound potbellied pig continues to enjoy his comfortable home in Derby and is considered a town hero. Anyone looking for a guard dog may want to consider a hefty hog instead!
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