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A pril 2024
L et ’ s G et S erious A bout H umor
How to Lighten Up Life With Laughter
After a long day, I like to turn on a “Monty Python” movie to change my mood, and there’s never been a pun I don’t find fun. Sometimes, I admit, I can be a silly person. But, let’s talk seriously about humor for a moment — a bit of a wordplay in itself. Bringing a little comedy into your life can have real benefits; sometimes, it helps to laugh at yourself a little. Humor forces you to look at a circumstance through a different lens, and you can gain a new perspective on a topic when you are humorous about it. “By accessing our playfulness, we lighten our load and sweeten our diet of experience. Life becomes rosier with humor in it.” April is National Humor Month, and here at The Manely Firm, we know firsthand the value of an optimistic attitude in all the scenarios life can throw at you. Finding humor in difficult times can be challenging, but laughter frees us from a negative outlook and allows us to move forward. We can gain, of course, mental and physical benefits from regular laughter. For me, there are two main reasons to engage in humor — one is simply because it’s fun. Taking part in silliness draws out the most playful elements of our spirit, something often suppressed in our busy adult lives. By accessing our playfulness, we lighten our load and sweeten our diet of experience. Life becomes rosier with humor in it. I love the comedy stylings of “Monty Python,” where things go to a full-on level of absurdity. There’s also my regular rotation of comedians I listen to on Sirius FM, where you can find tons of funny things to listen to, whatever your taste for comedy. One of my family’s favorite pastimes was playing with wordplay. Sometimes a pun would launch competitive punning. Sometimes a rhyming phrase would launch each person chiming in with a new phrase to the rhyme. Humor can challenge us in creative ways.
an effort to be silly so we can tap into a side of us that may be dormant while dealing with the stresses of the day, changing schedules, and even situations in our family. Often, overwhelming thoughts or sad memories about the past can trigger anxiety, but humor can give our brain a chance to rest and reframe our perception. Laughter also has physical benefits, and some people are prescribed “more laughter” by their doctors. Research shows that when we find something humorous, it causes several changes in the brain and body. Laughing causes abdominal contractions, which can help alleviate muscle tension. Hooting it up can even increase the production of immune cells and reduce fatigue or pain. We don’t always allow ourselves to poke a little fun at our own foibles or laugh out loud about a silly joke in public. However, a positive outlook is an important framework for a happy life, and laughter is a crucial part of it. The truth is that some things in life are not funny, but giving yourself room to find some humor will make it easier to move past it.
–Michael Manely
The other reason to engage in humor is that it can force a paradigm shift and serve as a reality check that “this too shall pass” when the going gets tough. It’s essential to make
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W hen P romises A re N ot E nough The Probate Process Unveiled
A will can protect a person’s best interests when they pass away, but without one, families must deal with the (sometimes combative) task of deciding what to do with a loved one’s belongings. According to a Gallup poll in 2021, slightly less than half of U.S. adults, 46%, have a will that spells out how they would like their real estate and finances handled after they die. I previously worked with a client whose mother did not have a will when she passed away. She made verbal promises to her children regarding what she wanted to happen to her property. She told one of her children that he would inherit her expensive car. She even programmed their name into the car’s radio to show that was her intention. However, after she passed away, another sibling took the vehicle, and a lawsuit was filed. This dispute involved the expensive car and many other assets. The strain it caused broke the family apart as they fought over the issues the lack of a will created.
our Probate, Trust, and Fiduciary Law team has handled various cases like this, and it’s essential to know the steps of the process.
Probate — Decedent’s Estates The practice of Probate Law encompasses a wide array of subject matters. One aspect of Probate Law is the legal procedure that must be followed in order to distribute assets of a deceased person, like property, bank accounts, and real estate, to living heirs or beneficiaries. With some exceptions, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over these types of cases. If a person passes away and the Probate Court has jurisdiction, what happens next generally depends on whether there was a will. If a will exists, the court will follow a legal process that takes the wishes of the decedent into consideration regarding the way the decedent’s property will be distributed. However, if there is no will, the court will adhere to the predetermined laws of the State of Georgia regarding the way the decedent’s property will be distributed, regardless of the decedent’s wishes. Continued on Page 4 ...
Death is a natural part of life, but when a loved one passes away, their assets have to go somewhere, and it can be a complex situation for families. At The Manely Firm,
How Our HR Director Shapes Success With Us M eet T aqua D avis L ee At The Manely Firm, we wouldn’t be who we are today without our wonderful team. Their contributions and passion inspire us to keep moving forward, and we love celebrating them. Taqua just celebrated her first anniversary with the firm last month, and we can’t imagine what we would do without her. As our Human Resources Director, she wears many hats and provides help and direction to everyone on our team. Taqua cultivates an atmosphere of respect and camaraderie we’ve worked so hard to build for our staff and clients. “Respect, kindness, and teamwork are at the forefront of what we do,” Taqua says. “Anything less is just not tolerated.” Taqua has a wealth of HR experience, working in the field for 14 years in various industries. She also caught our eye because she has worked in law firms before as a paralegal. Taqua said she loved doing paralegal work for 12 years, but moving into HR took her to the “next level.” Before she came to us, she was a global aviation company’s regional manager, overseeing teams in seven different cities.
Since joining The Manely Firm, Taqua has been instrumental in transforming many of our procedures and workflow. Her role as a guide for employees in handling personnel issues has set her apart. She has a clear goal of making team management easier for leaders, which she is actively working toward. On a personal note, Taqua connected deeply with the firm’s missions and philosophies. “Having gone through a divorce and seeing what this firm did differently made me interested in working here,” she said. “We can make a difference in people’s lives, and that’s one of the things that caught my attention about The Manely Firm.”
Outside work, she loves spending time with her family and is preparing her 14-year-old daughter to “be that young lady who can just take off and fly.” Her husband is also an HR professional, and they enjoy taking time to travel. We like to live through some of their incredible adventures. She likes to spoil her sweet Yorkie, Shorty, and we know the feeling because she brings so much positivity to our firm daily. Taqua has brought our office to another level and is currently putting a lot of energy into recruiting and our efforts to expand globally. Her passion shines through in everything she does, and we are so happy to have her on our team.
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“L ive as if you were to die tomorrow . L earn as if you were to live forever .” –M ahatma G andhi
A good divorce is an opportunity for remarkable growth, but how do we turn this challenging life experience into a chance to rebuild? When we started The Manely Firm, we knew our foundation would be based on the idea that family conflict and divorce are chances to grow. Many of these concepts came from “The Good Divorce” by Constance R. Ahrons. It has served as a bedrock of our practice. Here are some of the fundamental concepts of the book to help you accept that if divorce is inevitable, you still have a choice — the choice of how you will frame your approach to the process. Good Endings Remember, endings are an inherent part of life. All things that begin must also come to a close. Divorce can have an unjust, negative stigma, but you don’t have to adhere to that pessimism. Moving forward, you have control over how you reframe your life for you and your family. The end of an unhealthy relationship is just the start of a new chapter for you and your loved ones. Binuclear Families It’s a myth that divorce results in damaged children and broken homes. Divorce doesn’t end a family; it redefines a family. Ahrons refers to children of divorce as members of binuclear families, made up of two households, typically consisting of children and new spouses of their divorced parents. Children in binuclear families can lead just as healthy and adjusted lives as children from traditional family units. Frame this as a growth opportunity for the entire extended family. A Normal Event No one gets married with plans to divorce, but let’s face it, about half of all marriages end this way. Though it might not be desirable or expected, it’s normal in our society. You’re not alone, and the challenges when marriage ends are navigable. Many people find their lives improved after divorce, and you will eventually feel the same way. Forgive yourself, forgive your ex, and let go of anger. A good divorce is where adults and their children emerge emotionally well. Though your family will undergo significant and uncomfortable changes, many things will remain the same. “The Good Divorce” is widely available and continues to inform how we serve our clients. We recommend it no matter what step of the journey you are on. How to Reframe Divorce as a Path to Renewal T urn a N ew P age W ith ‘T he G ood D ivorce ’
G rilled S teak W ith C himichurri S auce
Savor the flavor with our mouthwatering grilled steak, paired perfectly with vibrant chimichurri sauce.
I ngredients
For the chimichurri sauce: • 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 lbs steak (flank,
• Juice of 1 lemon • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp red pepper flakes • Salt and pepper, to taste
sirloin, or skirt steak)
• 2 tbsp olive oil • Salt and pepper, to taste
D irections 1.
Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2.
Rub the steak with the olive oil, salt, and pepper.
3. Grill the steak for 4–5 minutes per side or until it reaches desired doneness. 4. Meanwhile, make the chimichurri sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the parsley, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. 5. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing. 6. Serve the steak with the chimichurri sauce and enjoy!
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211 Roswell St. NE Marietta, GA 30060 (866) 687-8561 www.allfamilylaw.com
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The Serious Benefits of Being Silly
What Happens When There’s No Will? Spotlighting Taqua Davis Lee Essential Insights From ‘The Good Divorce’ Grilled Steak With Chimichurri Sauce
... continued from Page 2
Whether or not there is a will, a party may object to the process which can result in very expensive litigation. The objection can be for several reasons, such as: 1) allegations that the person asking to be appointed by the Court to be the personal representative over the decedent’s estate is unfit to serve in that capacity; 2) questions over whether a will, if there is one, is legitimate, procured by fraud or
appointed to serve as Guardian and/or Conservator over another person who is in need of that type of care. Evaluations of the person’s capabilities occur, and a hearing is held where the Court makes a determination regarding the Petition for Guardianship and/or Conservatorship. In some instances, objections are raised and, if so, then the case is litigated. The Court’s decision regarding the Guardianship/ Conservatorship is based upon that which the Court deems to be in the best interest of the ward. At The Manely Firm, we pride ourselves on offering client care from the cradle to the grave and all life stages in between. If you find yourself in need of assistance with how to properly manage the assets belonging to a loved one who has passed away, if you are at odds with family members or others over the assets belonging to a loved one who has passed away, or if you are concerned that someone in your life is no longer capable of caring for themselves or their affairs, contact us.
undue influence, or the product of forgery, or 3) questions surrounding whether the person that was appointed to serve as personal representative over the decedent’s estate committed some wrongful act while serving in that capacity.
Probate — Guardianships/ Conservatorships Another separate distinction within the area of Probate
The probate process can be expensive. It is not always necessary, and in some instances, there are ways to avoid it altogether with proper planning. In next month’s edition, watch for ways to avoid these challenging situations altogether from one of our estate planning attorneys. –Stephanie D. Banks
Law is establishing a guardianship or
conservatorship when a living person can no longer care for themselves or manage their
assets and financial affairs. Certain interested persons can file a Petition in Probate Court requesting that they be
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