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Estate Planning That Puts Family First Olivia’s Journey of Passion and Purpose
I first became interested in law
firm — largely due to our supportive team that’s always willing to lend a helping hand. We have great camaraderie and enjoy each other’s company outside of work. For example, Sheppard Law had a Firm Fun Day at a Tampa Bay Rays game earlier this year. Our families were invited, and my son and I enjoyed the ballpark food and entertainment. I feel incredibly fortunate to work at such a family-oriented firm with bosses who take good care of their staff. But my favorite part of this work is our clients. I love meeting new people. So many of our clients have fascinating backgrounds. I’ve spoken to people who served as doctors in Vietnam or worked as a hospital nurse in the 1950s. I find it so fulfilling to hear about their journeys and learn about history from people who experienced it firsthand. Since our clients share so much about their lives with me, I like to share some about mine in return. My main interest outside of work is my 3-year-old son, but we also live with two cats; Stormy is laid-back, while Spot loves to cuddle. I’m currently studying to get my bachelor’s in legal studies while helping my sister and brother-in-law with their animal boarding business. I’ve traditionally been a cat person, but dogs are growing on me after all of the additional exposure. My family is the most important thing in my life, and everyone at Sheppard Law understands that our clients all feel the same way. People plan their estate to protect the futures of those they love, and it’s beautiful to be a part of that process. We all care deeply about our clients, and ultimately, we want what’s best for them and to help however we can.
when my parents got divorced. Kids don’t really have a voice in the process, and I dreamed of someday giving them one. Later, I developed a passion for helping human trafficking victims and decided a career in law would be the best path. With that passion in mind, I got an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from International Business College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Olivia and her son at the Firm Fun Day in June
Ultimately, I didn’t end up in family law or prosecution. I moved to Florida, landed my first job out of school at an estate planning firm to get my feet wet and discovered how much I loved the work. After a few years, I took time away from the legal world, but I returned to my passion once my son was about a year old. I found a new home at Sheppard Law about two years ago and have loved my time here. As a drafting assistant, I get to concentrate my efforts on one specific area of the firm’s work. At most law offices, paralegals do a little bit of everything, but Sheppard Law has allowed me to develop comprehensively in drafting wills, trusts, and amendments. I love that focus, and I’ve built my skill set considerably since joining the
–Olivia Powell
1 (239) 265-9779
OCTOBER 2023
From Applicant to Arrested: The Fugitive Who Applied for a Police Job Even most criminals need
Most employers in this situation would probably move on to the next applicant, but the sheriff’s department decided to call Johnson in for an “interview” instead. Unsurprisingly, they had no intention of hiring her and arrested the fugitive on the spot. It gave the standard interview question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” a new meaning. After taking Johnson into custody, the police proceeded to search her property. Incredibly, they found two credit cards in her possession they believed were stolen. Police added credit card theft charges to Johnson’s already considerable rap sheet. To make matters worse for her, the sheriff’s office also contacted Johnson’s former employer, the United States Postal Service, which launched its own investigation into her conduct. As of October 2022, Johnson was being held in a Hudson County jail awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania for the most serious charge against her. It’s unclear why she thought applying for a law enforcement position with outstanding warrants was a wise career move, but at least she made her would-be coworkers’ jobs easy that day.
traditional employment to pay the bills, but Zyeama Johnson looked for work in all the wrong places.
Perhaps Johnson imagined her previous experience with law enforcement would give her a leg up in her application to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey in 2022. But unfortunately for her, all of Johnson’s past and
future involvement with the police would be on the wrong side of the law. Johnson was looking for a legal way to earn a living when she applied for a job as a security guard at the sheriff’s office. But her past money- making ventures allegedly involved fraud, and she had failed to appear in a Pennsylvania court on the charges. Presumably, Johnson did not realize a police station would perform a background check before hiring — or that this office specializes in resolving outstanding warrants. When processing her application, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office discovered the active bench warrant in Pennsylvania. The routine investigation also found 10 additional active bench warrants in Jersey City, New Jersey; Johnson had allegedly failed to appear on traffic charges.
S n ow b i r d S e a s
How to Make the Most of Your Florida Winter
Sheppard Law would like to welcome back all of our snowbird clients returning to the area over the coming weeks. Everything is much livelier with you around! Since these months always fly by quickly, we want to share some tips on making the most of your season in Florida. Create a routine. You’re retired and living in paradise, so spending most of your time lounging is naturally tempting. But as experienced snowbirds know, your time down south isn’t a vacation — it’s about half your life every year! Humans crave structure, and you’ll quickly fall into a rut without a plan to fill your day. Even small steps like getting up at the same time every day or pre-planning your errands will improve your mood and keep your energy up. In addition to a routine, spend time thinking about what
you want and what will give you meaning. Dedicate yourself to old or new hobbies at home and take advantage of organized activities to get out of the house. Make local connections. Even a Florida winter can be long and lonely if you don’t have people to share it with. Consider how you can create or expand your social circle this year. In fact, meeting other like-minded people can be relatively simple if you live in a snowbird community. Still, those in more traditional communities will need to put in more effort to strike up connections. Make it a point to attend neighborhood events and find out where the year-round locals spend their time. Festivals, farmers markets, and potlucks are some of the best places to meet people. You can also search for local clubs or special interest groups on social
media to get acquainted with people who share your hobbies and values. Stay healthy. You won’t enjoy your snowbird adventures to the fullest if you don’t care for yourself, so a proper diet and exercise are crucial to maintaining the lifestyle you love. Snowbirds should be careful to balance dining out and eating at home; while it’s easy to get into a pattern of regularly visiting new restaurants, home-cooked meals are more likely to be nutritious and properly portioned. It’s just as essential to remain physically active. Whether you want to try your hand at pickleball or golf, explore nature by hiking, or join group fitness classes, exercise will benefit your health and improve your chances of enjoying many more snowbird winters to come.
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floridaestateplanning.com
Don’t Write in the Margins Why Handwritten Estate Plan Changes Spell Trouble
Changes to estate plans are common, but there’s a right and wrong way to make them. In this abridged blog post, Craig outlines the dangers of a DIY approach to updates. Read his full thoughts at FloridaEstatePlanning.com/dont-write-in-the-margins . Many of us are used to taking notes in the margins of written papers. My wife jots down adjustments and additions on her recipe cards, and my late law partner, John Sheppard, used to write down his thoughts in the margins of biblical passages. Nevertheless, I warn you against putting anything in the margins of your estate planning documents. Occasionally, I see wills or trusts that have crossed-out provisions with handwritten changes. While some may think that this is an easy (and inexpensive) way to amend provisions in your legal documents, those handwritten changes usually cause more problems than they solve.
added new beneficiaries who didn’t appear in the typed provisions of her documents. She had also taken the time to initialize the changes and, in one instance, went so far as to have someone notarize the page. Trustees discovered these changes after she died, but they were unsure what to do with these handwritten notes, especially since many were witnessed, and at least one appeared to be notarized. Florida law is clear on how to change a will or trust. For a codicil to a will or an amendment to a trust to be valid, a testator must sign at the end of the document, and two people must also witness the testator’s signature in the presence of the testator and each other. In the case of our deceased client, after several thousands of dollars in legal fees and about a year’s worth of depositions and court hearings, the court ruled that her handwritten notations had no legal significance. The moral of this story is not to make handwritten changes to your legal documents. If you want to amend your will or trust, you
A few years ago, a client tried to amend her documents by making
handwritten changes without our knowledge. She
should have a separate document signed and witnessed per the law. Handle all changes through an experienced estate planning attorney who can ensure your wishes are carried out.
deleted some beneficiaries,
reduced some of the gifts to other beneficiaries, and
J a
TAKE A BREAK!
INGREDIENTS
• • • • •
2 sticks butter, divided
• • • • • • •
2 tsp salt
1/3 cup flour 5 cups milk
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp pepper
8 oz cream cheese
1 lb bacon, chopped and cooked 8 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
3 cups shredded white cheddar cheese, divided 4 cups shredded pepper jack cheese, divided
1 lb macaroni, cooked 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
•
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a large saucepan, melt 1 stick butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until fully absorbed in butter. Whisk in milk slowly. 3. Once sauce thickens, stir in cream cheese and shredded cheese until melted, reserving 1 cup of each shredded cheese. Add seasonings, bacon, and jalapeños before removing from heat, then combine pasta and sauce. 4. In a small skillet, melt remaining butter and stir in panko. 5. In a greased baking dish or skillet, add macaroni and top with panko and remaining cheese. Bake for 30–40 minutes and serve warm.
ANSWER ON TOP OF PAGE 4
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(239) 265-9779
9100 College Pointe Court Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 265-9779
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INSIDE this issue
SUDOKU ANSWER
Behind the Scenes With a Drafting Assistant PAGE 1 Fugitive’s Job Hunt Backfires: Arrested During Interview! PAGE 2 The Secrets to a Fulfilling Florida Season PAGE 2 The Legal Pitfalls of Making Handwritten Changes to Wills PAGE 3 Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese PAGE 3 Use Your Garden’s Fall Bounty for Home Decor! PAGE 4
The best compliments we receive are your referrals. When you refer us to your loved ones, we do all we can to exceed expectations.
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If you have a backyard garden, you may find yourself looking for new ways to use all the crops you’ve grown.
Play with the different shapes and sizes of your gourds. Have them lean against each other or stack them for variation and depth in your display. A Natural Wreath Fresh herbs, flowers, or leaves from your fall harvest are perfect for an autumn wreath. All you need is a wreath form, which you can buy from your local craft store or online, and some floral U-pins. Use large leaves as a base (pumpkin leaves are great), then layer on smaller seasonal herbs such as sage, rosemary, or oregano. Finally, attach some flowers to it! Squash or pumpkin blossoms work beautifully, but you can use any seasonal flower you have growing. An Autumnal Herb Swag A “door swag” is a traditional holiday decoration, and it’s an easy way to add some color to your door without creating an entire wreath. To make a swag, grab a few bundles of your favorite herbs, secure the stems with a rubber band, wrap them with twine, and tie them off, leaving a few inches of twine on both sides. Then, tie those ends together to form a loop and hang the swag on your door!
After all, there are only so many pumpkins you can carve, seeds you can roast, or squash you can spaghetti.
So, instead of looking up “squash recipes” for the hundredth time this week, consider these indoor decor tips that utilize your garden’s bountiful harvest! A Centerpiece Fall fruits and vegetables make great centerpiece arrangements because they have both seasonal colors and unique textures. Consider arranging a few squash or
pumpkins in a bowl or basket and topping them with a bouquet of festive flowers. You can also mix herbs like basil, parsley, thyme, or rosemary into the bouquet for fragrance and a fuller appearance.
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